Flukes ??

[WLachnit]

I think my firefish has flukes.
They are whitish/clear and about 2mm over his body.
Are flukes fatal?

 

[chrissreef]

flukes are pretty hard to see, if at all

sure it's not ich? like sprinkled in salt?

could it be velvet?

pics?

 

[WLachnit]

Hmmm...This has been going on for 4 days. He eats healthily.
the translucent spots (about 6-8 of them) are raised like bumps and it seems like they have moved (wouldn't know if it's new raised spots).

Doesn't Velvet progress really quickly?
I have been assuming that Ich would be very white and much smaller.

 

[paulamrein]

Ich moves around on the body, not saying for sure, but that is more of a possibility.

 

[kevin2000]

If you think your fish has flukes then either a FW dip or formalin bath maybe appropriate.

 

[tmz]

A formalin bath is well tolerated in my experience and will remove the flukes.it may or may not get the eggs. Follow up treatment with formalin either as periodic baths or in qt or with prazi pro may also be required. You can usually see the flukes in the eyes if anywhere. They are easier to see when they fall off.Yes they can kill the fish since the eat it's skin and flesh. Sometimes when they are removed the fish will die from all of the bleeding that occurs from loss of skin.Secondary infections are also common.

 

[WLachnit]

Thx for the info. It turns out that these have completely dissapeared as of yesterday and the fish looks and behaves normally without doing anything on my part. Of course, I now wonder if this is something that is going to cycle or come back in some fashion. My guess is that this very difficult to know without understanding what it was in the first place. (need to get a camera w/better macro capabilities)

 

[tmz]

Watch closely, flukes may have died for some reason and become visible. They become opaque rather than translucent. they could still be there invisible to your eye.If the fish starts twitching of head shaking treat it.

 

[flameangel88]

This is what flukes look like after a FW dip

Prazipro is very effective against flukes.

 

[Macimage]

Here is a good thread on flukes with lots of good information:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1260067

Joyce

 

[LargeAngels]

What you are explaining sounds like flukes. Two treatmens of Prazipro is usually needed to kill adults and eggs. Flukes are nasty and as stated above are usually not visible unless they cover the eyes.

I would do a FW dip and see if flukes drop off like flameangel88's pic.