[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

NFC: RE: Re: Parasites

Those black spots are definitely not glochidia (mussel larvae)--these mussel
larvae encyst either on the gills or fins of their fish host.  When a fish
does carry them, they're usually white or translucent, not black.  The black
spots you're seeing are likely all over the scales or beneath them??  I'm
not sure what they are, but I've seen them commonly referred to as "black
spot," and seem usually to be indicative of some type of water quality
problem.  The places where I've seen them most dense are generally areas
with a low diversity of fish and macroinvertebrates, with many habitat
disturbances.  However, they can also be seen on fish in pristine
conditions, but their numbers are usually less and they are found on just a
few fish, if any.  This has been my experience, anyway.  Someone else would
have to tell you exactly what they are, and whether they can be transported
from fish to fish.  As for the mussel glochidia, they can sometimes be seen
by the naked eye when encysted upon the fins of a fish, but it's harder to
see them on the gills without cutting off the mantle flaps and looking under
a microscope.
-Bryce

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nfc at actwin_com [mailto:owner-nfc at actwin_com]On Behalf Of
Wally Billingham
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 11:28 PM
To: nfc at actwin_com
Subject: NFC: Re: Parasites


Were they in a stream with a lot of fresh water mussels? The first stage in
the life cycle of a mussel is to be a parasite on a fish. That way the fish
move them around and when they feel like it they just drop off and will
spend the rest of their life within a few feet of that spot. I see it on the
fish here in French Creek (N.W. PA) all of the time. If thats what they are
they will do know harm. Also many (if not all) native species of fresh water
mussels are Federally Protected or Federally Endangered. Mainly due to
exotic introductions and pollution.

There is NOTHING sadder to me than to see a huge endangered mussel covered
with 100's of Exotic Zebra Mussels. Unfortunately I saw that WAY to many
times this past year in Lake Erie and the streams that feed it. I PRAY that
they never find their way into French Creek but I know that they will. The
problem is that the Zebra Mussels grow so well on other mussels that they
can't open their shells and starve or suffocate.


Wally
----- Original Message -----
From: nickel55 <nickel55 at worldnet_att.net>
To: <nfc at actwin_com>
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 10:16 PM
Subject: NFC: Parasites


> Thanks, to the people that answered my question about stonerollers and why
they're not sold in the pet shop trade. Now to my other question. Some of
the fish I have collected this year, my first year collecting, I have
noticed some small black spots on them. One small sunfish really has a lot
of them, I didn't notice the spots until I put the fish in the tank. The
fish in question have been in the tank at least 4 to 6 weeks and no
problems. Now I have read that these black , pin head size, spots are a
parasite, that really doesn't harm the fish and don't spread from fish to
fish. Is this true? and can anything be done to get rid of the them?
>
>
Terry
>
>
> --- StripMime Report -- processed MIME parts ---
> multipart/alternative
>   text/html
> ---
Follow-Ups: References: