Is this a Nematode in F8?

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Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.

1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.

2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.

3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)

4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.

5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.

We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.

While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.

Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
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Maudsalsa
Puffer Fry
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Is this a Nematode in F8?

Post by Maudsalsa »

Is this a nematode and are there any options for treatment? I’ve had this F8 alone in a 29 gal for 4 weeks and first noticed this 2 weeks ago. It looks like a tightly coiled spiral and has grown since I first saw it.

I want to know what my options are for treatment. Based on previous threads, it sounds like surgery or euthanasia 🙁. Are there any chemical treatments that are effective? It is in his tail so I’m not sure adding anything to his food would work but I’m open to suggestions.
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Is this a Nematode in F8?

Post by Pufferpunk »

Sure looks like it. Best to just keep the water clean & keep the puffer healthy & happy. I suggest not adding tank mates, as they are transferable.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Maudsalsa
Puffer Fry
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2018 10:48 pm
Location (country): United States

Re: Is this a Nematode in F8?

Post by Maudsalsa »

Ok. I will plan to keep him alone. Any idea how this impacts life expectancy? As in can a fish live for weeks, months, years with a nematode?
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Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32755
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Is this a Nematode in F8?

Post by Pufferpunk »

I have heard of them living for years with this.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Maudsalsa
Puffer Fry
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2018 10:48 pm
Location (country): United States

Re: Is this a Nematode in F8?

Post by Maudsalsa »

3 year update for anyone curious: the puffer is still alive and well so it appears they can in fact live for years with this :)

The nematode has not been visible for a long time so I'm not sure if he expelled it at some point, or if it is still in there but not pressed up against the skin.
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32755
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: Is this a Nematode in F8?

Post by Pufferpunk »

Great news!
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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