Gill Flukes?

[alihar]

Hi all I'm new to the forum but not new to fishkeeping.
My problem is I have almost all of my fish constantly flashing.
This has been a re occurring problem for around 6 months now.
My tank is a Roma 200 with fluval U4 internal filter.
Gravel substrate and live plants.
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
Ph 7.8
Temp 24 c
The symptoms are flashing, darting around the tank, lethargy and a few inhabitants have reddened gills.
All are still eating well though I have had four fish over the past month stop eating and losing weight.
I have tried sterazin with little success, fluke solve with some improvement and with the advice of my lfs protozin with no improvement whatsoever.
I finished the protozin course last week did a large water change and run fresh carbon.
I'm concerned that the overuse of meds is having an adverse effect on the fish and maybe contributing to the problem.
I am almost positive it is gill flukes as the only signs of improvement where when administering fluke solve.
I'm wondering if I didn't treat for long enough as the directions are treat once then repeat in 7 days. Possible the tank has too many plants and decor that the hatching eggs are not being targeted?
Can anyone suggest what to do next?
I'm happy to lose the plants and remove decor if there's a chance that this is why treatments have not been as successful as expected.
Any advice greatly welcomed
Many thanks
Ali

 

[Caprichoso]

You almost always have to do a second round of treatments for gill flukes because of the life cycle of the fluke.

 

[alihar]

Thanks for the reply.
Maybe treat for 4 weeks then with fluke solve with 50% water changes each week?
I haven't 100% conformation that it is gill fluke but the symptoms and re occurring problem all point to it.
I would assume any Protozoa infection would have manifested other symptoms by now as this is an ongoing problem.
In my frustration I have ordered a microscope to hopefully diagnose 100% what the problem is.
I've never had to combat gill fluke before so I'm thinking maybe I haven't treated for long enough or this is a particularly bad infestation.

Ali

 

[alihar]

Well the microscope has arrived but I have yet to take a scrape!
The fish are on a break from meds and are getting twice weekly water changes and appear to be improving.
I still have the odd flash but it isn't constant so I'm thinking the concoction of meds have been adding to the problem and some recovery time was needed to see improvement.
I will keep observing for another week then take some scrapes.
I did find some collembolla at the waters surface but from what I've read these shouldn't affect the fish.
Any thoughts welcomed
Ali

 

[XeroTolerance]

I don't know 100% what it is but I do have some ideas. Firstly, don use all of those medications. That is absolutely the last thing you want to do in this case. They could just be causing the fish stress. The thing you want to do is a water change and add carbon, which you did. Than you need to wait. I read that salt baths are good for this situation. I'm not sure how much it will hurt the fish though. I think it sounds like ammonia poisoning. How long was the tank set up for?

-Xero

 

[alihar]

Hi Xero thanks for your input
it's 100% not ammonia poisoning.
This particular tank has been set up 4 months.
It was cycled with filter media from my mature tank then the mature filter added for 4 weeks until the new filter established. All water parameters closely monitored throughout.
I have combined salt baths with medication for individuals that were most affected with some periodical improvement.
I just can't figure out the root cause.
Ali

 

[XeroTolerance]

In that case I'm not really sure what the problem could be. When you added the new media did you do it correctly?

 

[alihar]

Yeah all done correctly and water monitored throughout.

 

[alihar]

Scrape and gill biopsy done and gill fluke positively identified.
I've stripped back the tank and will do two treatments of fluke solve and a follow up of esha2000 and see how we go from there.