Cory Sterbai Flashing, Please Help

Hello all

Last night I thought I saw one of my cories flashing. I was hoping it was just my imagination but this morning I was observing them and yep, they were definitely flashing. Visually I don't see anything wrong with them, and they are still active, but there is definitely something bothering them. Water parameters as follows

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10 to 20
pH: 7.2
Temp: 28C

This tank has been running successfully for 7 months. There were some recent additions, about two weeks ago I added just one more cory which I assume is a juvenile since the original ones I are pretty big in comparison. I guess this is what I get for not quarantining.

I'd hate to treat the tank without at least knowing what's going on and truth me told other than using General Cure that one time in April I have never treated them for anything else so I'm a little nervous. I don't see any ich. What I can do immediately is perform a large water change, even though I just did one two days ago. What I can also do today but not so quickly is go out and get some praziquantel. We don't have PraziPro here but we do have an equivalent product that is readily available and that I know most hobbyists here use with success. Alternatively I could get them started on one round of General Cure tonight. What do you guys think I should do?

Cheers.

 

If you don't see ich, and are seeing flashing, it makes me think flukes. PraziPro would take care of that.

 

If you don't see ich, and are seeing flashing, it makes me think flukes. PraziPro would take care of that.

Hey Lorekeeper, thanks for your reply. As I've said we don't have PraziPro here but we do have this: https://eastoceansg.com/

If it's flukes will there be other symptoms other than the flashing? In any case I will be grabbing the praziquantel treatment today and starting them on it tonight.

 

Praziquantel is what will matter, so that'll be fine.

You may be able to see some white splotches or scabs around the gill plates, or possibly lower on the body. I've never dealt with them in freshwater before, so I'm not sure if there's a 100% test for them.

 

Praziquantel is what will matter, so that'll be fine.

You may be able to see some white splotches or scabs around the gill plates, or possibly lower on the body. I've never dealt with them in freshwater before, so I'm not sure if there's a 100% test for them.

Thank you! I appreciate it. Other than the flashing I haven't noticed anything but I'll treat regardless.

Just did a large water change, hopefully this will help them feel slightly better. They are also eating well and no clamped fins so that's nice.

Oh yes one more question, from what I understand prazI is safe to dose directly into the tank, is that right? Doesn't affect biological filtration? Last time I dosed GC directly and it didn't seem to affect it but just want to be extra sure.

 

Yep, PrazI is safe in the tank. Or at least Prazipro is, for sure. I'm not sure about your other medicine, so I'd make sure.

 

Just an update, I went ahead with the prazI medication on Friday night. So far I haven't noticed anything off with the fish. The corys are behaving like how they normally behave, still active and eating, but usually just sitting behind the plants when there's no food out. Haven't noticed any flashing.

As for the rest of the fish, the ember tetras are doing ok. I have a honey gourami who has never shown any strange symptoms, but I did see a long, thin and white, nearly transparent thing fall off its body and get caught in the java fern while it was swimming about. I siphoned it out pretty much immediately after. He's still eating and swimming like normal. Hopefully it's a sign that the prazI is working as intended and the fish are just passing the dead worms.

I will be doing a large water change on Wednesday night, followed by a second dose the night after. Will probably repeat this a couple more times for four treatments altogether.