help- internal worms

[zoezealand]

2 days ago, my fish (mainly swordtails) started dying (first 3, then 5, and 10 this evening)
Most of their stomache was gone (at first I assumed the rest had eaten them)
one of the last causualties had a worm protruding from the body cavity, upon futher investigation, this worm was ~6cm long, and still attached to the fish.
I have googled worms and such but most seem smaller than this.
could it be a tape worm of some sort?
what are the most likey worms?
how would I treat it?

tank specs:

2x2 foot growout
was ~30 swordtails (now ~20  :cry: )
~10 zebra danios
all bred by me, <4cm
filtration: 1 sponge filter

all help appriciated
thank you
Kathryn

Edit: photo

[img:6ef30f4782]http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i33/zoezealand/P9060048.jpg[/img:6ef30f4782]
[img:6ef30f4782]http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i33/zoezealand/P9060046.jpg[/img:6ef30f4782]
[img:6ef30f4782]http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i33/zoezealand/P9060051.jpg[/img:6ef30f4782]

[hareysfish]

kill em with para x  tablets .the worms that is

[zoezealand]

will para x be at my LFS?

[hareysfish]

they look like tape worms to me and yes para x tablets should be at your lfs. there usually only pretty cheap for a 20 tablet container.say around the $10-$15 mark.

[cichlid fry]

Is it possible that it is the digestive tract of the fish and not a worm; these are the last internal organs to decompose once the fish dies. To be sure before treating your fish with internal worm medication, get a magnifying glass and look at both ends, the tapeworms will have some sort of head structure that is quite obvious, and the body will be segmented.

[madtat]

vinigar  
wen my fish got intestoanlt worms i was told to use vinigar  
some thing like 1tablespoon per 20l (something like that)
it worked very well and fish were back to normal in a day or to

i have never seen bick worms  like that but....
if u brush your hand thought the gravel and look closly at the muck that comes out if u c little wrigglers thats the intestanly worms

[ashhhh]

[quote:5db57177ec]if u brush your hand thought the gravel and look closly at the muck that comes out if u c little wrigglers thats the intestanly worms[/quote:5db57177ec]

they are more likely to be live bloodworms that didn't get eaten from a feeding time, they will live and breed in the gravel

[madtat]

nar i never feed my old fish live worms and they died from them they r very small about the size of mozie wrigglers

[zoezealand]

the tank has no gravel,

no more have died today, (I was treating with a general anti-parasite)

the dead fish have been disposed of, but I do remember some sort of head on the end of it, I wish I had paid closer attention

I brought some worming stuff, but was waiting to see if they stayed fine (i don't want to treat unless needed)

i'll keep you updated,
thanks
Kathryn