Flukes or ich?

[DustinDec]

So we rolled the dice and it finally caught up to us. Just saw that two of our fish have what looks to be flukes or ich. We are rushing to setup our old 32.5g fluval flex. I’m about to head to the LfS, was hoping to get some suggestions.

As of now, I think it’s ich. I was planning to get a new heater, Hannah cooler tester, copper safe, few rocks and net (getting these fish will be tough). Also a bottle of Dr Tim’s starter bacteria. The plan is to use copper for a month, doing ester changes probably twice a week.

Bad plan? Could it be flukes? Suggestions?

Fish:
2 clown
2 green chromis
1 blue tang
1 yellow tang
1 white tail bristletooth
1 foxface
1 diamond goby
1 Royal gramma
1 Melanrus wrasse

I was going to leave the 3 x sea urchins, tiger conch and new green bubble tip we just got (in acclimation box) in our main DT.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So we rolled the dice and it finally caught up to us. Just saw that two of our fish have what looks to be flukes or ich. We are rushing to setup our old 32.5g fluval flex. I’m about to head to the LfS, was hoping to get some suggestions.

As of now, I think it’s ich. I was planning to get a new heater, Hannah cooler tester, copper safe, few rocks and net (getting these fish will be tough). Also a bottle of Dr Tim’s starter bacteria. The plan is to use copper for a month, doing ester changes probably twice a week.

Bad plan? Could it be flukes? Suggestions?

Fish:
2 clown
2 green chromis
1 blue tang
1 yellow tang
1 white tail bristletooth
1 foxface
1 diamond goby
1 Royal gramma
1 Melanrus wrasse

I was going to leave the 3 x sea urchins, tiger conch and new green bubble tip we just got (in acclimation box) in our main DT.

This is something these fish, mainly hepatus are susceptible to and are mucus plugs which often stem from a skin irritation and at times are mixed in with ich. Strange part is , seldom do other occupants get this and best remedy is to isolate the fish into a separate treatment tank and treat with coppersafe at 2.25 for 30 days with added aeration. They respond well to this

 

[DustinDec]

This is something these fish, mainly hepatus are susceptible to and are mucus plugs which often stem from a skin irritation and at times are mixed in with ich. Strange part is , seldom do other occupants get this and best remedy is to isolate the fish into a separate treatment tank and treat with coppersafe at 2.25 for 30 days with added aeration. They respond well to this

Should I take out all the fish or just the ones I spot with them? I think multiple fish are impacted.
Also some people on another group suggest flukes, but I think it’s itch. Thoughts? As always thanks for your help Vetteguy!

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Should I take out all the fish or just the ones I spot with them? I think multiple fish are impacted.
Also some people on another group suggest flukes, but I think it’s itch. Thoughts? As always thanks for your help Vetteguy!

I would treat all exposed fish. I see mucus plugs as well. Those can be caused by ich or flukes. Fish often have both diseases at the same time. Are you seeing any scratching?

 

[get-salty]

looks like flukes to me. flukes are longer and ich are more spots.

 

[DustinDec]

I would treat all exposed fish. I see mucus plugs as well. Those can be caused by ich or flukes. Fish often have both diseases at the same time. Are you seeing any scratching?

Definitely seeing some scratching.

I'm also seriously debating trying to get them out of the tank and was considering trying to get a UV light + poly Lab. We setup a hospital tank using our old fluval flex 32.5, and some copper powder. But we could only get the two clowns. We would likely need to tear apart all of our rocks. Is this something that needs to be done and we just need to pull the trigger? Does the UV route and poly lab make sense? How do others handle this situation?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Definitely seeing some scratching.

I'm also seriously debating trying to get them out of the tank and was considering trying to get a UV light + poly Lab. We setup a hospital tank using our old fluval flex 32.5, and some copper powder. But we could only get the two clowns. We would likely need to tear apart all of our rocks. Is this something that needs to be done and we just need to pull the trigger? Does the UV route and poly lab make sense? How do others handle this situation?

UV + Polyp Medic can work as part of an ich management scheme, but once ich gets to a certain point, that method fails.

The scratching indicates the fish probably have flukes.

 

[DustinDec]

UV + Polyp Medic can work as part of an ich management scheme, but once ich gets to a certain point, that method fails.

The scratching indicates the fish probably have flukes.

We bit the bullet. We pulled all the fish with the exception of one missing cardinal that no matter what we did, we could not find. It's either in the sand, died in a rock we pulled out or dead in general. It was not doing great to begin with. Every other fish is in the hospital tank with copper. Trying to keep it at 2.25ppm and we also bought a hanna tester.
Going to buy a air pump at pecto here shortly. The LFS was charging $120 for the only one they had.
Ended up having to completely tear down all of our rocks. Spent the last 2.5 hours putting it together again, still uncertain if we like it more or not, but the coral is in better positions. I think we loss our zoas simply because I lost track of where they are and I can't find them not (likely under another rock). Otherwise I'm hoping everything works out. Oh and our golden rod snapped, so now we have two.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

We bit the bullet. We pulled all the fish with the exception of one missing cardinal that no matter what we did, we could not find. It's either in the sand, died in a rock we pulled out or dead in general. It was not doing great to begin with. Every other fish is in the hospital tank with copper. Trying to keep it at 2.25ppm and we also bought a hanna tester.
Going to buy a air pump at pecto here shortly. The LFS was charging $120 for the only one they had.
Ended up having to completely tear down all of our rocks. Spent the last 2.5 hours putting it together again, still uncertain if we like it more or not, but the coral is in better positions. I think we loss our zoas simply because I lost track of where they are and I can't find them not (likely under another rock). Otherwise I'm hoping everything works out. Oh and our golden rod snapped, so now we have two.

Ok, the copper will treat many protozoan issues, but not flukes.

 

[DustinDec]

Ok, the copper will treat many protozoan issues, but not flukes.

So I should also treat for flakes? Any medicine specifically that I can do with copper power?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

So I should also treat for flakes? Any medicine specifically that I can do with copper power?

You can treat with prazipro or praziquantel powder. I try to not run two meds at the same time, but it can be done. You just need to dose it to the actual volume of the tank (like 85% of its rated volume to discount rock displacement, etc.) and add extra aeration. After 8 days you dose it again.

 

[DustinDec]

Thanks Jay - should I wait to treat flakes or do it immediately?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Thanks Jay - should I wait to treat flakes or do it immediately?

That’s a tough call. Flukes take longer to kill, but untreated they will be fatal. If the fish are scratching a lot, and are starting to look ragged, I’d dose it now.

 

[DustinDec]

That’s a tough call. Flukes take longer to kill, but untreated they will be fatal. If the fish are scratching a lot, and are starting to look ragged, I’d dose it now.

Blue tang is already looking better, and doesn’t seem to be itching. Should I still treat for flakes or just consider copper?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Blue tang is already looking better, and doesn’t seem to be itching. Should I still treat for flakes or just consider copper?

I would then do the normal treatment, which is to treat for flukes after t he copper treatment is done.