Help with clown trigger

sawdonkey · Feb 9, 2016

@Mfreddy

That is definitely flukes. They look kinda of like sesame seeds. I had them in my tank about two years ago and they looked precisely like that on my Niger trigger's eyes. Give your fish a freshwater bath asap so the flukes don't damage his eye. You'll see the flukes feel right off of him. Then run Prazipro in your tank. It's reef safe in my experience. Ran it in a SPS tank with no ill effects except a super bubbly skimmer.

I assume he's twitching too? He also looks really skinny. Eating?

Good luck.

Mfreddy · Feb 9, 2016

Not twitching but has rubbed the rock a few times. Eating like a pig, krill, brine shrimp and mysis along with a little flake. I've just had him 5 days and he's 3".

sawdonkey · Feb 9, 2016

Mfreddy said:
Not twitching but has rubbed the rock a few times. Eating like a pig, krill, brine shrimp and mysis along with a little flake. I've just had him 5 days and he's 3".

Well, get him a FW dip asap to save his eyes. Then pick up that Prazipro. If one fish gets flukes, most or all of your fish have or will have them. Been my tank had them, all of my fish showed signs. I treated with Prazipro and didn't lose a single fish. It took multiple treatments though.

Humblefish · Feb 9, 2016

sawdonkey said:
Well, get him a FW dip asap to save his eyes. Then pick up that Prazipro. If one fish gets flukes, most or all of your fish have or will have them. Been my tank had them, all of my fish showed signs. I treated with Prazipro and didn't lose a single fish. It took multiple treatments though.

^^Definitely flukes, do this. If you try to administer Prazipro before doing the FW dip (see below) the resulting spasms will likely damage his eye(s). Once flukes reach the eyes, it's usually a pretty heavy infestation. Prazipro causes flukes to spasm and dislodge from the fish; too many spasms can kill the fish. A FW dip forces some of them to just drop off beforehand, so less flukes having spasms on the fish simultaneously.

Freshwater Dip: Provides temporary relief for Brooklynella, Flukes, Marine Velvet disease (Amyloodinium); possibly even Ich & Uronema marinum (both unproven). Can be used to confirm the presence of Flukes.

How To Treat - Fill a bucket with RODI water, and use a heater to match the temperature to the water the fish is coming from. Aerate the water heavily for at least 30 minutes prior to doing the dip, then discontinue aeration while performing the dip. Fish aren’t overly pH sensitive for short durations like this, but you can squirt a little tank water into the dip just before the fish goes in to help bring it up.

Place the fish in the freshwater (FW) dip and observe closely. It is not unusual for them to freak out a little at first. Also, tangs are notorious for “playing dead” during a FW dip. The important thing is to watch their gills; they should be breathing heavily at all times during the dip. If breathing slows, it’s time to exit the dip. Dip the fish for no longer than 5 minutes. Multiple dips may be done, but it’s important to give your fish a day to recuperate in-between dips.

For flukes, use a dark (preferably black) bucket so you can see if tiny white worms fall out of the fish (especially out of the gills) at around the 3-4 minute mark. The worms will settle to the bottom, so you can use a flashlight to look for them there as well.

Pros - Provides temporary relief for a wide range of diseases in a chemical free environment. Can “buy you more time” until a proper treatment can be done.

Cons/Side Effects - Not a permanent “fix” for any disease, as FW dips are not potent enough to eradicate all of the parasites/worms afflicting the fish. Some fish can have an adverse reaction to a FW dip by appearing unable to maintain their equilibrium once returned to the aquarium. If this happens, hold the fish upright (using latex, nitrile or rubber gloves), and gently glide him through the water (to get saltwater flowing through the gills again). It is also a good idea to place the fish in an acclimation box until he appears “normal”.

Mfreddy · Feb 9, 2016

Everyone got dipped, pouted for a while, and then started asking to eat. Trigger looks much better. Thanks everyone.

sawdonkey · Feb 9, 2016

Mfreddy said:
Everyone got dipped, pouted for a while, and then started asking to eat. Trigger looks much better. Thanks everyone.

Good to hear. Make sure to medicate too. Dipping is only temp relief.

Humblefish · Feb 9, 2016

sawdonkey said:
Good to hear. Make sure to medicate too. Dipping is only temp relief.

+1 Prazipro will be needed to completely knock this problem out. Dose once, wait 5-7 days, do a 25% WC and then dose again.

Mfreddy · Feb 9, 2016

I see everyone agrees dosing with prazipro is necessary to eliminate the flukes. The guy that set up my tank told me not to use it now, dip may have been sufficient, and it's hard on the fish. Does anyone agree with that? Black dogface puffer, purple tang, clown trigger. Medicate at recommended dose of 1oz per 120 gallons?

Mfreddy · Feb 9, 2016

Add to sump by return? If I go in the top they'll think it's feeding time

Humblefish · Feb 9, 2016

Mfreddy said:
I see everyone agrees dosing with prazipro is necessary to eliminate the flukes. The guy that set up my tank told me not to use it now, dip may have been sufficient, and it's hard on the fish. Does anyone agree with that? Black dogface puffer, purple tang, clown trigger. Medicate at recommended dose of 1oz per 120 gallons?

If your fish have flukes, you have have some options:

Prazipro
Formalin
De-Los
Hyposalinity (only proven to eradicate Neobenedenia)

Of these 4, Prazipro is the only option that is both reef safe and relatively mild on the fish. A 5 min FW dip eliminates some, but rarely all, of the flukes.

Mfreddy · Feb 9, 2016

I just dosed the tank with prazipro

Mfreddy · Feb 10, 2016

24 hours after prazipro and everyone is doing great. Everyone eating great, begging for food. Purple tang's body color and pattern more vivid. Thanks Humblefish.

butrmilkbiscits · Feb 10, 2016

My clown triggers eye looked exactly like that and it was indeed flukes , for mine anyways

sawdonkey · Feb 11, 2016

Mfreddy said:
24 hours after prazipro and everyone is doing great. Everyone eating great, begging for food. Purple tang's body color and pattern more vivid. Thanks Humblefish.

Make sure not to run your skimmer for a couple of days so you don't take out the meds. I'd the fish convulse when you added the Prazipro? I remember when i treated my tank, the fish started twitching as soon as I added the meds. The irritation of the flukes must irritate the fish.

Mfreddy · Feb 11, 2016

Not much twitching from the fish. Maybe the freshwater dip helped. Fish had only been in the tank 5 days when I caught it.

miyags · Feb 11, 2016

Make sure you do the second round of prazi.

Humblefish · Feb 11, 2016

Mfreddy said:
Not much twitching from the fish. Maybe the freshwater dip helped. Fish had only been in the tank 5 days when I caught it.

It is always optimal to do a FW dip before treating with Prazipro. This reduces the number of flukes on the fish and the resulting spasms the fish has to endure before the remaining flukes drop off. Problem is, not everyone is comfortable performing a FW dip on a SW fish.

Mfreddy · Feb 11, 2016

I plan on it. Water change is necessary before the 2nd dose?

Humblefish · Feb 11, 2016

Mfreddy said:
I plan on it. Water change is necessary before the 2nd dose?

Yes. 20-25% WC before administering the second dose, which is done about a week after the first dose.

Mfreddy · Feb 11, 2016

Here are my choices:

1. Do it sunday afternoon, 5 days after first dose.
2. Do it either Wednesday night or Thursday after I return from a business trip (8 to 9 days).

I'm leaning towards Sunday even if it means a third dose down the road. Those are my only options.