Flukes?? Need help ASAP

[Gcowles]

I got this yellow tang last month and did a copper treatment, but a week after putting him in the display, he started to get a skin irritation behind his right gill. He was always out eating but now he hides all the time, and will dart out, pick at algae and go back behind the rocks. Does this look like flukes? I started noticing it about a week ago, and he is coming out a little more now, but he looks physically worse. After taking some photos today, it looks like there are some white ovals on him. Are these flukes? I’m going out of town tomorrow for about 5 days so I don’t want to move him to quarantine as I don’t have another ATO or auto feeder. I’ve got several corals and 2 clowns. Should I try treating with Prazipro in the display? Or do nothing till I get back?

the last two pictures are what he looked like when I first noticed it.

 

[Spare time]

Prazipro is harmless so it wouldn't hurt. I don't know if those are flukes or not but still prazipro won't hurt

 

[W1ngz]

If it's flukes, you need to treat with prazipro. There's probably about 600 different threads on here about how to treat flukes. Here's one. You can search for more.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Conduct a FWD to see if flukes fall off the fish during dip. Process of elimination.

The images you posted it does look like it could be bacterial.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Agree on freshwater dip. With water temp same or a tad warmer than tank, drop each fish one at a time and see if what looks like sesame seeds fall to the bottom. If so, flukes.

 

[Gcowles]

It looks like it was flukes. I treated the tank with Prazipro and within 15 minutes he was out and about like normal. After looking at a few more of the pictures, I could see that the white ovals were above the level of the skin. Most of the flukes have fallen off. I’ve got a video camera that I will monitor the tank with while I’m gone and will kick on the protein skimmer in 2-3 days to work on removing the Prazipro and retreat in 7 days. His skin is still irritated, so if it isn’t looking better by the time I get back, I will put the fish in QT and treat it with maracyn two. Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[Gcowles]

Here is the tang this morning. No more flukes! There is still some skin irritation. Does it look like a bacterial infection? I’m heading out of town in a few hours and will be back Monday. We will see if it heals on its own. Otherwise I’ll treat for a bacterial infection when I get back Monday.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Here is the tang this morning. No more flukes! There is still some skin irritation. Does it look like a bacterial infection? I’m heading out of town in a few hours and will be back Monday. We will see if it heals on its own. Otherwise I’ll treat for a bacterial infection when I get back Monday.

Looks so much better! Doesn’t look infected in these photos. Good-luck and enjoy your trip!