Parasitic infections such as skin flukes, gill flukes and tapeworms can be common in ornamental fish, with certain species being particularly susceptible.
Cichlids, discus fish, and angelfish, for example, are often vulnerable to nematodes, threadlike worms that can range in length from a few millimeters to several inches and can infect fish through live or frozen food. or by parasites that are sometimes unintentionally carried into an aquarium on plants or snails.
In their adult stage, nematodes are normally found in the gut of fish where they can cause considerable damage, while in their juvenile stage they can be found in liver or muscle tissue as a tumor.
Fish infected with tapeworms (cestodes), on the other hand, exhibit different symptoms, often losing weight rapidly despite displaying normal feeding behavior.
Additionally, infected discs will also exhibit dark skin and hide in dark corners to avoid light.
Other types of parasites that commonly affect discus, angelfish, and other cichlids are skin and gill flukes. Affected fish will exhibit a variety of symptoms depending on the type of parasite or worms involved.
Those affected by skin flukes (Gyrodactylus) will attempt to get rid of the parasites and relieve the irritation they cause by rubbing, whereas in the case of gill fluke (Dactylogyrus) infection, however, the fish will exhibit a marked increase in activity. respiratory and sometimes have «extended» or swollen gills.
Gill flukes are egg layers, so to adequately kill all these parasites and ensure the infection is completely eradicated, it is necessary to treat the filtration system and repeat the treatment after a week.
However, despite this variety of fish diseases, the good news is that it is rarely necessary to know precisely what type of parasite has infected your fish, as there is only one drug that can treat them all.
With the highly effective active ingredient praziquantel, NT Labs NT480 Anti-Fluke & Wormer Antiworm can quickly and safely combat gill flukes, skin flukes, nematodes and tapeworms and return your fish to full health.
