Costia & Chilodinella Parasites A Common Pond Fish Disease
Costia & Chilodinella Fish Parasites
Costia & Chilodinella are fresh water fish parasites that if left to their own devices will cause havoc to the gold fish population living in your water garden pond. The chef’s favorite, Salt is a good cure for eradicating these parasitic organisms.
For a correct diagnosis it is recommended that you take a scraping of the fish's skin and examine it under a microscope. This will identify which fish parasites are present.
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Costia Parasite Microscopic View
Costia look like small commas and attach themselves to your pond fish's gills and skin. Costia Ichtyobodo is classed as a flagellate parasite and one of the deadliest, smallest parasites that affect ornamental koi, gold fish and other freshwater and saltwater species of fish. Costia parasites are unable to survive for more than a couple of hours without a pond fish host. When conditions are unfavorable to the parasite they are believed to be capable of forming into a cyst. Flagellate parasites can infest fish both externally and internally and are characterized by one or more Flagella, (hairs).
Symptoms of Costia infection are:
Your pond fish population is diminishing quickly
The fish's fins appear reddened
Pond fish look like they are struggling to breathe
Spider web lesions and excess mucus on the skin is a characteristic
Chilodinella Microscopic View
Chilodinella is another parasite that may cause pond fish fatalities. This heart shaped parasite attaches itself to your goldfish's gills, interfering with breathing. When dead they appear as motionless round balls full of tiny bubbles. Symptoms of Chilodinella parasite infection are plenty of your goldfish dying at the pond surface and pond fish rolling on their sides, except when disturbed.
Chilodinella parasites are extremely susceptible to treatment with salt. Treat with 0.3% concentration for two weeks (14 days), ensuring that air is used extensively to compensate for gill damage ... For a review of parasite treatment products, including pond salt take a look here.
What Do I do if I suspect Costia & Chilodinella Parasite Infection?
Changes in pond water conditions such as increased ammonia concentrations, increased pH levels are often contributing factors. Test your pond water regularly, particularly for Ammonia, Nitrite, pH, total alkalinity and water hardness ... For a review of pond test kits click here.
A simple and effective way to reduce the ammonia level is to carry out partial water changes …replace between 20 to 40% of your pond water daily. Adding a touch of salt; approx 0.1% level is a good idea.
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