Re: [RML] help with diagnose sick praecox

Wright Huntley (huntley1 at home.com)
Thu, 18 Mar 1999 16:56:46 -0800

"H. Hoekstra" wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> Some of my praecox became listless and scratchy so I took a very close look
> at them. Under certain angles, I can see very tiny 'hairs' on them. They are
> not in groups, so it's not fungus? Maybe Gyrodactlyus but AFAIK this can not
> be seen with the naked eye?

After skimming through Untergasser's Handbook of Fish Diseases, I think you have
hit it on the head. They can range from 0.3 to 0.9mm, so should be quite visible
at the larger sizes.

> It's only visible on their back when you look at
> them at their side and there's a dark background behind, or on their sides
> when you look at them straight in front.
> I put in a wide-spectrum medication, some seemed to improve but others not.
> I estimate that these things are about 1mm. They had this for about 5 days now
> and except clamped fins there are no other signs. Any help would be much
> appreciated!

The medicines probably do little to help. Untergasser suggests the insecticide
Trichlorfon (if available) or potassium permanganate (very risky) or Formalin.
The latter is a short bath of the 35% at 2-4 ml in 10 liters for 30 min. in a
separate tank. "Observe fish well. Stop treatment if fish show
disequilibrium..."

He also suggests you look for other sources of stress on the fish, as they
usually resist infection pretty well, unless weakened.

Wright


-- 
Wright Huntley, Fremont CA, USA, 510 494-8679  huntley1 at home dot com


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