Hey everyone! I've had a tailspot blenny for a few months now. Ever since I got him, he has flashed a bit on the rocks...some days more than others. He has has never had any outward signs of parasites...never even one white spot. Could this behavior still be related to a low-level infestation of parasites? I also read somewhere that blennies can exhibit this behavior for other reasons. I'm a tad worried...should I buy a cleaner shrimp for the tank? Thanks a bunch for any help!
Tailspot Blenny Flashing
- Thread starter Neonblack
- Start date
Reef Frog
New member
I would only buy a cleaner shrimp if you WANT a cleaner shrimp for its own sake. Chances are the blenny wont allow it to clean. And even if it did, it would never cure a parasitic infection anyways because most of the parasites would likely be living in inaccessible locations. Cleaner shrimp are fun to watch but they can have undesirable habits like stealing food from large polyp corals for example.
I don't know if this species flashes for other reasons.
I don't know if this species flashes for other reasons.
twon8
Formally registered membe
Yes. It will kill fan worms but they recover quickly. Take the cup off your skimmed as it will overflow.
Deinonych
New member
Praziquantel is only effective against monogeneans (aka flukes) and other related helminths. It is NOT effective against protozoans, so stating that it will kill most all internal/external parasites is false. Also, 2 rounds a week apart should suffice; you should not need to repeat every 3-4 months. If repeat treatments are needed, then 1.) you aren't dealing with flukes or 2.) you aren't quarantining properly.
Dkuhlmann
New member
I was under the impression that it would kill them. This was told to me from someone, I know it kills flukes. Some flukes you need to triple dose to kill them. I found that out a few months ago.
I am also one of the people on here who do not quarantine.
If it doesn't kill internal parasites then tell me why my fish stopped the long stringy poop they had prior to treatment?
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Deinonych
New member
Praziquantel is an anthelmintic - i.e. it kills worms and related organisms, including internal worms. I never said it didn't kill internal parasites, merely that it only targets specific organisms. You can't use prazi against ich, velvet or brook, for example.
Dkuhlmann
New member
I am well aware that Prazi doesn't work against ich, velvet and brook. I never implied that it did. I do deworm all new fish with Prazi as well as do a Formalin dip upon arrival. I also do a dose of Prazi every 4 months or so sometimes wait until 6 months just depends on how the fish are looking.
Deinonych
New member
Reef Frog
New member
Good luck with your blenny. Just a thought:
I've never had to do it, but it seems this fish would be fairly easy to catch. Treatment in a QT is ideal as you can do more precise measurements & use less product. Plus you could possible do a fresh water or formalin dip for possible immediate symptom relief.
If he escapes the net & hides in a hole, it's possible to siphon it out into a bucket of tank water without harm. I had to do this once with a royal gramma & firefish and it was pretty easy.
I've never had to do it, but it seems this fish would be fairly easy to catch. Treatment in a QT is ideal as you can do more precise measurements & use less product. Plus you could possible do a fresh water or formalin dip for possible immediate symptom relief.
If he escapes the net & hides in a hole, it's possible to siphon it out into a bucket of tank water without harm. I had to do this once with a royal gramma & firefish and it was pretty easy.
Thanks Reef Frog...I dosed the Prazipro today in the DT...so far, no symptom relief yet (though I suppose it could take a few.days?) I 'll try a fw bath if this first line of treatment fails.
He's been scratching on occasion for the three months I've had him, (tough it's been near constant within the last few days). Never a white dot on him, could this actually be ich manifesting only in the gills where I can't see the spots? I guess I'm not sure, but one would think that I would have seen at last ONE white spot on his body in all this time, but I haven't. Any thoughts on that? This is one of my favorite fish of all time, so it hurts to see him suffering.
He's been scratching on occasion for the three months I've had him, (tough it's been near constant within the last few days). Never a white dot on him, could this actually be ich manifesting only in the gills where I can't see the spots? I guess I'm not sure, but one would think that I would have seen at last ONE white spot on his body in all this time, but I haven't. Any thoughts on that? This is one of my favorite fish of all time, so it hurts to see him suffering.
Dkuhlmann
New member
You should see a difference in 24 hrs. If you have any garlic extract on hand I would do one drop per 10 gals into the DT this will give pretty instant relief of the flashing. I keep it on hand and since I started my Prazi treatment every few months I don't see very much flashing at all.
Make sure you follow the directions to the T with the Prazi, and wait 4 days after doing the WC and running your skimmer along with the carbon before you start the second dose. If you wait more than 4 days your eggs that are hatching during the time of no Prazi can become mature and start laying again they you don't get rid of them.
No problem Chris, that is something that I do all the time. Need to pay more attention to what is written
:thumbsup:
Make sure you follow the directions to the T with the Prazi, and wait 4 days after doing the WC and running your skimmer along with the carbon before you start the second dose. If you wait more than 4 days your eggs that are hatching during the time of no Prazi can become mature and start laying again they you don't get rid of them.
No problem Chris, that is something that I do all the time. Need to pay more attention to what is written
:thumbsup:
Deinonych
New member
The correct procedure for Prazi is to dose every 5-7 days with a water change between doses. There is no need to run carbon or skim between doses, as the compound only remains active in solution for ~72 hours.
Not sure what the point of garlic extract is, unless you planning on grilling the fish for dinner.
Not sure what the point of garlic extract is, unless you planning on grilling the fish for dinner.
The correct procedure for Prazi is to dose every 5-7 days with a water change between doses. There is no need to run carbon or skim between doses, as the compound only remains active in solution for ~72 hours.
Not sure what the point of garlic extract is, unless you planning on grilling the fish for dinner.
This. Garlic has no value in parasite control.
Forgot to mention....three days ago my Blenny had some clear-ish bristle worm spines sticking out of one side(I THINK that's what they were). They all fell out the next day, but he's been scratching like crazy ever since. Could that be causing all of the itching? The only thing is that he seems to be flashing on both sides, not just the one. What do you guys think?
Reef Frog
New member
That's interesting. Never heard of this before. Since lots of fish sleep in the LR, this may happen more often than we know. I wonder if it might explain some cases of sudden fish disappearance?
It sounds like it could be a plausible explanation. I know I itch when getting a few of those spines in my skin. Maybe a low grade infection?
It sounds like it could be a plausible explanation. I know I itch when getting a few of those spines in my skin. Maybe a low grade infection?
