Flukes !!!!!!!

[WTyson]

I have a fluke infestation that just killed my red leaf fish and my waspfish

Sadly i did not diagnose the problem until i did a post mortem FW bath on my leaf and saw about 300 flukes come off.

My 40 breeder only have one fish left (firefish) that seems to be doing fine

Should i wait 6 weeks to add more fish

Treat the display with prazipro (no tube worms in the tank, i do have xenia though)

I am also going to set up a QT tank now.

 

[gweston]

I'd suggest treating the fish you have left with a Formalin-MS dip/bath separate from the display tank (per the instructions.. maybe 15-30 min dip?). Keep the Formalin away from the display. Then treat the tank with Prazipro. Your Xenia will be fine with Prazi in the tank. May be ok to just return the fish to the display if the display is being treated... but always safer to use a QT.

You could try just Prazipro. Like a more concentrated dip separately to start, then also treat the tank. Remember if you treat with a Formalin-MS dip, be sure to aerate the dip/bath extremely well. I use an airpump and stone for this.. without aeration formalin can dangerously reduce O2 levels in the dip and suffocate the fish. Its a good idea anyway.. not sure if a prazi dip does the same. I always aerate the water for any treatment I do.

Flukes aren't Ich, so leaving the tank fallow for 6 weeks may not be necessary. I'd wait for others to chime in with their suggestions on that. Me? I'd probably just stick to the Formalin dip, Prazi tank treatment.. QT the fish. I'd treat the display with Prazi for a single course (1 week?). Return the fish, then go from there.

Anyone else have suggestions?

 

[Yogre]

I guess I'd approach it a little differently.

I had flukes in my tank that came in on my anthias. I had to dose the display 3 times. If you don't have anything like feather dusters that would be harmed by Prazi, dosing the display will save your fish the stress of a move to hospital.

I would highly recommend at least 2 dosings, separated by about 10 days. If you have a species of fluke that lays eggs, the first dosing will not kill the eggs. The second dosing will catch the eggs after they have hatched but before the second generation has a chance to lay eggs of their own.

I now quarantine all new arrivals, and preemptively treat with Prazi. My latest anthias purchase had one individual with a cloudy eye. Prazi cleared it right up.

P.S. If you have a fish that is in distress with flukes and needs immediate relief, Billsreef (one of our mods in this forum) recommends a simple freshwater dip. I've not tried it myself, but I'm sure it would work quite well.

 

[magnoliapark]

I just dosed my display yesterday for flukes. I still see the flukes on the fish today so I think I'm definitely going to need to do the second (possibly third) treatment. After the 10 days, do you suggest a water change before the next dosing?

 

[Yogre]

I just dosed my display yesterday for flukes. I still see the flukes on the fish today so I think I'm definitely going to need to do the second (possibly third) treatment. After the 10 days, do you suggest a water change before the next dosing?

I've found it may take a couple of days for the flukes to let go. I've been told to do a good sized water change between doses, and I think it's a good idea to run carbon for a bit as well to make sure you're starting fresh as far as concentration of either Prazi or its breakdown products is concerned. I'm only able to do a 10% water change at once in my display, but I've been using a 25% change in my QT.

 

[skibum9884]

What med are you adding? Assuming it's PraziPro, you don't need daily additions. I gradually ramp up to the full dose, but after that it should be fine for 5-7 days. At that time I would add carbon and do a large-ish water change.

Then, as Yogre says, I'd repeat around the 10 day mark.

 

[magnoliapark]

Yes, I'm using Prazipro. So far I lost a perc. clownfish, and a flasher wrasse. I dipped the wrasse and saw the little white rice bits (flukes) fall off. But the wrasse got reinfected and I was afraid to dose the DT. The wrasse had no more visible flukes, but kept getting skinnier even when eating like a pig...poor thing! It's been MIA for 4 days now so I know it's gone Just yesterday the flukes popped up on my healthy as a horse Tailspot blenny...well, that was enough for me...in went the prazipro into the DT. I don't see any casualties from the medication, thank goodness. I was concerned that the flukes are still hanging onto the blenny...but hearing that it may take a few days for them to let go is encouraging

I'm a little nervous having my skimmer off...with the recent passing of the fish. I was unable to get the body out. I'm pretty sure my pompom crab had a feast! I don't have any other filtration on the tank...just my vortechs and the skimmer running without the foaming pump...just running for circulation. I have a CPR AeroForce, I think it's called which has two pumps...I just have the intake pump running.

So, should I do a big water change and then maybe run carbon and the skimmer for a day? Or is that too long before the next dosing? Thanks for the help here!

 

[Yogre]

The advice I was given for dealing with flukes comes from Jay Hemdal, the curator of fish and inverts at the Toledo Zoo. Jay posts to this forum from time to time.

He recommends a 10 day interval between doses. So, what I'd do on the ninth day is a water change and put my skimmer and carbon back on-line. Skim and filter for 24 hours, then dose your next dose of Prazi. Let it run another 10 days. Then, resume normal operation.

I hear ya about the nutrient concern from the fish loss. I'm still dealing with an algae outbreak that started about the time of my fish loss and subsequent Prazi dosing. The GHA really gained a foothold while my filtration was off-line. *Sigh* Sometimes this ain't an easy hobby.

 

[magnoliapark]

The flukes are off the fish this morning! I will follow your recommendation for time intervals,etc. I'll be so happy when my tank is fluke free

 

[Yogre]

The flukes are off the fish this morning! I will follow your recommendation for time intervals,etc. I'll be so happy when my tank is fluke free

That's great! :thumbsup:

Ya, the flukes in my display tank convinced me I *have* to quarantine all new arrivals. And, lo and behold, my new lyretail anthias had flukes on at least one of them. I could see it on her eye. Two days of Prazi later, it was gone, her eye has healed up.

Had I just put them straight into the display, I'd be right back to square one.