RE: NANFA-- fish parasites

Nick Zarlinga (njz_at_clevelandmetroparks.com)
Tue, 12 Nov 2002 07:39:10 -0500

Not that it matters, but I concur with Pete and now Dr. Scharpfenficsh that
these unsightly black spots are from trematodes and that they are only on
the fish as an intermediate host and can not complete the life cycle in an
aquarium. Usually a snail or as Pete mentioned, a bird, are other hosts.

I also concur that some species of mussel glochidia do indeed infect the
fins as well as gills and gill operculum.

Nick Zarlinga
Aquarium Biologist
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
216.661.6500 ext 4485

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nanfa_at_aquaria.net On Behalf
Of Christopher Scharpf
Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2002 1:43 PM
To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
Subject: Re: NANFA-- fish parasites

Yep, Pete nailed this one. The trematodes are unsightly, but harmless.

And Moon is right, glochidia grow on fins as well as gills.

Chris Scharpf
Baltimore

> From: "Pete Liptrot" <coelacanth_at_btinternet.com>
> Reply-To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2002 13:29:43 -0000
> To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> Subject: Re: NANFA-- fish parasites

> They sound like encysted metacercaria of a digenetic trematode. They
usually
> only cause minor irritation if any, and fish can live and breed quite
> successfully while infected. There is little chance of transmission to
other
> fish, as what you are seeing is just an intermediate stage on the way to
the
> adult fluke ending up in it's final host, usually a piscivorous bird. Just
> keep your pet Heron away from the tank and you should be OK.
> They are found pretty well all over the world, I've seen them on fish from
> here in the UK, South America, Asia and West Africa.

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/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
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/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
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/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org