The Puffer Forum

thanks again for all your replies...is there any chance that the nematodes will die??
I'm still worried about contamination of the tank (and reinfection to future fish) if my puffer dies...is this possible or ridiculous? What about equipment and decor - do I need to throw these out and buy new ones?

Another dumb question: can humans contract this parasite via absorption thru the skin? ie. I'm starting to get paranoid doing his water changes and am thinking of (don't laugh) using rubber gloves

I'm not certain if my F8s bumps are nematodes — pics stumped the experts — but they've been with me for 2yrs now. (Uh, the F8s, not the bumps). The bumps seem to bother me much more than the F8s.

Aquarium gloves are a good idea in a do-as-i-say-not-as-i-do kinda way. I don't think you have to worry about nematodes but there are worse things you can catch from your tank water.

The fish somatic nematodes do not infect people, and fish-to-fish captive tranmission is rare or impossible for most of these, as many have complex life cycles comparable to the digenetic flukes. These beasts are wild transmission only as a group so far as I know.

opinions/comments please...

have not seen 'worms' or 'coils' any more on my F8 - it's been about 3 weeks now. He's happy as ever and eating and begging as usual. I didn't do anything medically, just kept changing water religiously and feeding him live/frozen food as before.

are they gone for good?

No, they'll have moved. Just keep him well fed with lots of nutrients, and, as from the anecdotal evidence from RTR and F&F, you can see that they needn't be a disaster.
Pami.