Purple Firefish Disease
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softiesplease
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First thank you so much for the help no need to apologize. I treated the QT tank with paraguard before the first FW dip and just did a second FW dip a day later but nothing came out this time. If I get another one I can try to get a shot with the real camera but probably not.
Yeah, there was an unbelievable amount. They were there seemingly for 3+ months. This fish must be 6+ months removed from the wild. Looking back on photos from November the bulge is less pronounced and I guess with gradual progression I never realized something was off until I happened to be looking at healthy firefish.
Do you think these could have reproduced and spread in captivity to my other fish? That is a main concern at the moment.
softiesplease
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Yes I feel so bad for the fish, and also wish I dipped in a more clear container to have better video of what happened but I was NOT expecting that to happen. Wasn’t even going to record it.
Jay Hemdal
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Yes - some isopods have been known to become free living in tanks and can become pests. You can try baiting them in a mesh net with a bit of fish flesh or krill inside. Check it before lights come on in the morning to see if you see any isopods in the mesh.
softiesplease
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Is it likely? Also copepods or isopods? In the morning I’ve seen either copepods or something similar on the glass but this has been since I seeded pods into the tank multiple times so not sure how I would know what the difference looks like.
Also, none of my fish show any signs of swollen gills or anything and they have all been together for a few months now. The last addition was late November. Clownfish, clown goby, rainford goby. I could probably catch them all easier than I caught the firefish to do a FW dip but they show no signs of anything, so I was thinking to not do that because it could cause stress and lead to other issues?
softiesplease
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softiesplease
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I realized didnt post this video yet either. It is probably easier to see what they are in this one. This is from the first FW dip like 1 minute after they came out of the gill in the earlier video I posted about 4 min into the dip overall.
DrkNMighty
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Still one of the craziest things I have seen. Hopefully someone has an answer as to what they are.
softiesplease
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Thanks! Even if can’t ID further would also appreciate recommendations for best course of action in the display tank for the other fish.
I’ve already read a lot of threads on related but not the same issue and seems like Jay always giving good info about this, so along with all the other great people on here I’m sure when someone gets a chance ill get some more info.
In the meantime I’m being extra vigilant about the health of the DT.
I’ve already read a lot of threads on related but not the same issue and seems like Jay always giving good info about this, so along with all the other great people on here I’m sure when someone gets a chance ill get some more info.
In the meantime I’m being extra vigilant about the health of the DT.
Jay Hemdal
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Sorry - the first “copepod” was a typo, I changed that to isopod. There are also free living copepods, but they are more detritivores and algae eaters.
ISO means equal - so isopods have equal feet. Copepods usually have larger appendages up front. There are also amphipods, called scuds.
Looking at you new pictures, I’d say these are indeed isopods.
Here is an article I did about crustacean fish parasites:
Arthropod Parasites of Aquarium Fish - Hemdal
Parasitic Crustaceans (Copepods, Isopods, and Sea Lice) Jay Hemdal c.2020 This is an excerpt from my upcoming fish disease book - a section on arthropod parasites of fish; isopods and copepods. ------------------ Cause This disease problem is...
www.reef2reef.com
Jay
softiesplease
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Not looking good for the Firefish
softiesplease
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Thanks Jay I actually found this and read it already. So what would you do regarding the display tank and other fish.Sorry - the first “copepod” was a typo, I changed that to isopod. There are also free living copepods, but they are more detritivores and algae eaters.
ISO means equal - so isopods have equal feet. Copepods usually have larger appendages up front. There are also amphipods, called scuds.
Looking at you new pictures, I’d say these are indeed isopods.
Here is an article I did about crustacean fish parasites:
Arthropod Parasites of Aquarium Fish - Hemdal
Parasitic Crustaceans (Copepods, Isopods, and Sea Lice) Jay Hemdal c.2020 This is an excerpt from my upcoming fish disease book - a section on arthropod parasites of fish; isopods and copepods. ------------------ Cause This disease problem is...
Jay
softiesplease
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https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/97ci...3516.mov?rlkey=p6jc1amzw64uaogka0rlqi7hn&dl=0
Checked my glass before lights went on in tank but these don’t look like what came out of my firefish gill. What came out of my firefish were all uniform size as if they were freshly hatched or born inside the fish. I checked my fish also and they don’t appear to have anything on their skin. So I don’t think what my firefish had is something that comes out at night to predate?
I can try and catch the fish (clownfish, clown goby, rainford goby) when possible for a FW dip but they appear fully healthy I really do not want to cause more stress than necessary.
Checked my glass before lights went on in tank but these don’t look like what came out of my firefish gill. What came out of my firefish were all uniform size as if they were freshly hatched or born inside the fish. I checked my fish also and they don’t appear to have anything on their skin. So I don’t think what my firefish had is something that comes out at night to predate?
I can try and catch the fish (clownfish, clown goby, rainford goby) when possible for a FW dip but they appear fully healthy I really do not want to cause more stress than necessary.
Patx
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@Jay Hemdal have you see the video?I realized didnt post this video yet either. It is probably easier to see what they are in this one. This is from the first FW dip like 1 minute after they came out of the gill in the earlier video I posted about 4 min into the dip overall.
softiesplease
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Jay Hemdal
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The animals in this video are not the same thing, these look like amphipods or maybe copepods. See how the eyes are not as distinct? Those deep black eyes in the previous videos (and having no antenna) are what makes me think that those were isopods.
Jay
softiesplease
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Ok yes I agree they are not the same as previous videos (what came out of the inside of the firefish) I just wanted to confirm. I agree amphipods and some copepods I see both in person. So what’s your suggestion on what to do with my healthy appearing fish in my display tank?
softiesplease
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Also is what came out of firefish definitely the final/adult stage of whatever organism it is?
Jay Hemdal
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No, they could have been the manca stage of a gnathid isopod.
I'm at a disadvantage because whatever these are, they are not widely reported in the trade or literature. That means we have no basis to forecast how they will be towards other fish.
Jay
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