Prazi ineffective

[Makara23]

I have a QT tank with a few clownfish that have gone through 5 doses of PraziPro, dosed 8 days apart at 100% amount, with water changes right before another dose. An airstone is running at max. During that month of treatment, they seemed healed. I stopped for 2 weeks and now I see scratching again every once in a while, with one of the clowns breathing about 150 times per minute.

I started dosing prazi again but it’s not helping anymore. This time I dosed 4 days apart (essentially still 8 days but with one extra dose in between). By now, I’m thinking that bacteria has built up to the level that it breaks down prazi too quick, so any additional prazi treatment will be useless.

Perhaps it’s not flukes at all but an intestinal parasite? Here is a video of the clown, you can also see stringy white poop.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have a QT tank with a few clownfish that have gone through 5 doses of PraziPro, dosed 8 days apart at 100% amount, with water changes right before another dose. An airstone is running at max. During that month of treatment, they seemed healed. I stopped for 2 weeks and now I see scratching again every once in a while, with one of the clowns breathing about 150 times per minute.

I started dosing prazi again but it’s not helping anymore. This time I dosed 4 days apart (essentially still 8 days but with one extra dose in between). By now, I’m thinking that bacteria has built up to the level that it breaks down prazi too quick, so any additional prazi treatment will be useless.

Perhaps it’s not flukes at all but an intestinal parasite? Here is a video of the clown, you can also see stringy white poop.

Unfortunately, with the amount of dots and sediment on glass, impossible to see the fish clearly. The feces can be excess mucus and not an internal issue.

Are they eating and what foods are you feeding?

can be gill flukes, or velvet

 

[Makara23]

Here's a slightly longer video, about a week after the first video. The clown seems active because it's feeding time, but otherwise it's slightly lethargic. Notice the white poop again.

 

[Makara23]

Unfortunately, with the amount of dots and sediment on glass, impossible to see the fish clearly. The feces can be excess mucus and not an internal issue.

Are they eating and what foods are you feeding?

can be gill flukes, or velvet

Sorry about that, I can try cleaning the glass for another picture. But would pic/vid help? I don't see any dots or mucous on the fish body that would lead to velvet. It's not swimming into the powerhead, in fact most the time he avoids it.

They eat a combination of pellets, mysis shrimp, raw shrimp, scallop, and tilapia. They all been eating well.

Can they fight off gill flukes on their own since prazi is not working anymore? The only other alternative I can think of is to put them into another tank without any establish bacteria and dose prazi again, or do 1.012 hypo salinity.

 

[kenchilada]

Freshwater dip in a black bucket and you’ll know if it’s flukes.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Sorry about that, I can try cleaning the glass for another picture. But would pic/vid help? I don't see any dots or mucous on the fish body that would lead to velvet. It's not swimming into the powerhead, in fact most the time he avoids it.

They eat a combination of pellets, mysis shrimp, raw shrimp, scallop, and tilapia. They all been eating well.

Can they fight off gill flukes on their own since prazi is not working anymore? The only other alternative I can think of is to put them into another tank without any establish bacteria and dose prazi again, or do 1.012 hypo salinity.

Fight off generally not and the foods you are feeding are high in fats and will cause the mucus with feces
If gill flukes, you can try a 5 minute freshwater dip in tap water the same temperature as display tank and see if any dislodge as it will offer the fish temporary relief
Flukes such as neobendenia can be resistant

 

[MnFish1]

Perhaps it’s not flukes at all but an intestinal parasite? Here is a video of the clown, you can also see stringy white poop.

Unfortunately - can't see the videos - however, I would doubt a praziquantel failure - I would suggest either misdiagnosis or an error in dosing - which is very easy to do. Best wishes for the fish

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

You're correct, after about 5 doses, the bacteria in the tank grows and can consume the additional prazi before it has any effect. I don't think you have a fluke issue at this point though.

At this point, I wonder about dosing the water with Metroplex. That can help with internal protozoans. You can also dose the food, but you need a gram scale in order to formulate the correct dose of 0.50%

Jay

 

[Makara23]

You're correct, after about 5 doses, the bacteria in the tank grows and can consume the additional prazi before it has any effect. I don't think you have a fluke issue at this point though.

At this point, I wonder about dosing the water with Metroplex. That can help with internal protozoans. You can also dose the food, but you need a gram scale in order to formulate the correct dose of 0.50%

Jay

Does internal parasite or protozoans show symptoms of rapid breathing and lethargy?

Can the clownfish recover by itself eventually or do I need to intervene with something? It has been like this for over 2 weeks now, with no signs of improving but at the same time not getting worse.

Will 1.009 hyposalinity take care of internal protozoan problem?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Does internal parasite or protozoans show symptoms of rapid breathing and lethargy?

Can the clownfish recover by itself eventually or do I need to intervene with something? It has been like this for over 2 weeks now, with no signs of improving but at the same time not getting worse.

Will 1.009 hyposalinity take care of internal protozoan problem?

Yes - especially in clownfish, gut infections from Hexamita or coccidia can become systemic, causing rapid breathing. However, you will not see any external lesions on those fish - just stringy feces, lethargy and rapid breathing.

Hyposalinity will not help with internal protozoans.

If it is coccidia, there is no effective treatment, just supportive case.

Jay

 

[Makara23]

Yes - especially in clownfish, gut infections from Hexamita or coccidia can become systemic, causing rapid breathing. However, you will not see any external lesions on those fish - just stringy feces, lethargy and rapid breathing.

Hyposalinity will not help with internal protozoans.

If it is coccidia, there is no effective treatment, just supportive case.

Jay

Thank you Jay, this is very helpful.

Clownfish now almost completely stopped eating, and lacks any excitement when food is put in (at least earlier video shows he's still energetic around food, but not anymore). I have Metroplex coming and will dose the QT tank this weekend.

 

[Kasrift]

How is the clown doing now?

Thank you Jay, this is very helpful.

Clownfish now almost completely stopped eating, and lacks any excitement when food is put in (at least earlier video shows he's still energetic around food, but not anymore). I have Metroplex coming and will dose the QT tank this weekend.

 

[Makara23]

Quick update: My metroplex order came a few days late, but a new friend (thanks @Kasrift !! ) gave me some General Cure meds to hold me off until my order delivered.

As of now, black clown's appetite and energy level is fully back to normal! Although there's still some rapid breathing. Poop still white stringy during the weekend, I'm not sure about today.

General Cure has both metronidazole and praziquantel, and I'm not sure which component is the one helping. I would assume it's the metro part since I've already used prazi pro for a while. I'll continue treatment with Metroplex once this last General Cure dose wears off.

 

[Kasrift]

Quick update: My metroplex order came a few days late, but a new friend (thanks @Kasrift !! ) gave me some General Cure meds to hold me off until my order delivered.

As of now, black clown's appetite and energy level is fully back to normal! Although there's still some rapid breathing. Poop still white stringy during the weekend, I'm not sure about today.

General Cure has both metronidazole and praziquantel, and I'm not sure which component is the one helping. I would assume it's the metro part since I've already used prazi pro for a while. I'll continue treatment with Metroplex once this last General Cure dose wears off.

Glad to hear!