Flukes,worms ,,,,,,,,,,crap

**smaug** · 09-04-2011, 08:57 PM

My firefish has something attached to its head. I have noticed what looked like dry peeling skin arounds its head for a few days now and today I saw what looks like a damn worm about an eighth of an inch long on its head. No way Ill catch this guy without tearing the entire tank apart. Can anyone show me a good pic of a fluke or other worm.I will try to get a pic of this .

**Lady Hobbs** · 09-04-2011, 09:05 PM

There aren't any decent pictures I can find but the dry, white area is the description is what I've always heard. Almost clear but you can sometimes see it move about.

**Cliff** · 09-04-2011, 09:05 PM

I don't have a pic, but the guys at ourr SW LFS have a great book that showes really good pics for all types of diseases. I was looking at it after we had lost our copper band.

When I'm home next weekend I'll send you a PM with the title

Wish I could be more help than that

**smaug** · 09-04-2011, 10:23 PM

**seavashr** · 09-04-2011, 11:32 PM

Make a DIY trap:

Get a family sized plastic drink (those coke or soda bottles).
Cut the tip on the cone anywhere to make a whole as large your fish.
Then make another cut from where the cone shape change to cylinder.
Flip it back ward. Now put food inside it and put it inside tank. Fish fly the cone inside but get stuck inside.

(ps you could search DIY fish trap to see some videos)

About worm this might helps, check the worm section:
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchhikers.html

I would definitely run UV sterilizer as preventive measurement to prevent separation of worm in the tank. You could get used online for cheap.

**smaug** · 09-05-2011, 12:24 AM

I have made them before with limited success. Firefish are very much fish of habit and have predesignated dart holes .This isnt a worm and Im not so sure its a fluke either.Just kind of freaking out a bit,flukes Im seeing pics of are much smaller then this.

**seavashr** · 09-05-2011, 06:34 AM

You may need to leave the trap inside the tank for sometime so they get used to it. Try not to feed them and leave the food inside the trap to encourage them get into it.

I would set my priority number one as getting this fish out of the main tank. Hopefully it's not too late yet.

P.S there other other kind of traps too. Even online stores sell commercial ones. But considering size of your fish I would say the bottle trap is best to capture small size only fish.

**Honey Badger 1** · 09-05-2011, 06:51 AM

Check this link out to see if it helps, there are no pictures but about half way down the page are some good descriptions and suggested treatments.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/parasiti.htm

Good luck hope you can help the little guy.

**smaug** · 09-05-2011, 11:43 AM

The big flake is gone this morning and after watching him intently for about 15 minutes he seems healthy and has a great appetite with no flashing . All the other fish seem fine for now. Ill just keep watching. Tearing the tank down to catch him is all but a guarantee of killing a fish because of all the goby/rock dwellers I have.Thanks to all of you who keep providing help and suggestions,