Loaches Online Forum

I Think I have a gil fluke problem.

The loaches in question are weather loaches (ha, somehow i forgot to mention which kind of loach)

I've had the tank up and running for 4 weeks or so now. Water quality is excellent, 0/0/0 no nitrates/nitrites at all yet -- but eventually they'll start showing up.

Tank has good filtration, partly sand bed, rest gravel. Water temp sits around 68-71° 5 loaches share the tank with 5 goldfish. Tank is 130g.

My problem is for the last little while i've noticed odd behaviours from the goldfish flashing/darting around.. rubbing the gravel off and on.

The loaches so far haven't been any different, they are just go-go-go all the time and no problems.

I'm pretty sure loaches can get flukes as well. but they don't seem to be showing signs.. They have been sucking in air and farting off and on -- but from what ive been reading, thats normal.

Could I have misidentified the cause of the goldfishes problem? So far, all signs from the goldfish point to flukes.

I purchased Fluke Tabs for the tank.. But i've read some types of loaches can die from the treatment..

The tabs are 'AP Fluke-Tabs' each 500mg tablet contains methyl-5-benzimidazole-2-carbamate no idea what that is, or what it even does.. but that's what is in the tab..

Can the loaches take this kind of treatment or will it make them sick?

I am not sure if that is safe for Loaches, but if the Golds have gill flukes, then the Loaches MAY have them, too. You could try a couple of things:
Move the Loaches to a separate tank and treat the Golds in the main tank. Test the medicine on the Loaches by adding perhaps 1/4 of a dose, and if they are fine with after a few hours that then increase it to 1/2 strength. The next day add another 25% in the morning, and the remainder in the evening. The fish end up with the full dose (Unless they react badly to it) but it is built up slowly over 48 hours.

If they react badly to it be prepared to do at least a 50% water change (perhaps even 2 x 50%) and add fresh activated carbon to the filter.

Another option is to not treat the Loaches, and just keep them in a quarantine tank until you are sure they do not have gill flukes.

I do not know if there is another medicine for Gill flukes that is safe for Loaches.

Flubendazole may be a possibility? You can find a link to some info in the Levamisole article in the disease section here. I tried to add the link but I'm not smart enough [/code][/url]

Prazipro works for flukes.