"Pseudotropheus zebra" "black Spots" disease ?

[pcontour]

One of my 5 females has developed black spots, I am wondering if this is a disease and if so what should be done about it. I have been able to upload pictures. Is this a normal occurrence? if you can add a picture I will be able to say if it is similar or not.

Thanks to anyone who replies.

[Tommi Jensen]

pcontour wrote:
> One of my 5 females has developed black spots, I am wondering if this is
> a disease and if so what should be done about it. Sorry I am unable to
> add a picture at this time, because the forum is not working. The
> spots are numerous, and not in any pattern. Is this a normal
> occurrence? if you can add a picture I will be able to say if it is
> similar or not.
is this fish caught in the wild?

spots such as: http://www.malawicarsten.dk/img/upload/DSC00080.jpg ?

Directly translated from http://www.malawicarsten.dk/ 's website (he had
no english version of the related article): >>

This is usually flatworms of the Metaceraria type.
This type of flatworm uses snails as the first host, and when eaten by a
fish, it's used as an intermediate host, when the fish is eaten by a
bird, the cycle starts over.

Size ranging from 1-3mm.
They usually live in the skin, eyes, muscles and inner organs of the
fish. Often the fish affected seem skinny and have darker colors than
usual as a side effect.

If the infection isn't massive, they do usually doesn't hurt the fish
and will fall off after a while (seeing as they can't complete the cycle).
If the fish however, is weakened by stress or similar, the flatworms
might break out of their `holsters', adding chance of other types of
infections in the wounds.

normally it shouldn't be necesarry to treat the fishes, but Exrapid have
shown itself to be efficient. When treating with Exrapid, it should be
repeated atleast 5 times before results start to show.
Beond that, mixing Niclosamide and Praziquantel in their diet should do
the trick as well.

<<

Mind you - this is not -my- words, nor my experience, I have none
whatsoever with this. I merely recognized it, having read his article
before and figured you might find it interresting.

having said that, I'd deem it unlikely (though not impossible) that this
is the case if they're not caught in the wild, or that you've introduced
something else from the outside world lately, as the flatworms shouldn't
be capable of cycling without birds in the loop.

hth

/Tommi

[pcontour]

pcontour wrote:
One of my 5 females has developed black spots, I am wondering if this is
a disease and if so what should be done about it. Sorry I am unable to
add a picture at this time, because the forum is not working. The
spots are numerous, and not in any pattern. Is this a normal
occurrence? if you can add a picture I will be able to say if it is
similar or not.
is this fish caught in the wild?

spots such as: http://www.malawicarsten.dk/img/upload/DSC00080.jpg ?

Directly translated from http://www.malawicarsten.dk/ 's website (he had
no english version of the related article):

This is usually flatworms of the Metaceraria type.
This type of flatworm uses snails as the first host, and when eaten by a
fish, it's used as an intermediate host, when the fish is eaten by a
bird, the cycle starts over.

Size ranging from 1-3mm.
They usually live in the skin, eyes, muscles and inner organs of the
fish. Often the fish affected seem skinny and have darker colors than
usual as a side effect.

If the infection isn't massive, they do usually doesn't hurt the fish
and will fall off after a while (seeing as they can't complete the cycle).
If the fish however, is weakened by stress or similar, the flatworms
might break out of their `holsters', adding chance of other types of
infections in the wounds.

normally it shouldn't be necesarry to treat the fishes, but Exrapid have
shown itself to be efficient. When treating with Exrapid, it should be
repeated atleast 5 times before results start to show.
Beond that, mixing Niclosamide and Praziquantel in their diet should do
the trick as well.



Mind you - this is not -my- words, nor my experience, I have none
whatsoever with this. I merely recognized it, having read his article
before and figured you might find it interresting.

having said that, I'd deem it unlikely (though not impossible) that this
is the case if they're not caught in the wild, or that you've introduced
something else from the outside world lately, as the flatworms shouldn't
be capable of cycling without birds in the loop.

hth

/Tommi


I have been able to upload pictures, so please check back and see what this looks like on my fish. I think that black spots on this specific fish and a specific few other African chiclids may be normal. The fish in the picture from your reply Tommi looks like it has a different problem. Thank you for doing that translation. Any other opinions on these spots are eagerly awaited.

Thanks Again Keith

[Tommi Jensen]

> I have been able to upload pictures, so please check back and see what
> this looks like on my fish. I think that black spots on this specific
> fish and a specific few other African chiclids may be normal. The fish
> in the picture from your reply Tommi looks like it has a different
> problem. Thank you for doing that translation. Any other opinions on
> these spots are eagerly awaited.
1) I'm getting this through rec.aquaria.freshwater.cichlids - I can't
see your image uploads. I suggest you upload images to some free service
that doesn't require registration to view them.
2) as I mentioned, I don't have -personal- experience on the subject, I
merely recalled this article, and thought it might be relevant/useful.

/Tommi