Flukes – General Guidelines

melypr1985 · Apr 4, 2016

Just figured this might help. I did a FW dip on a yellow eye kole tang who had a bad case of flukes. This is the results after 5 minutes. You can see the white ovals laying him and in the bottom of the bucket. Whoever is doing a fw dip looking for flukes, this is a good example.

Humblefish · Apr 4, 2016

@melypr1985 Thanks for sharing. Did the fish make it?

melypr1985 · Apr 4, 2016

Humblefish said:
@melypr1985 Thanks for sharing. Did the fish make it?

Yes, so far so good. He's got a little infection going on from the flukes, but I'll be treating that starting wednesday. And I even did a detailed cost analysis for the store manager and got him to let me use Prazi in the fish only system now! woot!

FDAWG · Apr 8, 2016

Are those flukes bigger than normal? They look huge!

Humblefish · Apr 9, 2016

FDAWG said:
Are those flukes bigger than normal? They look huge!

They are probably mature flukes. They grow in size the older they are.

melypr1985 · Apr 9, 2016

Yes. There were all sizes of them. The biggest showed up best for the camera of course! But it still gives a good idea of what to look for when doing a dip for flukes.

Reefahholic · Apr 22, 2016

Arrr....I hate flukes!!

Reefahholic · Apr 22, 2016

melypr1985 said:
Yes. There were all sizes of them. The biggest showed up best for the camera of course! But it still gives a good idea of what to look for when doing a dip for flukes.

It's great when you have a fish yawning and put him in FW dip and flukes come barreling off the fish at the 3 minute mark. You know the fish feels so much better. Then follow it up with Prazipro and you're golden.

Humblefish · Apr 22, 2016

Reefahholic said:
It's great when you have a fish yawning and put him in FW dip and flukes come barreling off the fish at the 3 minute mark. You know the fish feels so much better. Then follow it up with Prazipro and you're golden.

A FW dip is every reefer's best friend in a fish disease emergency situation. It's free, you don't have to find it at some LFS, and it provides temporary relief for a wide range of ailments. Care must be taken to oxygenate and temperature match the water beforehand, but the more you do it the more you will become comfortable with it. In 35 years, the only fish I've lost to a FW dip are ones I didn't think would last much longer anyway.

melypr1985 · Apr 22, 2016

I agree. A freshwater dip is so easy and Ive performed hundreds at the LFS I work at. I havent lost a fish that wasnt already past saving. Heres a picture of how easy it is. We have specimen containers for bagging fish. I fill it with rodi water and hang it on the lip of the tank, inside the tank. I leave it there with an air line until the temps match then drop the fish in. I set my phone timer for 5 minutes and Im done! I put the fish back in his tank, and check to see what fell off - if anything.

klp · May 5, 2016

In the case of new arrivals do you go directly from the bag to the fresh water to the QT?

melypr1985 · May 5, 2016

klp said:
In the case of new arrivals do you go directly from the bag to the fresh water to the QT?

Not really. I was doing these freshwater dips on the fish at the LFS I work at. My fish at home go through TTM coupled with Prazi followed by observation. I don't usually dip any new fish because I'm planning on running Prazi on them anyway. It's just part of the routine at this point.

So they go straight into QT, which has been matched to the SG of our livestock tanks at work (because I get all my fish from work) that way they just get temp floated and released.

atp0726 · Nov 16, 2016

RMAS0934 said:
As always thank you! I was concerned that the air stone could be overused, as it's been running all night. I'll remove it when I go home on lunch.

Is running the air stone the entire time while treating with Prazi an issue? I am confused by the above statement.

Highgrade · Nov 16, 2016

atp0726 said:
Is running the air stone the entire time while treating with Prazi an issue? I am confused by the above statement.

Only issue I've ever had is the micro bubbles creating salt creep. You should be fine using an air stone, Prazi decreases the oxygen. So proper aeration is needed. Instead of an air stone I've used a small power head right at the waterline to draw in air into the water as well.

melypr1985 · Nov 16, 2016

Just causing ripples on the water's surface is enough to help oxygenate the water when using medications.

Reefmon · Feb 22, 2017

I like when a old thread helps with a new problem. I'm currently battling this dreaded fluke monster

Highgrade · Feb 22, 2017

Reefmon said:
I like when a old thread helps with a new problem. I'm currently battling this dreaded fluke monster

They're a pain but not too hard to eradicate if your fish are not overwhelmed with them.

ksfulk · Feb 22, 2017

Concerning wrasses - whats the conservative dosage that is still effective? I have a trio that need deworming, and Im trying to walk that fine line between effective and sensitive. Would 2.3mg work, 2.0mg?

melypr1985 · Feb 22, 2017

ksfulk said:
Concerning wrasses - whats the conservative dosage that is still effective? I have a trio that need deworming, and Im trying to walk that fine line between effective and sensitive. Would 2.3mg work, 2.0mg?

You would only slightly under dose and adding a third dose for go measure might be needed. For the record, I've never once had an issue with wrasses and prazi.

Reefmon · Feb 22, 2017

Highgrade said:
They're a pain but not too hard to eradicate if your fish are not overwhelmed with them.

Question...my salefin developed cloudy eye so I'm treating with metaflix but I think he's suffering from fluke. Should I continue to treat for the cloudy with metaflix or do a big water change, run carbon and dose prazipro to address fluke? Thanks for your help