Abstract

This film will cover the majority of parasites which can affect aquarium fish including protozoans, sporozoans, external flukes and internal parasites.

Notes on Film

Ichthyophthirius - Trophozoite encysted in skin.

Chilodonella - goldfish and catfish. Has characteristic motility. Its presence is only serious when infestation is heavy. It is flattened dorsoventrally. Treat with formalin or malachite green.

Costia - flagellate. Causes a mass to appear on gills and fins. Fin rot can be bacterial or protozoal.

Tetrahymena - "guppy killer". often found in filters along with molds. It attacks debilitated guppies. Tetrahymena can swim up the ureters to the kidney.

Epistylis - some believe it is pathogenic, others that it is not.

Trichophora - rare in aquarium fish but common in catfish. Not known whether or not it is a disease agent.

Oodinium –gyne-spores will reinfect fish. Most aquariums have this parasite. Treat with a copper bath.

Hexamita - Not too pathogenic. Can be easily cleared up by treating with Flagyl at 11 ppm. in 3 doses.

Trichodina - Surface parasite which may be related to water quality. May not be pathogenic in itself but is a good monitor for bad water quality.

Flukes - Monogenetic - can spend entire life on the fish.

Polychaete - annelid. Common in marine fish.

Metacercaria - of digenetic trematode - completes life cycle when eaten by seabirds.

Plerocercoid - common. Has 4 suckers.

Nematodes -  in the gut aren't a problem except owners don't like them.

Acanthocephalan  - common in marine fish.