Page 48 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 78
P. 48
Trichodina is dome shaped dome shaped but mostly will be seen from the top Chilodonella feeds Chilodonella
and often appears to be where the calcified ring in the centre and the hairs invasively, inserting a
spinning as it moves. feeding tube into the skin Chilodonella is a parasite which prefers a water
around the outside may be seen. The hairs are used cell and digesting it. temperature of about 10ºC, generally as the water gets
for movement and the parasite often appears to be warmer it will disappear but can be a nuisance in the
spinning as it moves, these hairs cause the Koi spring. This parasite feeds invasively, inserting a
irritation and responds by producing mucus which feeding tube into the skin cell and digesting it, no
traps food for the Trichodina, so they increase in wonder it irritates the fish when present in numbers.
number.
Costia (also known as Ichthyobodo necator)
As Trichodina feed on bacteria and organic material, if
they are present in large numbers it is worth checking Costia is a really small parasite, probably most visible
filters and clearing pipe work, to make sure these are under high power of about 400x (10x magnification eye
not promoting the infection. piece, 40x magnification lens – just as an aside the
100x lens is ‘oil immersion’ for stained slides only and
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