Fish Still Flashing After Sterzin Treatment

[lgarvey]

Hi,

I recently treated the my african cichlid tank with sterazin after the fish were flashing, two fish died, and all signs seemed to point to gill flukes. I followed the treatment instructions to the T and did the treatments using the correct amount for the size of tank for the correct duration. Two days after the treatment had finished I did a 40% water change, and put new carbon and rowaphos into the filter.

I also added a few new fish! =)

Anyway, the fish appeared to stop flashing for awhile, but appear to be flashing again now.

FYI:

Tank: 300 litre african mbuna tank
Am: 0, Ni: 0 - Na - not tested but I did a water change a few days ago, pH: not tested but tap water is really hard and i've never seen it below 8, temp consistent 24c

Fish poo: I've been reading about fish poo lately. "long stringy poo = x problem" My fish always have long stringy poo that hangs out of them often longer than the fish itself. Being new to fishkeeping I assumed this was normal. The poo is normally white, but will be red if I feed them red food. Is this significant / normal for african mbuna?

They appear agitated and needing to itch their gills. There's absolutely no obvious external signs of any problems: no spots, no fungal signs etc. nothing.

At this stage it is an occasional flashing. No fish are losing their minds flashing. It could also be territorial but appears to be due to them getting agitated, if i'm able to really tell teh difference.

I'm going to do another sizeable water change tomorrow and see how things go from there, to rule out any contaminates in the water.

My question is: could sterazin fail, or need to be a longer course? If sterazin was successful and the flukes were killed, could they have been reintroduced by LFS fish? OR, what else could it be?

Thanks

L

 

[WILDER]

Some flukes are eye layers and you can be treating up to 4 weeks to kill the young ones when they hatch.
Fish can get internal flukes aswell.
Long stringy white poo can be constipation, bacterial infection, internal parasites.

Signs of internal parasites are.
long stringy white poo, or clear mucas poo.
Worms prutruding from the anus.
Sunken in belly.
Being thin or bloated.
Enlarged anus to red inflamed anus.
Bent spines sometimes.

http/www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/php/detail62_45492.php

 

[WILDER]

Once you have got ridden of the flukes you have to back up with a bacterial med as flukes cause bacterial infections.
They carry a nasty bacteria in there hooks which enters the fish blood stream when they pierce there skin with there hooks.
The wormer plus you can use other meds with that product.
Problem with waterlife med is that you are treating them for ages where wormer plus does it in aday and they you retreat.

Flukes
Taken from this link.
http/www.ponddoc.com/WhatsUpDoc/FishHealth/FlashDance.htm
Oh, the dreaded Flukes. Under the microscope Flukes appear to be tubes that move like slinkies with funny-looking heads at one end. Flukes are one of the most common and dangerous parasites. They actually carry Aeromonas and Pseudomonas bacteria which are responsible for causing sometimes incurable ulcers in fish. And -- flukes are very fertile. Once you get rid of the adults you must re-treat to get the babies that have hatched. Salt will not touch flukes.

http/www.geocities.com/steevward/dactyls.html

 

[lgarvey]

Thanks Wilder, you're a star.

Treating for up to 4 weeks, does that mean disregarding the sterazin treatment schedule and adding the substance every two days for 4 weeks? The schedule says to add sterazin to the tank on days 1 3 6 8 10 and that's it.

It's so frustrating not knowing what it is. I would happily pay a vet bill if they had a way of giving a definitive diagnosis!?

They seem fine now anyway, so will do a water change and take it from there. I'll also get a picture of the poo situation. =)

L

 

[WILDER]

Do a water change and run some black carbon to get the med out of the tank.
Buy the wormer plus it kill the adults in aday, you have to retreat think its 14 days will take a look.


Sorry it 7 days later you retreat for flukes.


Signs of skin and gill flukes are.
Opaque body with excess slime.
Red inflamed gills, or pale gills with excess slime.
Flicking and rubbing.
Laboured breathing or gasping at the surface of the tank.
Swimming in a jerky movement.
Erratic swimming.
Spitting food out.
Weightloss sometimes.
Sores on the body of the fish,.


The waterlife med if you still want to use that I would retreat in a week time after the first course has finished.

 

[WILDER]

Flukes are hard to get rid of.
Thats why you have to retreat to kill the young ones.

 

[lgarvey]

So you recommend use 'worm plus' for one treatment, then back onto the sterazin for another course? Do I need to large water change / run carbon for a bit between treatments?

L