Unwanted Hitch Hiker On New Gourami

[Flute]

I've just bought 2 Pearl Gourami's from my local LFS and now having floated them in the tank I've spotted that one of them has a hitch hiker on her head (Haven't released them yet). I don't think it's anything listed on the hitch hiker thread though. It's moving around some what, it's very flat, a cloudy white in colour and has what looks like lots of little feathery legs. It actually kinda looks like a flat fish in shape.

Can anyone give me any ideas as to what it could be? Have just set my quarantine tank set up now and will put them both in that once the heater and filter start to do their jobs (am using mature media). Do you think I'll have to dose them with anything, or will it eventually just fall off? Don't want to risk infecting my tank, but I've searched around on the internet and can't seem to find what it is. Don't think I'd be able to get a picture of it.

I posted this in the hitch hikers thread too, but then realised that I might not get any replies there, so sorry for the double post

Thanks for any ideas!

 

[bae1994]

got any pics as that might help

 

[fishy55599]

I had one of them once.
It is like a blood-sucker, i sugest try remove it quick.
coz wen i had mine i tought it would go off it soon but it ended up killing it

 

[Flute]

Tried taking pictures but it's impossible. This is an accurate picture that I could find on google though: Link. It looks very much like the bottom picture. Also this is similar Link, although the one on my gourami has no colour at all in it. It's moved more to her side now.

Could this be fish lice?

 

[bae1994]

i believe theres a medication for them so id get some of that soon as possible

 

[Flute]

From reading up on fish lice more, I'm pretty sure this is what is on my gourami. Not feeling too happy after reading about how detrimental to a fish health they will be.

I think we may have some anti-parasite medication somewhere, I'll see if that works against fish lice. If not, could someone recommend a medication that would be suitable and that is available in the UK?

Thanks again guys.

:EDIT: Not got any treatments. Um.... not sure what to do next tbh. The LFS I got them from has a limited range in meds, and they're closed now anyway.
Had problems from them in the past, haven't bought anything from them in over a year, so I thought I'd give them the benefit of the doubt...... >.<

 

[OldMan47]

It seems that you have diagnosed your fish health problem yourself Flute. To me that means that you have done enough research to also have a clue about disease treatment. Please let us know what you end up doing and what the outcome may be.

 

[Flute]

Aye, it seems that way OldMan47 When I first started looking I couldn't find anything that was similar to what is on my Gourami, hence why I posted here ^^' Sorry if I was a bit hasty- also wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to treat for the wrong thing ^^'

Meds confused me for a while (sites were only listing what active ingredients are effective, which I'm hopeless with), but after more searching I found and ordered "Interpet Anti Crustacean Parasite No.12" which has been dispatched and should arrive tomorrow.

Will start dosing her as soon as the meds arrive, and will update on any progress

 

[fishnovice]

Aye, it seems that way OldMan47 When I first started looking I couldn't find anything that was similar to what is on my Gourami, hence why I posted here ^^' Sorry if I was a bit hasty- also wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to treat for the wrong thing ^^'

Meds confused me for a while (sites were only listing what active ingredients are effective, which I'm hopeless with), but after more searching I found and ordered "Interpet Anti Crustacean Parasite No.12" which has been dispatched and should arrive tomorrow.

Will start dosing her as soon as the meds arrive, and will update on any progress

You should report it to the lfs and ask for a refund for the cost of the fish and/or med treatment, whichever is the greater. The fish lice are probably on all their stock by now and will infect the tanks of anyone who buys fish from them.