Help with first qt! I suspect flukes and internal parasites

[HOOPDEEZ]

Hey guys I started my first qt tanks. I have 4 fish in 2 qts tanks one has a carpenters and pintail wrasse. The other has an ember blenny and a purple firefish. It has been 2 days with just observation. The pintail is active and eating and the most bold of the 4, however the carpenters does not really come out. I noticed white stringy poop on the carpenters and the purple firefish so I went and got API general cure (haven't added it yet). Then I noticed some lighter patches on the carpenters. I'm really hoping it's not velvet, and would like some suggestions on which route to take; GC first (which I was planning on starting tomorrow), or if copper is needed sooner. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Here's a video of the wrasses showing the patches, and what looks like flukes on carpenters eye? @Humblefish @melypr1985 @eatbreakfast

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

Also is general cure an alright product to use with wrasses, or should I get prazipro and metroplex?

 

[GHsaltie]

It’s hard to say if he’s got flukes, something else, or just stress pattern. Although I think I may have seen a head twitch or two in the video. I would recommend a freshwater dip first to confirm or rule out flukes. Here’s a video on how to do it, https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/
Aside from that the other things that come to mind are, stress pattern of course, velvet, or bacterial infection. I would start with the freshwater dip and treating for the intestinal parasites, Metroplex and focus in food for 14 days. However with how rampant velvet is nowadays I always recommend prophylactically treating with copper, especially for fish that can hide it better such as clowns and wrasses.

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

Thanks, I only have API general cure on hand, but I can get some metro and focus. I'll do a few dip and start treating with GC. Do you think GC is a decent route or go for metro and follow with prazi?

 

[GHsaltie]

For internal parasites it’s more effective to feed medicated food, that way it goes straight to the source. I don’t remember if GC can be fed with focus but I’ll look around and come back with my findings.

 

[ngoodermuth]

For fairy wrasses only, I would go ahead and treat with general cure or prazi for flukes without a freshwater dip. I've had a couple fairy wrasses react poorly to freshwater dips. If you feel comfortable giving the dip a try- you still can, just make sure you watch them very closely. The ones that reacted poorly for me had to be pulled around 3 minutes because their breathing slowed to a near stop. Once they were back in QT they recovered fine, though.

As @GHsaltie mentioned, for white stringy poop (internal parasites) you would want to bind the medication to food with seachem focus. 2 scoops of GC to 1 scoop focus to 1 tablespoon of food. Feed the medicated food, exclusively if possible, twice a day for at least 10 days...longer if needed. It's ok to treat the water and food at the same time.

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

I went ahead and got metroplex, focus and prazipro. I got all fish eating black worms and mysis soaked in metro. I have not started prazi yet, I'll start after work today so I can keep a close eye on them. Qt is stressful! Thanks for your help

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

So there is definitely something going on on the side of the carpenters. He does not come out at all.

 

[theMeat]

Could be infection from flukes

Prozipro will do flukes and intestinal worms

Do a round or two and see where you’re at

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

Did a round of prazipro and the wrasses freaked out a bit, but seemed to calm down after a couple mins. Fingers crossed

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

Lost the carpenters wrasse this morning. He had been struggling since I got him, and I think the prazipro was the last straw. The pintail is affected by the prazi as well and is breathing harder and swimming a bit haphazardly. It's been about 14 hours with prazi should I put carbon in or try to stick it out to 24 hours? Bummed about the loss, anyone see signs of velvet? Looks bacterial to me but I'm a newb

 

[ngoodermuth]

Yes, that looks bacterial to me :/ I wish I would have seen your post sooner, I would have advised against the prazi and suggested running antibiotics instead. An acriflavine bath might have helped as well.

If the pintail is reacting to the prazi I would pull it. As long as it's been about 24 hours, it's likely done it's job anyway. I would do a big water change and add carbon and see if that makes a difference. Continue feeding the metro-soaked food, though.

Any other behavioral symptoms? Flashing against things, swimming into flow, hiding from light, etc?

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

Both wrasses were flashing against things, the pintail was active whereas the carpenters never was. The Carpenters may have been hiding from light, but it was hiding all the time. The pintail was looking ok after the lights went on this morning and is still active. I have a sponge filter and an air stone don't think he's swimming into the flow at least not consistently. I'm gonna run carbon as soon as I get home. I did a water change right b4 the prazi, I need to mix some more up tonight.

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

I could also pull water from the display if you think carbon won't cut it

 

[theMeat]

Highly unlikely the prazipro is having an ill effect. The carpenter probably wasn’t going to make it regardless

No need to panic. Wait the 5 days and do another round. If they do have an infection than they should be better able to combat it on their own with no flukes and internal worms. If not do an anti bacterial when done with prazi

 

[ngoodermuth]

I am suspect of velvet actually, wrasses suffer more in the gills with velvet because of the thick slime coat. Sometimes there are no spots or outward symptoms, but excessive flashing and hiding are both symptoms. Labored breathing is a symptom as well.

I would slowly start copper after the prazi is out and try to get him eating a good bit. Small amounts often, soaked in vitachem or selcon if possible.
An acriflavine bath might help ward off secondary infection.

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

I feed live black worms, frozen mysis and fish eggs soaked in metro+focus+ garlic guard + selcon 4 times a day. The pintail has not been flashing since prazi, and is out and about all day eating well. I was going to do another prazi treatment after 7 days and then wait a couple more before starting copper for 14-30 days. Do you think I should change course? I do have ruby reef rally if needed

 

[ngoodermuth]

You could just keep a close watch and follow your original schedule for now, if the flashing returns or breathing becomes worse you could switch to copper.