Fluke experts?

[mikeintosh]

I've got a 2" powder blue tang that has a small white flap of ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Âwhat looks likeââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Â skin behind its right eye. After noticing it a couple days ago, I did a lot of digging for info and it seems it could possibly be flukes.

I don't like overreaction, so before I conduct a fw dip or add meds, I'd like to know if flukes ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Â when attachedââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Â can look like white flaps of skin? Or do they generally lay flat on the fish's body? This fish is in my 50g quarantine still so I want to be sure before adding it to the display.

Its appetite is voracious as evident by its huge belly of nori, it tends to dart in and out a bit, but I have only had it for a little over a week, so was assuming its still a bit jumpy. Minor light brownish blotches on skin, not sure if its just a nervous coloration. No cloudy eyes. And finally the small flap of white "skin".

Does anyone think its flukes or anything else? Or should I just wait and confirm before subjecting it to any stress? bTW...water parameters are excellent and I do a water change every few days to make sure.

Any comments are appreciated.

Thanks

 

[hottuna]

freshwater dip it in methylene blue for 20-30 mins...this procedure eradicated a very tough fluke infection in 2 of my clowns....its a little stressful to watch the fish go through ,but it works !

 

[mikeintosh]

I've never heard of a freshwater dip go that long. More importantly, the fact that it would be a powder blue going through that treatment concerns me. I'll observe a little more and if its appetite goes, I might have to try it. Thanks.

 

[JHemdal]

There is absolutely NO need to extend a FW dip that long. While some fish will survive that, it exposes them to pointless stress. Five minutes will show flukes diagnostically, although I go as long as seven minutes some times. FW dips are NOT a cure for flukes unless you immediately move them to a fresh tank (and even that may not work).
The "flap of skin" you mentioned MIGHT be Neobenedinia. These normally attach flat, but if you have sharp eyes, they might seen raised up a bit. These are egg-laying flukes so FW dips are ONLY diagnostic, not a cure, as soon as you put the fish back in the tank it will be attacked by young flukes hatching out.

2" PB tangs scare me - they are delicate enough when large, but the small ones can be tricky. IMHO - don't worry about flukes right now - feed it heavy and watch for the probably inevitable Cryptocaryon (sorry - I'm really pessimistic about PB tangs).

Jay

 

[mikeintosh]

Primarily because its a Powder Blue Tang makes me hesitant to try anything. And I know how notoriously sensitive these fish can be. Right now, no signs of ich and that little tab is no longer there. But its still stuffing itself like a pig, which is a good sign.

There is still a little discoloration on its body, though. Can this be simply marks left from the rocks when it goes to sleep (I know my Hippo Tang in the display likes to wedge itself between rocks when it goes to bed)? Or should I prepare for something bacterial/fungial?

I'm really more concerned about that whole scary cyclical life cycle of these parasites. Minor irritation now, major outbreak next week.