Worm in pleco's mouth

msdolittle · 07-07-2006, 03:46 PM

My rubberlip doesn't attach to the glass that often so I don't see his mouth much. Just now I was in the room and he was attached so I was looking at his mouth. I noticed a tiny white worm, like a pinworm in a mammal, moving around inside his mouth. What do I do? Is this going to be a catastrophe or is it an easy fix? Is it something I even need to worry about (I assume it is, parasites aren't good for any other living creature I assume its the same for fish)?

Jeez........its one thing after another. My husband's going to kill me now that I have to buy yet more medicine.

Durbkat · 07-07-2006, 04:26 PM

Could it have been some kind of food or something he found in the substrate or on a piece of decor?

msdolittle · 07-07-2006, 04:55 PM

Oh no, I saw that mother wiggling and moving about. There was no mistaking it, it was a worm for sure. It looked just like a pinworm.

Durbkat · 07-07-2006, 05:17 PM

EWWW

**JustOneMore20** · 07-07-2006, 05:24 PM

Could it be an anchor worm?

Check out This Site for pictures.

msdolittle · 07-07-2006, 06:57 PM

There was no pic, but I googled it. Anchor worm is greenish brown according to a couple sites. This worm was white............It looked exactly like a pin worm.

msdolittle · 07-07-2006, 06:58 PM

Wait, I just saw another site that said its grey......but it did NOT look like the pic.

msdolittle · 07-07-2006, 07:00 PM

http://www.emedicine.com/med/images/18381.jpg

It looked like these. It was about a millimeter? I'm not good with metrics..........maybe an eighth of an inch?

msdolittle · 07-07-2006, 07:05 PM

I don't feed live foods btw....if thats of any importance. AND, he's not acting strange or in pain or unhealthy. I don't see any bulges or spots or redness anywhere either. And, where the worm was, his mouth wasn't red or sore. It looked like the normal very pale pinkish white that a pleco mouth looks like. It took me a minute to notice it and if I'd not been specifically examining his mouth I never would have seen it. I was looking so closely because I'd never had a chance to see his mouth before so it was interesting.....and then I saw something moving on one side and not the other. As I looked closer I saw it was a teeny tiny worm................freaky.

FortWayneFish · 07-08-2006, 09:20 AM

i'd suggest doing Nothing.............. if the fish is not showing any signs of distress and is in good health let it go. what you saw might just be a normal never know it might not have been a worm after all it might have been its tongue or possibly something else that is suppose to be in the fishies mouth.

if you do medicate remove the rubebrlip to a seperate tank. no use medicating a whole tank of fish for the ailments of one fish...

dwool36 · 07-08-2006, 10:06 AM

Did it look like this?

http://www.vergari.com/Acquariofilia...set2004_01.jpg

If so, it is probably planaria that was on the glass and the pleco just happened to get it. They are harmless, however they are usually an indication of overfeeding.

msdolittle · 07-08-2006, 02:59 PM

It definately could have been that dwool!!

Okay, as per Rob and Dwool, I'm going to keep a close eye. It didn't seem to be bothering him, he shows no signs of any ailments or parasitic infection (blisters, lumps, redness, weight loss, etc). I'll leave it be for now.

Thanks guys. If anything changes I'll be back with more questions.

I may cut back a bit on feeding too, just in case. I feed twice a day......think its best to cut out one feeding or just cut back the amount that I feed during the feedings?

07-07-2006, 03:46 PM	#1
msdolittle Animal Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 626	Worm in pleco's mouth My rubberlip doesn't attach to the glass that often so I don't see his mouth much. Just now I was in the room and he was attached so I was looking at his mouth. I noticed a tiny white worm, like a pinworm in a mammal, moving around inside his mouth. What do I do? Is this going to be a catastrophe or is it an easy fix? Is it something I even need to worry about (I assume it is, parasites aren't good for any other living creature I assume its the same for fish)? Jeez........its one thing after another. My husband's going to kill me now that I have to buy yet more medicine. __________________ ~Angela~

07-07-2006, 04:55 PM	#3
msdolittle Animal Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 626	Oh no, I saw that mother wiggling and moving about. There was no mistaking it, it was a worm for sure. It looked just like a pinworm. __________________ ~Angela~

07-07-2006, 05:24 PM	#5
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 22 Posts: 3,567	Could it be an anchor worm? Check out This Site for pictures. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 20g, 5.5g

07-07-2006, 06:57 PM	#6
msdolittle Animal Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 626	There was no pic, but I googled it. Anchor worm is greenish brown according to a couple sites. This worm was white............It looked exactly like a pin worm. __________________ ~Angela~

07-07-2006, 06:58 PM	#7
msdolittle Animal Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 626	Wait, I just saw another site that said its grey......but it did NOT look like the pic. __________________ ~Angela~

Members currently in the Chat:5
	Users In Chat Room: wm_crash, WildForFish, curtman602003, Clerk, Blue_Cray Come On In!

07-07-2006, 04:26 PM	#2
Durbkat It's the Evil Monkey!! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kentucky Age: 17 Posts: 1,112	Could it have been some kind of food or something he found in the substrate or on a piece of decor?

07-07-2006, 05:17 PM	#4
Durbkat It's the Evil Monkey!! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kentucky Age: 17 Posts: 1,112	EWWW

07-07-2006, 07:00 PM	#8
msdolittle Animal Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 626	http://www.emedicine.com/med/images/18381.jpg It looked like these. It was about a millimeter? I'm not good with metrics..........maybe an eighth of an inch? __________________ ~Angela~

07-07-2006, 07:05 PM	#9
msdolittle Animal Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 626	I don't feed live foods btw....if thats of any importance. AND, he's not acting strange or in pain or unhealthy. I don't see any bulges or spots or redness anywhere either. And, where the worm was, his mouth wasn't red or sore. It looked like the normal very pale pinkish white that a pleco mouth looks like. It took me a minute to notice it and if I'd not been specifically examining his mouth I never would have seen it. I was looking so closely because I'd never had a chance to see his mouth before so it was interesting.....and then I saw something moving on one side and not the other. As I looked closer I saw it was a teeny tiny worm................freaky. __________________ ~Angela~

07-08-2006, 09:20 AM	#10
FortWayneFish Little Fish Big Tanks Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North East Indiana USA Age: 36 Posts: 92	i'd suggest doing Nothing.............. if the fish is not showing any signs of distress and is in good health let it go. what you saw might just be a normal never know it might not have been a worm after all it might have been its tongue or possibly something else that is suppose to be in the fishies mouth. if you do medicate remove the rubebrlip to a seperate tank. no use medicating a whole tank of fish for the ailments of one fish... __________________ Rob Renfro NE Indiana USA Hobbyist Helping Hobbyist is what its all about

07-08-2006, 10:06 AM	#11
dwool36 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 312	Did it look like this? http://www.vergari.com/Acquariofilia...set2004_01.jpg If so, it is probably planaria that was on the glass and the pleco just happened to get it. They are harmless, however they are usually an indication of overfeeding. __________________ 55 gallon planted 8 Kribs 6 black neons 8 cardinal tetras 1 bushynose pleco 55 Gallon community Northern Mountain Swortails Fancy Guppies 3 YoYo Loaches 15gallon planted Breeding Pair Blue Rams 29 Gallon Breeding Pair Keyhole Chichlids 2 green corys 2 spotted corys

07-08-2006, 02:59 PM	#12
msdolittle Animal Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Age: 33 Posts: 626	It definately could have been that dwool!! Okay, as per Rob and Dwool, I'm going to keep a close eye. It didn't seem to be bothering him, he shows no signs of any ailments or parasitic infection (blisters, lumps, redness, weight loss, etc). I'll leave it be for now. Thanks guys. If anything changes I'll be back with more questions. I may cut back a bit on feeding too, just in case. I feed twice a day......think its best to cut out one feeding or just cut back the amount that I feed during the feedings? __________________ ~Angela~

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
what causes cotton mouth?	Mari	Beginner Freshwater	6	07-07-2006 04:54 PM
Sexing and Breeding Common Pleco's	angelpimp	Breeding Freshwater Fish	3	04-30-2006 10:12 AM
This is when pleco's breed, pics*	Osiris	Catfish & Other Bottom Dwellers	29	11-11-2005 06:56 AM
When do Bristle Nose Start to Breed?	aquatic_dynasty	Catfish & Other Bottom Dwellers	13	10-13-2005 11:40 PM
Plecos with Cichlids	bsmith	Cichlids	13	06-15-2005 11:03 PM