I have a "waterfall pond" on my hillside that stays full because of aggressive sprinklers and so it propagates mosquitoes unless I keep fish in it. I've made it into a very natural pond (i.e. no filter,etc.) and seem to very successfully keep mosquito fish in it. Periodically I add a pond lily, or some plants with limited success. But this summer I added a fantail goldfish and an apple snail to the ecosystem. I thought everything was just great until I noticed my goldfish seemed to be growing extra fins??? I've pulled the goldfish out of the pond only to see something DISGUSTING! Worms? Leeches? And to make matters worse, I'm wondering if the whole pond is now infected with these parasites?
Right now I have the goldfish in about one quart of water (small goldfish bowl) with some Stresscoat (to dechlorinate the water) and 1 gram of salt. (Why salt? I don't know. The internet seems to tell me that's a good thing in small quantities for goldfish with parasites ?)
I have 3 questions:
1. What the heck is this?
2. What do I do for the fish? (and let's just say, "NO" I'm NOT going to pick these things off with my tweezers!)
3. What do I do for the pond and all the mosquito fish, the apple snail and plants?
PLEASE HELP! I really like my little pond and my fish - usually - but right now I'm horrified and would like to take a flame thrower to the whole hillside!
Right now I have the goldfish in about one quart of water (small goldfish bowl) with some Stresscoat (to dechlorinate the water) and 1 gram of salt. (Why salt? I don't know. The internet seems to tell me that's a good thing in small quantities for goldfish with parasites ?)
I have 3 questions:
1. What the heck is this?
2. What do I do for the fish? (and let's just say, "NO" I'm NOT going to pick these things off with my tweezers!)
3. What do I do for the pond and all the mosquito fish, the apple snail and plants?
PLEASE HELP! I really like my little pond and my fish - usually - but right now I'm horrified and would like to take a flame thrower to the whole hillside!