PlanetCatfish.com

Hi

Does anyone know what are these little worm-like attachments on the caudal fin (see picture)?

I found similar ones on my juvenile C. Concolors bought a week ago. They are now in my 2ft quarantime tank, still feeding well but some of the fins are clamped.

I'm starting on a diluted salt treatment (1 ppt), being the safest route (not knowing what the worm is).

Thanks.

Those look like anchor worms. Search the forums to find out the best course of treatment.

Silurus wrote:Those look like anchor worms. Search the forums to find out the best course of treatment.

Thanks. I have seen anchor worms before and they are big (~1cm). These are about 1 mm; I guess they will grow big in no time.

I've started 1 PPT salt treatment (0.1%) and also added Mardel's CopperSafe today.

ps. There are references to using "Dmilin" to treat anchor worms but I have not found off the shelf medications here yet for this.

Sorry but I am not getting the picture.

Ian

Coryman wrote:Sorry but I am not getting the picture.

Ian

I have fixed the picture link - had to make it "public"; otherwise I was the only one able to see it!

After day 1 since using CopperSafe, the cories looks more or less the same.

There are very little descriptions that comes with CopperSafe or on the internet regarding how long it takes to treat anchor worms.

I don't think they're anchor worms, or at least not any species I've seen. Do they actively move from their attachment site?
Do you have access to a microscope? (give the size of the organisms even a child's one should do to see more detail).
Be very careful when using any copper treatment in freshwater, and definitely with Corydoras.

This is something that I have see on some of my own fish at times and I only see it on the edges of the fins on young fish. I actually narrowed it down to being caused through heavy feeding of micro worm and once the feeding quantities were reduced they disappeared altogether. I certainly do not think it is anything to get overly woried about.

Ian

coelacanth wrote:Do they actively move from their attachment site?

My "worms" are actually smaller than that depicted. At that size, it is actually hard to tell whether they are even moving at all. I need to observe longer.

coelacanth wrote: Do you have access to a microscope? Be very careful when using any copper treatment in freshwater, and definitely with Corydoras.

No microscope. A magnifying glass does not help. On copper, I realised the need to stay accurate on the dosage. Thanks.

Coryman wrote:This is something that I have see on some of my own fish at times and I only see it on the edges of the fins on young fish. I actually narrowed it down to being caused through heavy feeding of micro worm and once the feeding quantities were reduced they disappeared altogether. I certainly do not think it is anything to get overly woried about.

Ian

Thanks. I'll take note of that. I was hoping it was frayed fins that would go away too. They were zipping about for 2 days before they showed less activity and clamped fins and a few flashes - so I worry....

Day 5 update:

The little 'worms' on the caudal fins are gone. The cories are livelier, with no clamped fins.

However, one is still sluggish looking and I see the occasional spasms from another. I've also seen those (longer ~1cm) thin wriggling worms (not anchor worms for sure) in the water.

Keeping the 1ppt salt treatment and coppersafe for a few more days.

The outbreak of thin worms you see in the water were probably caused by overfeeding. Do a water change and cut back on feeding a bit and everything should be fine.

Mark