Does my filefish have flukes?

[old_lady_4am]

Hello - My filefish looks like he has razor stubble in a few places all over his body and horn that wasn’t there this morning before I left for work. Are they flukes? The photos aren’t too clear, but you can see them sticking out. Thank you in advance for your opinion.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I’m not seeing flukes, but something does look up. I see what looks like ich, and I’m not sure what the hairy stuff is.
#fishmedic

 

[old_lady_4am]

I’m not seeing flukes, but something does look up. I see what looks like ich, and I’m not sure what the hairy stuff is.
#fishmedic

He’s in my display tank (it’s new) with 5 other fish. I don’t have a qt tank set up. Should I treat the whole tank for ich?

 

[Sharkbait19]

He’s in my display tank (it’s new) with 5 other fish. I don’t have a qt tank set up. Should I treat the whole tank for ich?

That depends, is this tank a FLOWLR with no inverts or corals at all? If not, then treatment can be more tricky without a QT.

 

[old_lady_4am]

That depends, is this tank a FLOWLR with no inverts or corals at all? If not, then treatment can be more tricky without a QT.

It only has the fish, 4 snails and live rock and sand.

 

[Sharkbait19]

It only has the fish, 4 snails and live rock and sand.

The snails complicate things. If you have somewhere that you can temporarily rehome the snails, then you can run hyposalinity to kill the ich, or even copper meds, though that can kill many beneficial microorganisms and become a problem for future invertebrates. Otherwise, you can buy a cheap glass aquarium to move your fish into. Petco is currently running a dollar per gallon sale, so now would be a great time to set up a hospital tank and treat the fish properly with copper medication or chloroquine phosphate.

 

[vetteguy53081]

It is possible but one way to determine is by giving it a 4 min freshater bath. While its not a cure, often the fluke worms will fall off . Place fish in a Clean container of tap water the same temperature as display tank for 5 mins and return to tank. Look on bottom of container for what looks like fish scales or sesame seeds. If you can see that- Flukes. If not, chances nome.
Pics hard to tell as fish has natural dots in pigments

 

[old_lady_4am]

The snails complicate things. If you have somewhere that you can temporarily rehome the snails, then you can run hyposalinity to kill the ich, or even copper meds, though that can kill many beneficial microorganisms and become a problem for future invertebrates. Otherwise, you can buy a cheap glass aquarium to move your fish into. Petco is currently running a dollar per gallon sale, so now would be a great time to set up a hospital tank and treat the fish properly with copper medication or chloroquine phosphate.

I have a 10 gallon setup right now to be used as a qt, but it’s not cycled. The ammonia is through the roof. I used Dr Tim’s fishless cycle. It’s not coming down going on 2 weeks. I’ll empty it, fill it back up, put my fish in there and treat them. Thank you for your help I really appreciate it!

 

[old_lady_4am]

It is possible but one way to determine is by giving it a 4 min freshater bath. While its not a cure, often the fluke worms will fall off . Place fish in a Clean container of tap water the same temperature as display tank for 5 mins and return to tank. Look on bottom of container for what looks like fish scales or sesame seeds. If you can see that- Flukes. If not, chances nome.
Pics hard to tell as fish has natural dots in pigments

Tap water out of the sink faucet? Do I have to put prime in it?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hello - My filefish looks like he has razor stubble in a few places all over his body and horn that wasn’t there this morning before I left for work. Are they flukes? The photos aren’t too clear, but you can see them sticking out. Thank you in advance for your opinion.

That genus of filefish is tough to work with - they are prone to ich and other infections, but they normally have all sorts of spots and protuberances, making identification of any disease very difficult.

Can you catch the fish and give it a five minute freshwater dip? That won't cure it, but you can look at the bottom of the dip container and see if you see worms. Also, if the hairs on the body drop off, then you know they are a parasite, and not something normal.

Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

Tap water out of the sink faucet? Do I have to put prime in it?

You can but not necessary. Even a pinch of Baking soda will help

 

[old_lady_4am]

That genus of filefish is tough to work with - they are prone to ich and other infections, but they normally have all sorts of spots and protuberances, making identification of any disease very difficult.

Can you catch the fish and give it a five minute freshwater dip? That won't cure it, but you can look at the bottom of the dip container and see if you see worms. Also, if the hairs on the body drop off, then you know they are a parasite, and not something normal.

 

[old_lady_4am]

I tried catching him to dip, but he is quick! Don’t know what happened to the slow guy who’s been lazily floating around up to this point. I’ll get him tomorrow morning then give an update on what I find. Thank you all for helping!

 

[old_lady_4am]

I performed the freshwater dip using rodi water. It was unnerving watching him go catatonic, but no flukes! After viewing filefish photos though I believe I was sold a radial filefish and not the aiptasia eating one like I wanted, which all have the hair like things that made me think were flukes to begin with. I don’t think I’m going to treat the fish unless something becomes of this episode. Thank you again for everyone’s help!