Xref: utzoo rec.pets:2195 alt.aquaria:221
Path: utzoo!hoptoad!amdcad!decwrl!decvax!yale!Ram-Ashwin
From: Ram-Ashwin@cs.yale.edu (Ashwin Ram)
Newsgroups: rec.pets,alt.aquaria
Subject: Fish parasites?
Summary: HELP!
Keywords: fish fresh water aquarium worms ich food parasites
Message-ID: <23207@yale-celray.yale.UUCP>
Date: 15 Feb 88 19:11:02 GMT
Sender: root@yale.UUCP
Reply-To: Ram-Ashwin@cs.yale.edu (Ashwin Ram)
Organization: Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-2158
Lines: 38
Cc: ram


I have a 10-gallon freshwater tank.  About a week ago, after I did a partial
water change, vacuuming up the gravel as I usually do, I noticed that there
were little white thingies floating in the tank.  They were white, about 2-4
mm long and very thin, looking almost like hair.  The fish were eating some
of them.  They weren't moving, but to be on the safe side I put some
Promethysul (malachite green + sulpha + something else) in there.

A couple days ago, I did another partial water change and I noticed the same
thing.  This time they were definitely ALIVE!  They were squirming in
typical worm-like motions.  The fish were eating them again.  Within 15 or
20 minutes, all the fish were sick; they were drifting aimlessly near the
top of the tank, gasping for air.  My neons died within the hour; an angel
died overnight.  I put in another dose of Promethysul and raised the
temperature to 80 F.  Thankfully, the rest of the fish survived.

I went to a pet store, and the guy there said it was Ich larvae that I'd
seen in the tank.  But I was under the impression that Ich larvae are a lot
smaller than that.  Anyone know what it was?  Both times they appeared after
the water change (perhaps because I stirred up the gravel?)

Also, about the time they first appeared I'd gotten some live food (brine
shrimps) and some frozen bloodworms from the same pet store.  Could these
things, whatever they are, have come from there?  Is live food inherently
unsafe?  What about frozen food?

Is there still a danger of further infestation?  What should I do?  Any
particular medicines?  Should I take everything out and completely wash out
the gravel?

Any and all help welcome, and highly appreciated!


-- Ashwin Ram --

ARPA:    Ram-Ashwin@cs.yale.edu
UUCP:    {decvax,ucbvax,harvard,cmcl2,...}!yale!Ram-Ashwin
BITNET:  Ram@yalecs