Mysterious fish deaths are more common now (Flukes)

[djfrankie]

Great thread...thanks for sharing such invaluable information regarding Flukes and the solution for it.

Here's a little more information about it that I found in another site:

Flukes attach to fish by means of a special organ called a haptor, which is equipped with hooks, clamps, and anchors used to firmly attach the worm to the fish. Flukes are freely motile, moving over the fish's body or gills causing extensive damage to the fish through their movements. Flukes reproduce on the fish, with some species producing hundreds of eggs on the gills and body, which then hatch into free-swimming larvae. The larvae reinfect the host fish or attach to other fish. Other fluke species are viviparous, meaning they give birth to living young rather than eggs. Affected fish show various abnormal behavior changes, including scratching, which is the most obvious sign of infestation. Other signs include increased respiration and change in body color. In sever infestatios ulcerations may also be noticeable. These troublesome parasites can be controlled by various treatments, including freshwater dips,formalin-based medications or the use of ganophosphates.Freshwater dips are easily performed and often very effective in reducing the number of flukes on the body of the fish. Formali-based medications and organophosphates have been used for many years with excellent success in treating flukes.

djfrankie

 

[Richieboy]

how can you tell if you have flukes or velvet?

 

[chrissreef]

flukes?

did a FW dip

 

[MazdaSPD3]

Hi, I just dosed my tank a couple hours ago and I have a few questions.

Why do you have to turn off UV Sterilizers?

After how long until I can turn it back on?

 

[cthetoy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13394008#post13394008 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MazdaSPD3
Hi, I just dosed my tank a couple hours ago and I have a few questions.

Why do you have to turn off UV Sterilizers?

After how long until I can turn it back on?

UV can cause a chemical reaction with PraziPro into something more toxic. I know using UV with Cupramine will make it 10x more toxic.

 

[MazdaSPD3]

Whoa, thats not good, so should a large % WC be done after treatment?

 

[Macimage]

You need to leave the uv off for the two weeks of treatment.

I would recommend a water change and carbon after the two treatments are completed.

Joyce

 

[Chihuahua6]

Update from my post above:

The second Butterfly started to recover for a couple of days. he was eating well until he started to do the crazy swimming/spinning thing again. Anything that could have been putting stray current into the tank was removed a couple of days before so it wasn't that. I thought his condition would be temporary since he recovered from the last episode. I bought a seperate ten gallon tank to put him in and dosed antibiotics incase he had a secondary infection. Unfortunately he did not recover and I had to euthanize him. It was so sad to see him recover and then suddenly develop this. I believe either a secondary infection or the actual Flukes attacked his swim bladder and damaged it.

The third Butterfly did develop symptoms of Flukes as well but the quick treatment allowed him a full recovery. He is alive and well today.

I have since ordered two more of these beautiful fish and they arrived in poor condition and much smaller than advertised. They are currently being nursed back to health in the quarantine tank. I had to purchase a new quarantine tank since they will need to be kept there for some time. It's too bad that my three original fish were so big and healthy when I received them. Now I know to treat all Butterflies and Angels for Flukes immediately. I learned alot from this experience.

 

[jamesk]

Does UV kill flukes in the main tank?

 

[Aquarist007]

such a great thread I made a summary of it on a blog with reference to the posters

http://www.reefcentral.com/wp/?p=377

 

[cthetoy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13421326#post13421326 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jamesk
Does UV kill flukes in the main tank?

I wish it did. Some flukes just lay eggs and reproduce without ever leaving the fish thus making UV useless.

Another update are flukes are still out there. Friend just bought a Juvi Emperator on sale from a LFS which was still in bag straight from the wholesaler. Freshwater dipped the healthy looking angel and about 6-7 flukes fell off.

 

[babyjess210]

Is it true that if a fish have a lot of flukes, after the FW dip you should treat with Bio-Bandage to help heal the wounds?

 

[scuzy]

i missed read one of posts here and did a double dose of prazipro 1 day after the my first dose. Will i have any side effects to doubling the dose? I haven't notice any stress in the fishes yet or the corals.

 

[cthetoy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13535766#post13535766 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scuzy
i missed read one of posts here and did a double dose of prazipro 1 day after the my first dose. Will i have any side effects to doubling the dose? I haven't notice any stress in the fishes yet or the corals.

Some fish will react negatively but if your fish are still eating and breatihing normally then you should be ok. Normally I dose half dosage the first day, and if the fish are eating and breathing normally I dose the 2nd half. After 5 days I perform a large water change and dose one more time. Make sure you shake the bottle vigourously as stated or your dosage will be too weak or too strong.

 

[sabazerehi]

i have a fairy wrasse with flukes and i now think my midas blenny has them too. the fairy wrasse has been in the tank for over a month, and the midas has been in there for over two months and they're both still eating like crazy and otherwise doing fine. i can't catch the fish so i was wondering can i just treat my whole display tank with prazipro? this way i could just treat all the fish. i don't care if i lose worms, however, i don't want to lose any of my corals or invertebrates. has anybody successfully used it in their tank?

 

[cthetoy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14089284#post14089284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sabazerehi
i have a fairy wrasse with flukes and i now think my midas blenny has them too. the fairy wrasse has been in the tank for over a month, and the midas has been in there for over two months and they're both still eating like crazy and otherwise doing fine. i can't catch the fish so i was wondering can i just treat my whole display tank with prazipro? this way i could just treat all the fish. i don't care if i lose worms, however, i don't want to lose any of my corals or invertebrates. has anybody successfully used it in their tank?

From what I've read on this thread over and over is that Prazipro is generally safe with corals and invertebrates with the exception of Xenias and Feather Dusters. Just watch your water parameters and remove any dead worms.

Shake your Prazipro bottle well as instructed and use it immediately since the contents settle fast. I usually dose 1/2 of it the first day and if all the fish are eating and acting normal I dose the 2nd half the next day

 

[sabazerehi]

Thatks so much. That's great, I don't have anu xenia anyways. I have a 50g total system should I get the 16z size? Also, I read that I would need to treat for two weeks because that's the life cycle of the flukes, is that true as well?

 

[frogiii]

i've question too, one of my Sohal tang eye is a bit cloudy and I dont know if that is a fluke or not. He is eating alot and fat, very strong. No symptom of what you describe before. Could it be fluke? I had him for 2 years. Should I dip him anyhow?

 

[cthetoy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14091009#post14091009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sabazerehi
Thatks so much. That's great, I don't have anu xenia anyways. I have a 50g total system should I get the 16z size? Also, I read that I would need to treat for two weeks because that's the life cycle of the flukes, is that true as well?

You can get the 4oz size instead since the 16oz is quite expensive. You only need 5ml of Prazipro per 20 gallons of water. The instructions says leave Prazipro in the tank for a week. In my experience most of the flukes should be gone within 48 hours. Watch your skimmer if you have one because it will go nuts and overflow.

 

[sabazerehi]

thanks so much, this is helping me a great deal!. do you think the fish will be ok till tuesday? that's the earliest i can get it.