sck90
Community Member
Hello,
I need your help, please.
I have a Carpenter's flasher wrasse and a Pintail fairy wrasse in a 10 gal Qt tank since August 28 th. They looked healthy when they arrived. I started copper treatment with copper power at 2.25 ppm August 29 th. Both fish had been eating, but the pintail was very skittish.
First few days, all good. Both fish eating well. Pintail still skittish, but at least I could see him eating.
Things started to bother me after about 4 days. I saw the carpenter beginning to scratch on pvc tubings. Pintail started to dart like crazy, to the point he smacked himself on walls and on the plexiglass top several times. I took the decision to dose Fritz Paracleanse (september 3rd), because I suspected flukes and being in Canada, I have no access to general cure or Prazipro. I also read that it is safe to use with copper, provided there is plenty of aeration (which there is). After 48 hours, fish seemed a little better, but still not acting perfectly normal. They were eating ok, but as much as I would have hoped.
Second Paracleanse treatment after 7 days (september 10th). Carpenter's looked ok, eating well yesterday and today. Pintail did not eat since September 10th in the morning.
Today, on the afternoon, Pintail was in a corner, not moving at all. Carpenter ate, but I saw him dart and scratch again. I thus decided to do a freshwater bath to the Carpenter (but not to the pintail, because he was not feeling good enough). After 4 min, a ton of flukes started to come off the wrasse. From the eyes, skin, etc. I knew there was something wrong. Now it's confirmed : I am dealing with Neobenedenia flukes and paracleanse treatments did not work.
Note : I used paracleanse 4 times in the same quarantine tank (and same sponge filter) in the last weeks for other fish. I suspect praziquantel is no longer effective because of rapid bacterial degradation.
I think my only choice is hyposalinity. I was thinking doing a 50% waterchange this evening to bring salinity to 1.012 (it is 1.024 right now). This would also bring copper to 1.10 ppm approximately. I have cuprisorb on hand to remove the remaining copper.
Is this the best thing I could do ? I know I might not be able to save both wrasses, but I will do my best. Carpenter is not feeling good after the FW bath (probably because of the many flukes having left it's body).
How long should I do the hypo ? The Qt tank is only 10 gal, so the sooner they are out, the better, but I understand that treating adequately is the priority. I thought maybe I could do another copper treatment after the hypo. As of today, they have been in copper for 2 weeks.
Thank you in advance.
I need your help, please.
I have a Carpenter's flasher wrasse and a Pintail fairy wrasse in a 10 gal Qt tank since August 28 th. They looked healthy when they arrived. I started copper treatment with copper power at 2.25 ppm August 29 th. Both fish had been eating, but the pintail was very skittish.
First few days, all good. Both fish eating well. Pintail still skittish, but at least I could see him eating.
Things started to bother me after about 4 days. I saw the carpenter beginning to scratch on pvc tubings. Pintail started to dart like crazy, to the point he smacked himself on walls and on the plexiglass top several times. I took the decision to dose Fritz Paracleanse (september 3rd), because I suspected flukes and being in Canada, I have no access to general cure or Prazipro. I also read that it is safe to use with copper, provided there is plenty of aeration (which there is). After 48 hours, fish seemed a little better, but still not acting perfectly normal. They were eating ok, but as much as I would have hoped.
Second Paracleanse treatment after 7 days (september 10th). Carpenter's looked ok, eating well yesterday and today. Pintail did not eat since September 10th in the morning.
Today, on the afternoon, Pintail was in a corner, not moving at all. Carpenter ate, but I saw him dart and scratch again. I thus decided to do a freshwater bath to the Carpenter (but not to the pintail, because he was not feeling good enough). After 4 min, a ton of flukes started to come off the wrasse. From the eyes, skin, etc. I knew there was something wrong. Now it's confirmed : I am dealing with Neobenedenia flukes and paracleanse treatments did not work.
Note : I used paracleanse 4 times in the same quarantine tank (and same sponge filter) in the last weeks for other fish. I suspect praziquantel is no longer effective because of rapid bacterial degradation.
I think my only choice is hyposalinity. I was thinking doing a 50% waterchange this evening to bring salinity to 1.012 (it is 1.024 right now). This would also bring copper to 1.10 ppm approximately. I have cuprisorb on hand to remove the remaining copper.
Is this the best thing I could do ? I know I might not be able to save both wrasses, but I will do my best. Carpenter is not feeling good after the FW bath (probably because of the many flukes having left it's body).
How long should I do the hypo ? The Qt tank is only 10 gal, so the sooner they are out, the better, but I understand that treating adequately is the priority. I thought maybe I could do another copper treatment after the hypo. As of today, they have been in copper for 2 weeks.
Thank you in advance.
