What are you feeding? I had something similar show up in a batch of FDBWs a while back. AL said not to worry about it, a dead flatworm "hitchhiker."
Hello all,
2 weeks ago I received 5 Discus from Kenny's December Shipment and they have been doing very well in quarantine. I have not added any medication, and have only been doing daily 90% water changes.
This morning shortly after feeding, and right before I was going to do my water change I noticed some sort of parasite that was dead at the bottom of the tank.
I took a few pictures of it at the bottom of the tank (Please excuse the dirty tank as this was right after feeding and right before my water change).
The parasite looked white in the water, but when removed it is mostly translucent. In the pictures is a Nickel for scale.
Is anybody able to identify this? And should I be concerned?
Thanks in advance for any help.
What are you feeding? I had something similar show up in a batch of FDBWs a while back. AL said not to worry about it, a dead flatworm "hitchhiker."
Lifting dictionaries literally strengthens your muscles.
I have been feeding various different foods, but this morning was Omega One frozen blood worms. But I only feed them 1 blister pack at a time, and I am 99% sure it didn't come from the food. I always watch them eat and go after the food and I didn't notice it the entire time they were feeding.
When I went back to do my water change I noticed it immediately from all the way across the room.
is it a leech?
~JACKLYN~
Looks like a leech of some sort or flatworm as Steve mentioned. I remember finding a few live ones similar to this one that hitched a ride when I used to feed live black worms.
...Ralph
"Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."
-John Wooden
That "sucker" sure looks like a leach, so where did it come from? And was it ever alive in your tank, or found dead? I'm going with it came in with some food, not on Kenny's discus, and was probably already dead. i would just watch for signs of any more.
Lifting dictionaries literally strengthens your muscles.
Found it dead on the bottom of the tank shortly after feeding. I haven't noticed any sort of illness or anything bothering any of the discus. I think it would be hard to miss that hanging off one of them. Fingers crossed it was only in the food. Thank you all for your input.
Chris, i know that finding a weird creature laying on the bottom of your tank is alarming, and when they are gross and squishy it really makes the situation kind of dramatic and panicked. we have to remember that in the wild, these fish would encounter these creatures every day, and would likely eat them. most of the time they are already dead and are harmless. keep your head up I'm sure it was a one time incident
~JACKLYN~