Chilondonella – Also known as Chilondonella Unciata

What are Chilondonella?

Chilondonella is a parasite. This parasite reproduces and multiplies by the division of itself. One becomes two and so forth. However, Chilondonella has also been known to reproduce by conjugation. This is where the two cells fuse together to create additional parasites that infect your fish.

Chilondonella reproduce via asexual reproduction meaning that they do not require a male or female. They are able to reproduce alone.

They shape of Chilondonella is described as leaf or heart shaped when it has been seen through the microscope. They are covered in small, tiny hairs called cilia. These help to aid movement and allow the parasite to find and move to a host with ease in your pond.

This parasite has been known to kill fish and is extremely aggressive and problematic once an infestation occurs as it can survive at low temperatures within your pond.

The way that this parasite moves is described as circular, and they often bump into things such as other parasites and each other.

The main area upon your fish that these parasites seem to target is the gills and the head.

Identifying and diagnosing Chilondonella!

This parasite has a few symptoms that are used to help strengthen an accurate diagnosis:

  • Your fish may appear to lack energy.
  • They may appear to roll onto one side.
  • Their swimming may be somewhat more erratic.
  • Gasping at the surface of the pond.
  • Clamped fins.
  • Flashing.
  • Rubbing.
  • The skin may appear to have a milky and mottled appearance due to the excessive production of mucous.
  • The skin of the fish may swell and flake off.
  • Stress.
  • More common on fish who have a compromised immune system.
  • The fish may appear to be oxygen deprived.
  • The gills may begin to show signs of deterioration and appear to be dying.

In addition to these symptoms your fish may develop a secondary illness because of this parasite, the secondary illness will carry additional symptoms of its own and would need to be addressed as soon as possible.

If you are in doubt, then please give us a call and arrange a call out as soon as possible. During the call out a scrape will be performed and analysed under the microscope for the most accurate diagnosis.

Tel: 07737 674417

Causes

The primary causes of a Chilondonella outbreak are stress. Stress compromises the natural immune system of the fish.

Poor water quality as this can cause the fish to be poorly and this is when the Chilondonella can flare up and affect your fish the most.

In addition to this if your fish are suffering from a physical ailment, they are more prone to being infected by this parasite.

How contagious are Chilondonella?

EXTREMELY

Given the life cycle of the parasite and the communicability the whole pond requires treatment. Not just the fish who have been identified with the disease.

Treatment

The first step to treating this infestation is to consult professional help. A professional perform a mucous scrape and examine this under the microscope to provide an accurate diagnosis.

The whole pond will require treatment to ensure that the newly formed parasites and the already established parasites can be treated and irradicated to prevent the treatment from failing and reducing the risk of a future outbreak.

The most ideal treatment will be professionally prescribed, and a treatment plan will be devised to ensure this outbreak is kept under control and treated accordingly.

The water quality of the pond will require balancing. This will reduce stress and improve the living conditions for the fish, in turn this will help to boost the natural immune system of the fish.

Keeping to the treatment plan is vital to restore health to your pond.

Prevention

There are a few steps that can be taken to help to prevent any possible outbreaks.