flukes in DT

[Allmost]

Hello,
so I may have introduced flukes to my main SPS system.

its a 200G connected to a 60G. I got a super small achilles, and to give it the best chance , I placed it in the 60G. for a week, got it fat, and it started showing what looked to me like flukes.

I remove it and give it prazipro, he heals up. Im gonna wait a week and go for the second prazi ... at this point, I am somewhat sure the problem was flukes ...

now ... there are 2 yellow wrasse in the sps reef, and thats it for fish. could they be carrier of the flukes now on ? they dont show any signs.

I really do not like medicating my sps tank, so prazi in DT is not an option, but besides that, what else do I have ? practically impossible to catch the wrasse ... as they chill within the SPS colonies all times and go in the sand if approached.

Ideas ?

my smallest fish hook is larger than the wrasse ... they are tiny and even the smallest NLS pellets are kinda big for them.

maybe trow a lion fish in there for a day to eat them and then remove it ? I know cruel but its to save the many fish to come later on.

if anyone has any Ideas, please post

 

[MrTuskfish]

Aren't you using a QT yet? Prazi-Pro is the only med I'd ever use in a reef tank. Its a good wormer , so it will kill featherdusters as well as flukes. I've used in a SPS dominated tank with no problems.

 

[Allmost]

any Idea about life cycle of flukes ?

would they starve and die off with no fish ?

 

[tylersarah]

Yes, 30 days is a safe bet.

 

[tylersarah]

I would wait and see if the wrasses show symptoms and keep an eye on the achilles for secondary infections. I recently learned all about flukes when I introduced them via snails and 2 fish survived (one of which never was infected, female Percula clown). I have a theory that fish with extra mucus slime coats have increased protection against flukes, so maybe your wrasses will be fine, but I'd wait to add anything for at least a month. It takes 3 months to properly QT a fish, so I take that back...3 months:spin3:

 

[Allmost]

I would wait and see if the wrasses show symptoms and keep an eye on the achilles for secondary infections. I recently learned all about flukes when I introduced them via snails and 2 fish survived (one of which never was infected, female Percula clown). I have a theory that fish with extra mucus slime coats have increased protection against flukes, so maybe your wrasses will be fine, but I'd wait to add anything for at least a month. It takes 3 months to properly QT a fish, so I take that back...3 months:spin3:

well about the wrasses, I do not care ... the point is that they could carry the flukes, and continue doing fine, till I start stocking my tank, then the new fish would get flukes and die from it
1 month, 3 months, 21 years and 2 months ... doesn't matter ... parasite still lives in there ...
as u mentioned, many fish can live with flukes. I moved a friends reef a couple years back ... all his fish he had for over 2 years. when moving, I dipped his tangs in freshwater, and it had flukes ! so they are not big killers all the time. [ like Ich]


I would be more than happy if they died from flukes today

lol

 

[tylersarah]

That's like saying you should be put down because you contracted the flu.

Give them a chance, if deadly flukes are in the system they will infect the fish and show symptoms, if the residing fish have some miraculous natural resistance they won't host flukes and further infect and kill future fish, just like healthy uninfected people don't host the flu.

Your friend's tangs obviously didn't have terminal flukes, a different situation, but a fw dip on all new fish sounds like a good idea.

 

[Allmost]

thanks for the help, it is much appreciated, but I think you are incorrect on some of the stuff above.

I dont have much info on flukes. but if they act like ich, then the fish can host it and be immune to it kinda ... but hope you are correct and I am wrong on this would make life easier.

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Not true...some species of flukes are host specific. Example neobenedenia prefer angels and specifically the face and lip area. Life cycle of neobenedenia without a host is max 3 weeks. Without a host an adult can live 6 days, an egg hatches at 4 days at 78 degrees.

 

[MrTuskfish]

There are so many species of flukes, and other parasitic worms that are called "flukes", that its impossible making broad statements. FWIW: There have been countless cases of flukes on this forum and I've never heard anything very serious about using Prazi-Pro to eliminate them in the DT.

 

[Allmost]

Ok thanks guys. Very good info. Im going to treat my large system next week. Should i follow the recommmendrd dosage ?

 

[Newsmyrna80]

Ok thanks guys. Very good info. Im going to treat my large system next week. Should i follow the recommmendrd dosage ?

Yes, usually 2.5mg

 

[fishguy597]

Any issues using prazi pro with clams ?