Abstract
Five commonly imported freshwater ornamental fish: Poecilia reticulata (guppy); Xiphophorus
maculatus (platy); Paracheirodon innesi (neon tetra); Paracheirodon axelrodi (cardinal tetra); and
Gyrinocheilus aymonieri (sucking catfish), 361 individuals in total, were examined for parasites
immediately after being released from quarantine in Australia. Ten parasites species were found:
Camallanus cotti; Centrocestus formosanus; Bothriocephalus acheilognathi; Urocleidoidesreticulatus; Tetrahymena
corlissi; Chilodonella piscicola; Hexamita sp.; Cryptobia sp.; Chloromyxum sp.; and an unidentified
larval nematode. Though shipments had come from up to five different exporting companies,
parasite prevalence was uniformly high. We suggest that prior to release, fish transported
internationally should be checked for high risk pathogens such as Camallanus cotti, B.
acheilognathi and Centrocestus formosanus, and treated for common infections such as Hexamita
sp., Cryptobia sp. T. corlissi and Chilodonella piscicola to inhibit the spread of disease and enhance
the survival of the fish.