Worms

[kittyuk]

Three of my fish have thin, hairlike red worms sticking out of their butts! How can I treat the tank and get rid of them? (The worms)
Grateful for any help

 

[Gibbo]

Which fish? Tetras, livebearers or others? It will be Camallanus worms. They are transmitted either through non irradiated livefoods (collected from, say, a local pond instead of using frozen livefood from lfs etc) or through ingestion of infected fishes faeces or dead flesh. Control it using regular siphoning off of fish poo and prompt removal of any dead fish. Treatment according to Tropical Fishlopaedia is by 'using Fenbendazole in food'. Nowadays you may be able to get medicated food to give them. Ask lfs or seek advice from a local vet. The fish would've contracted these through bad husbandry by either the Fish farm they were reared on, the wholesaler, or the shop you got them from. Either way, notify the shop you got them from asap. They may be able to treat the remaining fish if they seem to have the same problem

 

[kittyuk]

The infected fish are an angel, a ram and a mollie! A female guppy was the first fish with the livestock. I will inform the lfs where she came from. Thanks for the info.