strange blemishes on Niger trigger

[BilboB]

Got a Niger trigger ~10 days ago to replace the one that died. Put it in my fish + inverts tank, and now I see strange blemishes on it. All the other fish look fine. Any ideas? Flukes?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Got a Niger trigger ~10 days ago to replace the one that died. Put it in my fish + inverts tank, and now I see strange blemishes on it. All the other fish look fine. Any ideas? Flukes?

Video is short and I suspect , either a skin irritation or even result of flukes. Is fish eating and breathing normal? If so, likely skin irritation. If flukes, you will see itching, scratching, heavy breathing, cloudy eyes and lethargic behavior

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Got a Niger trigger ~10 days ago to replace the one that died. Put it in my fish + inverts tank, and now I see strange blemishes on it. All the other fish look fine. Any ideas? Flukes?

Those look like Neobenedenia flukes, but I cannot explain why they are gray/cloudy, they are usually completely clear unless being treated with prazi or hyposalinity, then they tend to turn cloudy like that.

 

[BilboB]

Those look like Neobenedenia flukes, but I cannot explain why they are gray/cloudy, they are usually completely clear unless being treated with prazi or hyposalinity, then they tend to turn cloudy like that.

Oh dear. Can fish clear themselves of Neobenedenia flukes? Can these flukes attack my other fish?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Oh dear. Can fish clear themselves of Neobenedenia flukes? Can these flukes attack my other fish?

No and yes.

I think you should first try a five minute freshwater dip. The flukes will fall off and that will confirm the diagnosis. It won’t cure the fish though, there will still be eggs and larva in the tank.

To treat the whole tank, you’ll need to either treat with praziquantel (reef safe) or hyposalinity - not safe for corals or invertebrates.

 

[BilboB]

No and yes.

I think you should first try a five minute freshwater dip. The flukes will fall off and that will confirm the diagnosis. It won’t cure the fish though, there will still be eggs and larva in the tank.

To treat the whole tank, you’ll need to either treat with praziquantel (reef safe) or hyposalinity - not safe for corals or invertebrates.

OK, thanks. After all the troubles I've had, I'm going to have to set up a conditioned QT again.

 

[BilboB]

No and yes.

I think you should first try a five minute freshwater dip. The flukes will fall off and that will confirm the diagnosis. It won’t cure the fish though, there will still be eggs and larva in the tank.

To treat the whole tank, you’ll need to either treat with praziquantel (reef safe) or hyposalinity - not safe for corals or invertebrates.

I wasn't able to catch the Niger trigger, so if the problem is Neobenedenia then all my fish will die if I don't do something, right? I'm now thinking I should remove all the inverts to another tank and do the hyposalinity course you posted.

However, I'm concerned about the inverts. I've got 8 starfish - chocolate chip, red knobbed, double star and orange linckias, plus a huge anemone, some hermit crabs and some snails - can I keep them alive in a 10g or 20g tank for 35 days? I have no idea if the orange linckias or snails will eat any food. Any tips?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I wasn't able to catch the Niger trigger, so if the problem is Neobenedenia then all my fish will die if I don't do something, right? I'm now thinking I should remove all the inverts to another tank and do the hyposalinity course you posted.

However, I'm concerned about the inverts. I've got 8 starfish - chocolate chip, red knobbed, double star and orange linckias, plus a huge anemone, some hermit crabs and some snails - can I keep them alive in a 10g or 20g tank for 35 days? I have no idea if the orange linckias or snails will eat any food. Any tips?

I really wish you could confirm that it is Neo before going into a full hyposalinity treatment. Niger triggers sleep at night, you might be able to catch it by hand when it is sleeping, that's how fish collectors catch them in Hawaii.

Another option would be to treat the whole tank with praziquantel. That is safe for invertebrates. It doesn't work as well on Neo, but if the symptoms resolve after the first treatment, then at least you know it is Neo.....

 

[BilboB]

I really wish you could confirm that it is Neo before going into a full hyposalinity treatment. Niger triggers sleep at night, you might be able to catch it by hand when it is sleeping, that's how fish collectors catch them in Hawaii.

Another option would be to treat the whole tank with praziquantel. That is safe for invertebrates. It doesn't work as well on Neo, but if the symptoms resolve after the first treatment, then at least you know it is Neo.....

OK, I'll try catching the fish while it sleeps and doing a freshwater dip, then I'll put it in the QT. If I can't catch the fish, I'll dose the whole tank with prazi 5x 8 days. About the protocol - do I need to do the higher-concentration dips/incubations? Also, should I do any water changes?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

OK, I'll try catching the fish while it sleeps and doing a freshwater dip, then I'll put it in the QT. If I can't catch the fish, I'll dose the whole tank with prazi 5x 8 days. About the protocol - do I need to do the higher-concentration dips/incubations? Also, should I do any water changes?

What brand of prazi would you be using?