Allie

Ever since I bought the keyhole cichlids in February, I have had health issues with all 3 (one died). First the female had septicemia, the extra male RIP had dropsy but now realized he had parasites to begin with.
Anchor worms!!! My male keyholes had these red thread like things hanging out of their anal areas. I read up on line and discovered they are called anchor worms. I removed them myself with tweezers and treated the open area with peroxide. They've been in salt water for 2 months now, no worm sightings & the infected area is healing nicely. Got Coopersafe & Maracyn 2 last night and thing should only improve from now on.
I was really freaked out, he was fading fast 3 weeks ago. My female is now larger than the male...the worms stunted him. For the past week he has been playing with the female & not hiding.
I am getting tired of having sick fish but I am doing what I can for everyone's issues.

Fishies-for-me

Did the worms look like this?? If so they are not anchor worms they are camallanus worms..an intestinal parasite and bad news...I hope you are right and I am wrong as I didn't see them and you did. I had camallanus worms in a guppy and it took me a long time to clear them up using jungle labs anti parasite medicated food. It is very contagious and can spread like wild fire.

Attached Images

guppy 003 - Copy.JPG (258.5 KB, 24 views)

Allie

YES that's exactly what the worms looked like. Coopersafe treats the tank for a month. I have been treating these fish nearly 2 months now, first saltwater, then the tweezers, now meds. He is healing up finally.

Fishies-for-me

Allie watch these fish very carefully. This worm as I understand it takes about 3 months to reproduce and if you pulled out the adults you may have some juvies living in them..as far as I know coppersafe will not cure them. ( dern I hope I am wrong ) are these fish in a tank by themselves? They say a drop of water can transfer the worm from one tank to another. I had these worms many years ago in gups and lost a lot to them without knowing what it was( no puters then) Do a google on them and at least you know what to expect. I did cure my gups this time. I hope . ( 4 months or so without symptoms.) good luck. That male in the pix survived . He was quarantined for a month and was very happy to get back in with the ladies.

MissMTS

Oh Allie, I am so glad to hear that they are getting better. It is so frustrating to have sick fish. I know that you do everything you can for you finkids. Hopefully this will be the end of the awful fish illnesses you will have to put up with for a while.

Allie

Yes the keyholes have been in a 10g for the past month.
I lost 4 betta in one weeks last month...I BET it is what killed them. I lost a betta today..same symptoms. http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/be...tml#post392639

Thanks I HOPE so too.

Allie

The coopersafe will help somewhat, the saltwater is what made the worms come out...which I pulled out with tweezers and put the peroxide on the fish's wound. He is truly getting better, fin are growing back...wounds are healing and no hanging flesh. I hope it's done with, but I am leaving them in the 10g for life now anyhow.

COBettaCouple

Yea, it's so frustrating and upsetting to have sick fish.