I think we’ve got flukes… confirmation?

[witchywoman725]

My Stars and Stripes puffer has been acting ill but no visual signs of white spots, excess mucus, etc. just cloudy eyes and lethargic, a bit of flashing on her sides near gills. I figured maybe flukes. I did a FW dip (absolutely terrifying for me- she was a champ though). After the FW dip I found these…. I believe they are flukes…. Can anyone confirm since this my 1st time dealing with them…?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

My Stars and Stripes puffer has been acting ill but no visual signs of white spots, excess mucus, etc. just cloudy eyes and lethargic, a bit of flashing on her sides near gills. I figured maybe flukes. I did a FW dip (absolutely terrifying for me- she was a champ though). After the FW dip I found these…. I believe they are flukes…. Can anyone confirm since this my 1st time dealing with them…?

Those don’t look like flukes. The pointy end just doesn’t match up. How many did you see? Any sense of how large these are?

Only one genus of fluke is easily seen in dips, the others require a microscope to see (or at least a magnifying glass).

Jay

 

[witchywoman725]

Those don’t look like flukes. The pointy end just doesn’t match up. How many did you see? Any sense of how large these are?

Only one genus of fluke is easily seen in dips, the others require a microscope to see (or at least a magnifying glass).

Jay

I found 2 of those in the bottom of the bucket. they are very tiny, maybe an 1/8th of an inch at most....definitely smaller than the width of my fingernail (which is roughly 1/4").

 

[vetteguy53081]

I found 2 of those in the bottom of the bucket. they are very tiny, maybe an 1/8th of an inch at most....definitely smaller than the width of my fingernail (which is roughly 1/4").

looks like a worm or even a lymphocystis cell ( see pic of one under a microscope)

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I found 2 of those in the bottom of the bucket. they are very tiny, maybe an 1/8th of an inch at most....definitely smaller than the width of my fingernail (which is roughly 1/4").

I wonder if the could be skin spicules from the puffer?

Edit: sorry, not spicule, they are called spinules. A picture is here:

Evolution and Developmental Diversity of Skin Spines in Pufferfishes

Teleost fishes develop remarkable varieties of skin ornaments. The developmental basis of these structures is poorly understood. The order Tetraodonti…

www.sciencedirect.com

Jay

 

[witchywoman725]

looks like a worm or even a lymphocystis cell ( see pic of one under a microscope)

thank you!

 

[witchywoman725]

I wonder if the could be skin spicules from the puffer?

Edit: sorry, not spicule, they are called spinules. A picture is here:

Evolution and Developmental Diversity of Skin Spines in Pufferfishes

Teleost fishes develop remarkable varieties of skin ornaments. The developmental basis of these structures is poorly understood. The order Tetraodonti…

www.sciencedirect.com

Jay

Very interesting, thank you!

 

[witchywoman725]

Thank you all! At least I can check flukes off the list!