URGENT

[Botia4Life]

My chinese algae eater is laying either upside-down or on his side. is not touching any algae even though there is some. I put him in a little protective breeding case (not for breedin right now obviously). And as I was closing the top I noticed a cm long tan worm or so, swimming in the case, could not just come from nowhere, so maybe fish? I have never had any type of worm in the tank so.... takes out that possibilty. Pls. Help

[Jchillin]

I recall reading about these worms in the past. I can't recall what they are exactly but if I remember anything, get rid of it. I don't think it came out of the fish, they live in the tank naturally.

Try a search on freshwater worms. Sorry I couldn't help further.

[Botia4Life]

Thank you.

[Jchillin]

I found the info: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/inde...ond/worms.html

Take a look at the nematode.

[Botia4Life]

Thats it, so your saying that it's not playing a role?

[Zagz]

Is there anything else about your [acronym:865481048b="Chinese Algae Eater"]CAE[/acronym:865481048b], red spots or lines, white spots fuzz that you notice? Is your [acronym:865481048b="Chinese Algae Eater"]CAE[/acronym:865481048b] a golden [acronym:865481048b="Chinese Algae Eater"]CAE[/acronym:865481048b]? How big is he? [acronym:865481048b="Chinese Algae Eater"]CAE[/acronym:865481048b]'s will quit eating algae once they get to be a bit bigger. The lack of algae eating may not be a symptom.

[Jchillin]

I can't say...just wanted to make sure about what I originally posted. It's entirely possible that the fish tried to injest it.

[rich311k]

How is his breathing? Does his belly look different?

[Botia4Life]

No out of the ordinary lines or marks or anything of that nature. His color is golden, don't remember if it said golden. I think it was, and he's only an 1.5 " or so maybe 2".

[TankGirl]

Have you tested the tank water parameters? That's where we need to start. The worm/nematode may or may not be playing a role. Usually harmful parasitic worms are going to be attached to the fish, so it may be an incidental finding. If nematodes are present in the tank, however, this provides a clue that there is some detritus collecting on the bottom that neesd to be addressed with increased PWCs and gravel vacs, and care not to overfeed.

Otherwise, the fish needs to be in a hospital tank so he can be observed and treated. Look closely at the gills, as we need to know if there are flukes or if we are just dealing with a bacterial illness to be treated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic. He needs to be out of the main tank, though, if possible.