Pepsi216

Hi all,

I have two bengal loaches that are exhibiting what I think are the signs of gill flukes: excessive flashing, turning pale, lethargy, hiding, and rarely eating. I started treatment 7/22 with Maracide, second dose on 7/23, and the third dose due today (I have yet to put it in). Despite the first two doses, they're still flashing heavily, though they've started eating a bit more.

I also noticed this morning my sunset gourami is becoming lethargic as well, but this is the only symptom he's exhibiting. Usually he's very quick to come up and say hi, or to stuff his face at feeding time. Instead he sits in the corner, under a plant, or against some driftwood and ignores me completely. So either he's having an off day, he's sick, or I forgot it was his birthday (or something to make him equally mad at me).

Here begins the series of questions.

1. Could the Maracide be hurting my gourami? Should I put in the third dose that is due today?

2. If the Maracide hasn't been effective thus far for my loaches, should I try something else? I have some Coppersafe, but haven't added it yet as I've been concerned about it's effects on the other tankmates. These tankmates include:

2 bengal loaches
5 ottos
9 neon tetras
1 sunset gourami
3 mollys
2 eternally hiding catfish
several plants: anubias nanas and java ferns
a million snails (which I would be glad to get rid of; thus the loaches)

all of whom get along swimmingly

3. Is there another medication I should try?

Aquarium stats: 0ppm ammonia and nitrite, 20ppm nitrate; temp 80*

Thanks for your help, I don't want to lose any of my babies if I can help it!

Kelly

Pepsi216

Too late for my little gourami, he died this evening...

aquarist48

Good morning Pepsi. So sorry to hear about your loss and concerns for your tank. Here is a link to Gill Flukes that you may find helpful.
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/doc...ematodes.shtml

bolivianbaby

I'm sorry you lost your gourami Please keep us posted on the progress of the rest of the tank.

Nate McFin

Sorry to hear the Gourami died.
As you mentioned in your other thread coppersafe isnt the best choice when it comes to scaleless fish. It can burn the skin of the fish.
What types of water conditioners are you using during changes? Do the fish seem to flash more right after a change or less?
Any decorations that could be putting chemicals in the water?
I ask because it could be some sort of gill damage rather than flukes.

Pepsi216

We just moved from San Francisco to Phoenix about four weeks ago. We brought our fishies with us, though unfortunately we lost most of them on the trip despite our best efforts. The loaches were among the few survivors. They were fine for a while, but about a week and a half ago they started flashing excessively. The other survivors were my two eternally hiding catfish, but because I can't see them, I haven't been able to examine them and see if they're showing the same symptoms. I haven't seen them go careening across the tank flashing though. Could they be reacting to the new water? If so, why not react right after I added it to the tank for the first time?

The rest of the fish in the tank were added slowly after the tank had stabilized once we got here. None of them seem to be sick, except the gourami I lost suddenly yesterday. In the morning he seemed a little lethargic, and in the evening he was gone.

I use Dechlor during change, but haven't changed the water in the last week because of the Maracide (can't change during treatment). When I changed it before, they seemed to flash equally before and after the water change.

Pepsi216

As of tonight I still have at least one loach who is still flashing like crazy. The poor little guy; I don't know how much more of this he can take. I don't know if the other is still around; the tank has plenty of hiding places should he decide he doesn't feel well enough to be social.

What can I do for them from here? Is there any kind of dip or something I can treat them quickly with?

Poor little tykes...

joy1125

I see under your aquarium info, you say your tank is much too small. I have to ask, what size tank do you have? also, what water testers are you using, and what brand dechlorinator are you using?

Pepsi216

Great news: My loaches have both come out of hiding and are flashing no more! Seems a large water change was just the ticket; it looks like the meds or something had bumped up the nitrates to a level they weren't happy with. Thanks everyone for your help!