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Parasites of the digestive system and internal organs – flagellates
Flagellates Hexamita and Spironucleus are protozoa, which, due to the characteristic way of their moving up is relatively easy to identify under the microscope.
To see their flagella, good-quality microscope is needed and a lot of experience in the use of, but even without that aquarist can almost 100% sure to confirm their presence. Flagellates are quite busy and they are moving simultaneously rotate around its own axis, which under a microscope looks a bit like a simple move in a zigzag pattern, often changing the direction of motion.
These tiny parasites live in the gastrointestinal tract and internal organs of fish. Flagellates are most dangerous to the cichlid, including discus – untreated parasite invasion may even cause death of fish due to the destruction of organism, which damaged internal organs function worse and worse. A lot of aquarium fish can be carriers of flagellates without showing any signs of disease and we need to be aware of that when introduce an additional tank-company for the discus.
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