Loaches Online Forum

Last night after fighting traffic and moronic drivers, on the parking lot that passes for Southern Califonia freeways I look into my Loach Tank and see this:




Should I be worried? I have been having problems with this tank, I lost three clowns in a matter of days due to Gill Flukes. I treated the tank over the weekend with Clout. Everyone seemed alot better after the water change. The clowns started coming out again, and the other effected fish are recovering. I used a half dose of the medication.

Sorry let me try again

How are the water parameters, AnneMarie? (ammonia, nitrIte). It is difficult to see much from those pics, any chance of trying again for a slightly clearer one? If they are behaving abnormally, can you describe what you're seeing for us.

Emma

Here's some info on Monogenean and Digenean Trematodes -- gill flukes (scroll down the list). One round of treatment may not be enough depending on what you had/have in the tank.

Frequently secondary infections by bacteria and fungus are common on tissue with monogenean damage the redness could be due to something like that. Most bacterial infections in fish are caused by gram negative organisms, so an antibiotic that targets that may be advised.

Do consider doing a couple more water changes and treating again for the flukes to kill off any eggs that may have been unaffected by the first treatment.

PS-

Also read the introductory paragraphs. They give some necessary warnings/advice on various treatments for parasites.

Hope this helps and a clearer picture would be very helpful along with more specific descriptions of what you see, how you knew to treat for flukes, etc.

...edit...
Here's something on Clout:

Clout® by Aquarium Products is one more worth mentioning since it appears on nearly every LFS and pet store shelf that carries fish and is often recommended as a cure-all. It is an extremely strong blend of medications which I am unfamiliar with, including dimethylamino, phenylbenzylidene and cyclohexadien. I believe it is best suited for internal parasites. It is definitely not to be used with scaleless fish. Read the label carefully.

You may want to choose a different medication...

Sorry about the fuzzy pictures, they were not behaving in any abnormal way. I did check the water last night and everything is normal.

That one is one of only two left, they were quite traumatized by the death of their buds. They hid for a couple days, not even coming out to eat. Monday they came out to eat, and last night they greeted me at the corner of the tank begging for dinner when I walked in the door. They had been off their feed from thursday to sunday. I had attributed that to the gill flukes and the medication. When I get home from work I will try to get clearer pictures, but they are camera shy.

I found out about the gill flukes from the my cousin who is a Biologist she did a necropsy(sp?) on one of the other clowns. I then called the only LFS store that I trust and asked what I should do. I had not considered a secondary infection.

Sorry am trying to get ready for a meeting, and didn't read your entire post. I dosed with half the recomended dose and did a 50% water change 24 hour after. I then did another water change 25% on Sunday night.