Mysterious fish deaths are more common now (Flukes)
- Thread starter cthetoy
- Start date
zemuron114
In Memoriam
are those actual flukes or scales? I noticed on some fish dead scales will fall off during a freshwater dip (not flukes)
if it is flukes then you tank is infested... if 3 firefish produced that much then your tank has many many flukes in it...
if it is flukes then you tank is infested... if 3 firefish produced that much then your tank has many many flukes in it...
Myrddraal
New member
They're flukes, I looked at them with a jeweler's loupe. I'm sure it is, that's why I was asking how long I need to leave it fallow. The tank is newly set up, and there is some cultured live rock with a bunch of worms, algaes, clams, and corals on it that is where I'm thinking they came from.
eskymick
Active member
As stated earlier, I like tmz's quarantine plan ...
After further consideration, for my own use, I will modify that plan as follows ...
1. Acclimate fish to quarantine tank at "normal" salinity
2. Give fish a 30 - 60 minute Formalin bath in saltwater before release into quarantine
3. On day 2, dose quarantine tank with PraziPro, prophylacticly.
4. Observe fish for a minimum of 4 weeks. If ich is observed, commence with a 6 week hypo regimen. If Oodinium is observed, treat with copper for 6 weeks.
5. In the absence of any disease or parasitic symptoms (after 4 weeks), I will treat with PraziPro once more for the final 3 days of quarantine.
To some, this may seem like a lot of bother. But ... considering that I plan to have no more than 10 to 12 fish in my tank (and I already have five healthy specimens), and that a healthy fish can live for many years, I think it is well worth the time and effort to insure the long term health of all the tank inhabitants.
cthetoy
Active member
One thing to note is watch out when you use Prazipro, Copper or any Antibiotics when you salinty is not 1.025. Medications are stronger at lower salinity levels. This was just an observation but I dosed Prazipro when my salinity was 1.018 and a few of my fish died the next day.
Don't mix hypo or semi-hypo with medications.
Don't mix hypo or semi-hypo with medications.
CW from the OC
New member
An update on the shrimp compatability. Since my last post, I've seen the camel shrimp in the fuge, they are healthy and eating aptasia/shrooms I'm trying to get rid of. Fire shrimp is fine in main display. 2 peppermints are fine in display as well. So I'm thinking the cleaner death was something else entirely, or a fight with another shrimp.
As for the corals, so far I have not seen any negative consequences from the PP on Zoas, a blasto, and couple SPS I have. After 5 days of PP, I've turned the skimmer back on and put carbor in the sump passively.
Though it seems ok, I still would not dose it into a display with a ton of delicate corals in it.
As for the corals, so far I have not seen any negative consequences from the PP on Zoas, a blasto, and couple SPS I have. After 5 days of PP, I've turned the skimmer back on and put carbor in the sump passively.
Though it seems ok, I still would not dose it into a display with a ton of delicate corals in it.
GTR
Active member
The thing that gets me about this is that IMO these are treatments that should be done to the fish long before they come into our possession. A LFS owner I know has been FW dipping all the fish when they come in due to fluke infestations wiping out nearly everything several times before the problem was found last year. Wholesalers seem to be aware but just shrug their shoulders.
The arrive alive stuff really gives you a warm fuzzy feeling but these parasites take some time to wear down the fish.
SteveU
The arrive alive stuff really gives you a warm fuzzy feeling but these parasites take some time to wear down the fish.
SteveU
This thread drives home the point of the importance of quarantining and preventative treatment.
I also used Prazi-pro in hypo (just drop an airline) when I was quarantining my first pair of seahorses. In addition, they received later doses of Metro + and Panacur before they were introduced to the main tank. It was a pain, but I ended up with thriving fish for two years.
I was complacent with the second pair of seahorses I added three months ago...
Tonight I just disposed of my last seahorse, and I have absolutely no doubt it was flukes.
Sign me,
Careless and Heartsick.
I also used Prazi-pro in hypo (just drop an airline) when I was quarantining my first pair of seahorses. In addition, they received later doses of Metro + and Panacur before they were introduced to the main tank. It was a pain, but I ended up with thriving fish for two years.
I was complacent with the second pair of seahorses I added three months ago...
Tonight I just disposed of my last seahorse, and I have absolutely no doubt it was flukes.
Sign me,
Careless and Heartsick.
Steve_B
New member
flukes
flukes
I have 2 fish only tanks. Literally absolutely fish only, no live rock just fish.
I have a Large Queen Angel that developed blotchy patches after I introduced a small blue tang from my 70 gallon tank. It was eventually going to end up in my 225 gallon, but because of it s small size I wanted to wait a while before placing it in with the "monsters" in my big tank. The tang displayed ragged fins and heavy respiration. The reason I transferred it earlier than I planned was because it was being picked on by other fish in my 70 gallon tank. I thought the symptoms were the result of being picked on, thus the transfer to my 225 gallon tank. It was unmolested in my big tank, but still displayed the symptoms. It eventually bit the dust.
This was almost a year ago. The Angel maintained these patches and at times heavy respiration and hiding. I had no idea what this was, as I have never seen these symptoms in all my years of keeping saltwater fish. I did the usual large RODI water changes and maintained the best water quality possible. That is my usual first line of attack before using any kind of treatments. This was around a year ago. The Angel is the only one that developed these symptoms.
I hate the idea of doing baths, as they have caused several fatalities in the past. I finally gave in and gave it this treatment
http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/formaldehyde_friend_or_foe.html
Yesterday was the last treatment and it tolerated it very well. A black type of substance that was very visible began spewing from its scales upon the first treatment. By the 3rd treatment there was just a VERY VERY small amount of this (whatever it was) black stuff that fell off in about the first 2 minutes of a 45-50 minutes in the Formalin. It still has the patches, but I'm assuming this is scarring and it will take some to heal.
I see no visible signs of it on any of the other fish, so I'm hoping this is the end.
A year of this deasise and it hung in there. If in fact this is the cure, and it heals back to full health, a huge weight will be lifted off of my shoulders.
I think my Queen must be bullet proof after such an extended length of enduring this.
It only lost its appetite a few times during this nightmare, and ate like a horse most of the time.
Now when I walk into the room it looks like it s going to eat through acrylic to get food.
flukes
I have 2 fish only tanks. Literally absolutely fish only, no live rock just fish.
I have a Large Queen Angel that developed blotchy patches after I introduced a small blue tang from my 70 gallon tank. It was eventually going to end up in my 225 gallon, but because of it s small size I wanted to wait a while before placing it in with the "monsters" in my big tank. The tang displayed ragged fins and heavy respiration. The reason I transferred it earlier than I planned was because it was being picked on by other fish in my 70 gallon tank. I thought the symptoms were the result of being picked on, thus the transfer to my 225 gallon tank. It was unmolested in my big tank, but still displayed the symptoms. It eventually bit the dust.
This was almost a year ago. The Angel maintained these patches and at times heavy respiration and hiding. I had no idea what this was, as I have never seen these symptoms in all my years of keeping saltwater fish. I did the usual large RODI water changes and maintained the best water quality possible. That is my usual first line of attack before using any kind of treatments. This was around a year ago. The Angel is the only one that developed these symptoms.
I hate the idea of doing baths, as they have caused several fatalities in the past. I finally gave in and gave it this treatment
http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/formaldehyde_friend_or_foe.html
Yesterday was the last treatment and it tolerated it very well. A black type of substance that was very visible began spewing from its scales upon the first treatment. By the 3rd treatment there was just a VERY VERY small amount of this (whatever it was) black stuff that fell off in about the first 2 minutes of a 45-50 minutes in the Formalin. It still has the patches, but I'm assuming this is scarring and it will take some to heal.
I see no visible signs of it on any of the other fish, so I'm hoping this is the end.
A year of this deasise and it hung in there. If in fact this is the cure, and it heals back to full health, a huge weight will be lifted off of my shoulders.
I think my Queen must be bullet proof after such an extended length of enduring this.
It only lost its appetite a few times during this nightmare, and ate like a horse most of the time.
Now when I walk into the room it looks like it s going to eat through acrylic to get food.
MonkeeFish
New member
this makes me worry as i just got a new fish yesterday and i didn't FW dip it for preventative measures.
cthetoy
Active member
Flukes are out there still. Last week I purchased nice, healthy, eating Red Sea Regal Angel from Crystal Cove of Murietta. After acclimating and before it went in the quarantine tank I FW dipped it and about 25 flukes fell off and one of them was the largest I've seen (about 2mm!!). This Regal would of probably not made it a few months from now had I not freshwater dipped it.
I usually dip for 5 minutes unless I see flukes which I will increase it to 10 minutes.
On a brighter note no flukes were found on a new adult Imperator, Powder Blue Tang, and a long nose butterfly.
I usually dip for 5 minutes unless I see flukes which I will increase it to 10 minutes.
On a brighter note no flukes were found on a new adult Imperator, Powder Blue Tang, and a long nose butterfly.
coast2coast7390
Moved On
do these things attach to anything else besides fish
MonkeeFish
New member
Hey Guys need your help badly, just the other day i freshwater dipped my fishes. Now there is white little dots covering my coral beauty, im not sure if this is fluke or ich but there are some white dots on its eyes to. If i were to use "Prazipro", can i use it in the main tank or do i need to set up a QT tank? Thank you
LargeAngels
Premium Member
Prazipro won't cure "White dots." That would indicate either ich or velvet. Ich is not affected by FW dips and only Hypo works for ich. Copper treats both ich or velvet.
CW from the OC
New member
Update on Prazi Pro and corals, especially SPS.
I have roughly 50 small colonies and frags of SPS in my system, and some Zoas. I have dosed PP a couple of times. The only reaction I've noted is some reduction in polyp extension shortly after dosing. Everything seems fine after several hours. There has been no other negative effects on the corals that I can tell. I've dosed it 2 times so far.
I have roughly 50 small colonies and frags of SPS in my system, and some Zoas. I have dosed PP a couple of times. The only reaction I've noted is some reduction in polyp extension shortly after dosing. Everything seems fine after several hours. There has been no other negative effects on the corals that I can tell. I've dosed it 2 times so far.
jnc914
Active member
I have also unfortunately dealt with flukes on several occassions. When I switched from my 180 to my 290, flukes decimated my already stressed livestock. The most heartbreaking was my juvi Emp. I bought him at about 2" and he was about 6" and almost fully adult color when flukes killed him. I lost anthias, a chevron and powder brown. The key symptoms were loss of appetite, frayed fins and tail, cloudy eyes, darting and shaking, loss of color, heavy breathing, and finally death. After researching in order to save the angel, I came to the conclusion that my fish had skin and gill flukes. I pulled the Emp. out and FW dipped for 5 minutes. I was disgusted to see at least a hundred or more flukes seeping from the eyes, gills, and skin of the Emp. Unfortunately i had waited too long to treat, and he bled out from his gills due to so many flukes that had left holes. I think that LFS and online vendors need to be more proactive in dealing with this before we come along and buy the specimens. For as much as LiveAquaria is toted as one of the best vendors out there, I have received fish that had fluke from both the california location and from the Diver's Den.(BTW I love Liveaquaria, not bashing them) I am sure other vendors have the same issues. I FW dip upon receiving any new specimen and also add Prazipro to the bath. It seems to be working.
