Tetrahymena: Harmful for discus?

[passtube]

I recently inspected my discus fish poo (white poo) and found some Tetrahymena. There is no hex or flagellate found. My question is will Tetrahymena cause any harm to discus? I know it might cause problem for guppy, but not other fish. Any comment from expert here?

[brewmaster15]

I'm no expert on it but I wouldn't want them in my discus...

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/vi...text=usfwspubs


indicates its probable that any species of fish can be infected.

This pathogen is usually free living but can switch modes to parasitic depending on its environment and needs.. Not something I would take a chance on. I would think Metronidazole would work on it.

hth,
al

[Paul Sabucchi]

Hi, thought it was more an external parasite of guppies, platies and danio. What other fish do you have together with your discus? Did your discus originally come from Singapore or Malaysia? Suppose it could become a problem if you get a perfect storm if the discus get very stressed, they maybe get some skin lesions for other causes and tank hygiene has slipped

[passtube]

Hi Al and Paul,

Thank you very much for the comment. I supposed metro will knock them off.

I read Tetrahymena or free-living ciliates are commonly found in water and hence thinking if that's worth dosing metro to knock them off. From Al's shared article, Tetrahymena has became issue with fish like guppy and bream. I am wondering if ciliates are so common in water, what's the best way than antibiotic to remove them?

Any thoughts or any insight of this pathogen? Also, I read a few people with HITH found this pathogen in their feces.

Thank you!

[Paul Sabucchi]

Hi again, I think there are no real hard facts about the impact of Teyrahymena in Discus. As I said above my feeling is that per se it would not be a problem, in healthy fish they probably behave as commensalism but it may become an issue if the fish are severely stressed or injured for some other reason. Another fact to consider is that these protozoa can actually carry some pretty nasty bacteria (pathogenic strains of E coli, Salmonella etc). Again it would be useful if you could tell us a bit more about your fish

[passtube]

Hi Paul,

I am going to inspect my other fish with black poo to see if Tetrahymena is present. If it is, then we just counter prove that it's not the main cause of white poo. It could be discus is having some kind of diarrhoea or internal disorder.

[Paul Sabucchi]

Worth checking, how are the fish? Will you try metro?

[Tuterosso]

for this i prefer FCM, FMC or green malahite

[Paul Sabucchi]

I agree formalin based medications will probably be more effective killing any external ciliates, luckily metro is also known to be effective against this protozoa that is quite similar to Trichomonas

[passtube]

Hi Paul, I have tried metro, seems to knock the protozoan down. And I did inspect the black poo, seems to have less tetrahymena in it.

[passtube]

for this i prefer FCM, FMC or green malahite

Thank you Tuterosso, I will give formalin a try. Do you happened to know the dose rate for 40% formalin solution? Thank you.

[brewmaster15]

Hi Paul, I have tried metro, seems to knock the protozoan down. And I did inspect the black poo, seems to have less tetrahymena in it.

How long and at what dose did you use the metro?

If you are seeing these in feces theres nothing to be gained by using formalin and malachite green. It has zero effect on internal parasites... strictly works on external parasites.

Hth,
Al

[Tuterosso]

i make this using FMC/FCM 20ml/100L first day, third day 10ml/100L, seven day 5ml/100ml water change on 10 day, i feed 1 or 2 times a day only granulat and using light only in room

[Paul Sabucchi]

Hi Paul, I have tried metro, seems to knock the protozoan down. And I did inspect the black poo, seems to have less tetrahymena in it.

Thanks for letting us know, as Al asked: how much Metro for how long?

[jimg]

I had seen these in feces quite bit awhile back and asked roy yanung about them he said small numbers are usually not a problem but larger numbers of them could very well cause issues.