Copper for flukes?

Oldsalt01 · Jan 4, 2018

Background: Yellow clown Goby with Ich. QT'd in a 5.5g for 11 weeks. Initially came in with a slight case of Ich. BUT, I mis-diagnosed the fact that there were also flukes on it's dorsal fin (I realized that today while looking at pics of an Anthias with flukes, posted here). Short story: treated for Ich with therapeutic levels of copper for 4 weeks. Meanwhile the flukes disappeared within 2 days. The fish has done well, eating again, no flashing/scratching, no reappearence of Ich or flukes. Question: should I assume the flukes are gone, or should I hit him with Prazi or a RODI dip as a precaution? The tank was emptied and sterilized 3 weeks ago due to a huge cyano outbreak. Normal salinety was maintained throughout QT time, but temps were around 72 F.

Maritimer · Jan 4, 2018

I would use the RO/DI and / or Praziquantel as well. I don't trust copper to clear flukes.

~Bruce

Oldsalt01 · Jan 4, 2018

Maritimer said:
I would use the RO/DI and / or Praziquantel as well. I don't trust copper to clear flukes.

~Bruce

Ya, kinda my thoughts too. I've seen no evidence of them since day 2 but the low tank temps might have affected their reproductive cycle. I think a fw dip may be in order and two more weeks of observation will do the trick, just to be on the safe side. Thanks.

justinm · Jan 4, 2018

Copper does not kill flukes. You could confirm if you have them with a FW dip but make sure to treat with prazi, it would take numerous FW dips to eradicate flukes. I didn't see if you said you were going to treat with prazi or not.

Oldsalt01 · Jan 4, 2018

I generally take a wait-and-see attitude with medications unless I'm actively seeing evidence of an issue. Maybe a prazi tx is in order after all. I'm just not sure of the reproductive cycle of marine flukes and how the lower tank temps would affect egg development, and after all this time I sure don't want to contaminate my DT if I can stop an issue before it starts. The little guy was so close to being released from isolation too. Thanks for the input.

justinm · Jan 4, 2018

I know a lot of people have the "wait and see" attitude, but flukes are like a silent killer. I personally believe in prophylactic treatment for at least flukes but to each their own. On the flip side, at least this has a reef safe remedy.

miyags · Jan 4, 2018

I'd do the prazipro treatment.

Oldsalt01 · Jan 4, 2018

OK. I'm convinced. Wiser minds than mine say tx with Prazi. Tx starts tonight. One tx or two? For how long? Carbon out, correct? Thanks to all who have given me input.

Maritimer · Jan 4, 2018

Carbon out, skimming off.

Two treatments, 5-7 days apart, as Prazi doesn't affect unhatched eggs.

~Bruce

Oldsalt01 · Jan 4, 2018

As I recall adding an airstone helps, as Prazi lowers O2 levels. Nicht zo?

Maritimer · Jan 4, 2018

Ja.

I use an Aqua-Clear 110 and a powerhead in my QT these days, but have had the reduced O2 problem in the past.

~Bruce

Jwise · Aug 31, 2022

Maritimer said:
Ja.

I use an Aqua-Clear 110 and a powerhead in my QT these days, but have had the reduced O2 problem in the past.

~Bruce

I am going to use the same filter for my qt that im setting up on friday but im going to use a bubble stone with a pump that makes oxygen for up to100 gallons of water even though im doing a 40 gallon breeder for a qt does anyone think that i can mix the copper and prazi pro for fish treatment because i have velvet, flukes, and black ick all in my display system and im taking all my fish out of dt and putting them into qt

sc50964 · Aug 31, 2022

I like general cure better than prazipro.

Jwise · Aug 31, 2022

sc50964 said:
I like general cure better than prazipro.

Will general cure tank care of black ick

fishface NJ · Aug 31, 2022

These posts are from 2018 and those folks haven't been on here for a few years

sc50964 · Aug 31, 2022

Jwise said:
Will general cure tank care of black ick

General Cure contains 2.0 mg/L praziquantel and 6.6 mg/L metronidazole and prazipro is at 2.5 mg/L in prazi concentration. For black ich, humble fish says that 2.5mg/L is needed so you either have to take a risk with the bacterial bloom that you get more with prazipro or take the risk of measuring out general cure yourself to reach 2.5mg/L.

AquaLogic · Feb 1, 2024

Why do all of the quarantine protocols call for treating with prazi AFTER copper? Flukes stress fish, wouldn't it be better to kill the flukes before a long copper quarantine so they don't have to go through quarantine with flukes the whole time?