It is currently 19 Mar 2024, 16:49

All times are UTC+11:00




Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Fish Parasite.
PostPosted: 28 Aug 2008, 20:53 
Offline
Forum Member
User avatar

Joined: 13 May 2008, 20:33
Posts: 129
Went for a dive on the weekend, and bagged a couple of nice L.J's.

Once back at shore and on close inspection, I noticed a small protusion coming out of the gut area of one of the fish. I thought it was odd as I have never seen this on a fish before, especially as it was only on one side. (I have seen parasites living on the inside of Fish's mouths)

Anyway, I started to gut the fish when I found the mystery protusion. It was some sort of fish parasite. It had obviously burrowed into the fish, and made it's home in the fish's gut.

It looked like a Cockroach but with shorter legs and more a teardrop shape, was white, and about the size of a 50 cent piece.

I know with land based parasites like Tics, that they inject a poison into the victim while drinking it's blood.

I'd guess that the particular parasite I found was possibly feeding off either the stomach contents of the fish, or the fish itself. As it just fell out of the gut, I'd assume it wasn't latched on to feed on the blood of the fish like a Tic.

And if you ask me, I think I'd rather be dead, than having someting feeding off my insides!!!


My Question is: Is the fish still ok to eat?



Cheers, Shorerider.


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Fish Parasite.
PostPosted: 28 Aug 2008, 21:21 
Offline
Fanatical Senior Member
User avatar

Joined: 23 Oct 2005, 16:15
Posts: 1095
Location: In the water
Makes me sick thinking about it! Did it look like the ones you find in the mouth?


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Fish Parasite.
PostPosted: 28 Aug 2008, 21:38 
Offline
Forum Member
User avatar

Joined: 13 May 2008, 20:33
Posts: 129
Yeah, it was f@#king off. Fish is probably thanking me from above.

Was actually quite big, for the size of the fish!!!

I've never seen one of the parasites you find in the mouth actually out of the fish, but it was the same color, and had a similar head from memory.


Shorerider.


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Fish Parasite.
PostPosted: 29 Aug 2008, 08:25 
Offline
Senior Member

Joined: 05 Dec 2006, 09:37
Posts: 222
Location: Northcote
Its a common thing to find sea lice in that position within leatherjackets, we've caught hundreds around Flinders, I'm still alive after eating the leatherjackets so you can eat yours.


Click the link below and you can compare if this is what you saw from the leatherjackets gut area:
http://www.austmus.gov.au/fishes/faq/llouse2.htm

The next link is how the protrusion usually looks on the leatherjackets
http://www.austmus.gov.au/fishes/faq/llouse5.htm


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Fish Parasite.
PostPosted: 29 Aug 2008, 09:57 
Offline
Fanatical Senior Member
User avatar

Joined: 14 May 2008, 13:37
Posts: 832
Location: Flinders
Spot on Squire.

The first link is the lice that was inside the Leathery. It was quite amazing to see, it was soft and you could push into it, it reminded me of the pictures of lice you see on the sides of insect spray cans. Had tiny little legs on its side, but I don't think it was the most adept creature out of the water. It really was a little disgusting, but I am sure the fish would still be fine.

Do you know what they actually do with the fish Squire? Does it feed off the fish's stomach contents?

Tom


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Fish Parasite.
PostPosted: 29 Aug 2008, 13:24 
Offline
Forum Member

Joined: 25 Dec 2007, 10:43
Posts: 102
Location: Wollongong
These guys are isopod crustaceans.

If located in the mouth they usually chew off the fish's tongue and replace it. Doesnt seem to hurt the fish.

In the guts they feed off the digested food, either from the stomach or intestine.

The larger ones are females, you can often see eggs or young on their bellies.


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Fish Parasite.
PostPosted: 29 Aug 2008, 21:13 
Offline
Forum Member
User avatar

Joined: 13 May 2008, 20:33
Posts: 129
As Tom has pointed out Squire, that's what came out of the Leather Jackets gut.

Thanks for the info. Very interesting/disgusting.

I'll eat the fish when the time arises.


Cheers, Shorerider.


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Fish Parasite.
PostPosted: 09 Sep 2008, 15:46 
Offline
Forum Member

Joined: 08 Nov 2005, 19:07
Posts: 97
Location: 'Sunny' Altona
Shorerider wrote:

Thanks for the info. Very interesting/disgusting.

I'll eat the fish when the time arises.


Cheers, Shorerider.


Hey Shorerider, are ya married? If so, give it to the mother in law! :twisted:

_________________
Sheepshead are for boy's, Goatfish are for men!


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Fish Parasite.
PostPosted: 10 Sep 2008, 00:00 
Offline
Forum Member
User avatar

Joined: 13 May 2008, 20:33
Posts: 129
Slapper wrote:
Hey Shorerider, are ya married? If so, give it to the mother in law! :twisted:


Yes, but I wouldn't waste a perfectly good fish on my Mother in law!!!! :lol:

Just kidding.


Shorerider.


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Fish Parasite.
PostPosted: 30 Oct 2009, 20:37 
Offline
Forum Member

Joined: 16 Nov 2008, 10:55
Posts: 85
Location: Nth Shore, Geelong.
Post is a bit late but here is a pic of a parasite a poor leathery had in it's gut's...no room for food.


Attachments:
parasite.jpg
parasite.jpg [ 84.71 KiB | Viewed 6667 times ]
Top
   
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 

All times are UTC+11:00


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited
[ GZIP: Off ]