Wanted: Those White Parasites Found In The Mouths Of Some Fish Sp.

[Reeso]

Gday fishraiders,

If anyone over the next 2 weeks catches a fish with a "doctor" in the mouth, commonly found in the mouths of trevs, slimys, yakkas, bonnies etc. could you please pull it out and keep it in a jar or something and let me know if your in sydney and Ill come and get it off you or ill give you my address for you to post it. It doesnt have to be kept alive but if it can be all the better. This would be really appreciated, I am studying these critters at uni and really need some for my lab classes and a presentation. I have seen heaps in the past in fish i have caught, but never thought id need one 1 day so always tossed them away in disgust hah.
For those who dont know they those white "bugs", about a cm or 2 long, of the genus Ceratothoa, which enter the mouth of a host fish and eat the tongue, replacing it with their own body.

pm me

I know their nasty little buggers but id be really appreciative if I even just get one. Thanks all.

James

Edited August 11, 2015 by Reeso

[King slayer]

Gday fishraiders,

If anyone over the next 2 weeks catches a fish with a "doctor" in the mouth, commonly found in the mouths of trevs, slimys, yakkas, bonnies etc. could you please pull it out and keep it in a jar or something and let me know if your in sydney and Ill come and get it off you or ill give you my address for you to post it. It doesnt have to be kept alive but if it can be all the better. This would be really appreciated, I am studying these critters at uni and really need some for my lab classes and a presentation. I have seen heaps in the past in fish i have caught, but never thought id need one 1 day so always tossed them away in disgust hah.
For those who dont know they those white bugs approcimately about a cm or 2 long from memory, of the genus Ceratothoa, when they find a host fish enter the mouth and eat the tongue, replacing it in a sense with their own body.


I know their nasty little buggers but id be really appreciative if I even just get one. Thanks all.

James

I reckon if you burley up a school of yakkas at your local jetty, you've have handfulls of them in no time. I reckon every 4th Yakka has one!

[dandas]

Pitty I just saw this post.

One of my yakkas dies on Saturday and sure enough one of the buggers was making his way out of the yakkas body while he was on the bait board.

I will keep my eyes out for you.

[skramp_84]

Every single yakka I have been getting off the rocks up here lately has had one in its mouth!! I'm not sure how I'll get them to ya but I'll try. Some of them have been really big lately too - up to 50mm!!

I wouldn't mind reading your report when your done if thats cool?

[Reeso]

Mate id be sure to shout you a couple of beers for a big specimen like that. I tried to burley up some yakkas in the rain this morning down at clifton gardens but all i got were those little pinky snapper on every cast of the handline.

Thanks for the response fellas,

[nik]

Hi James,

PM me and I will get some to you early next week. I'll be going for a fish on Monday and should be able to catch a few yakka. I find them in about 90% of the Yakka I catch and I catch around 30-40 yakka a week. How many do you want/ need and how do you want me preserve them?

Nik

[katsuo]

Will be fishing for yakka's tomorrow morning. Will see if i can obtain any for you.

Cheers,

Katsuo.

[squid hunter]

Raiders,

These bugs are a very important part of my research.

'Wirra Docking'

ill be making a post soon about it so people know what it is

Regards

Squid Hunter

[nargse1]

mate i worked at garden island part of my apprenticeship and i used to fish off there every morning before work during smoko, and after work till security used to tell us to stop fishing. nearly every fish i caught there had these come out of their mouths.

dont know if this helps as you arent allowed to fish there or near it as its a naval base but there you go.

id like to see your reports too.

cheers damien