Flukes?

I am all ready to take the leactures....I messed up!!! I should have stuck with my gut instinct...but!
My water params are normal, ph is 8.0 in 6gal. Was at LFS yesterday, and they had these naked clowns in that I had seen a couple of weeks ago that I had wanted. Well, found home for my clarki clown (currently in 75) and been wanting them for a while, so they had 2 left so I went up and got them. Thought I could keep them in my 6 gal until my new 125g was all ready to accept fish and Clarki was gone

Was talking to the guy at the LFS (which I have dealt with a lot and trust) and noticed on one of the fish, some white things on both gills of one of the fish. That fish was hanging out by the top of the water, and I kind of got a weird feeling about it. He looked carefully at it, and he said he really thinks that it was just its markings, and that he thought it was alright. So I bought them both.

I brought the fish home and the one was laying at the bottom of the bag and the other was swimming around happy. I dripped them for a long time (probably 1 1/2 hrs) and he was still pretty lifeless. I placed them in tank and turned off lights and left them alone.

Well, guess what. The one with the things around the gills, is dead! I think it is flukes maybe...dont know never had them before. My other fish seems fine right now, swimming happily, eating RODS food, checking everything out. I did mix metro and focus in today. The very odd thing is...I can not find the body. Even though it is only 6 g and I had lid on and 2 pieces of LR with a few crabs can not find it...not in filter..crabs must have had a field day already.

Do I need to treat him now...or just keep an eye on for now? I dont blame the LFS guy, as maybe he knew but I dont think he would of sold him to me if he did, but I should have stuck with my first instinct. So, I am ready for lectures, but also would like the advice

 

8.0 pH is low it should be 8.2-8.4 Go to your lfs and tell them what happened and get your money back...... I don't know the treatment for flukes, but I'm sure someone will chime in......... remember always go with your gut feeling if something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't!

 

I'd be blaming the person at the LFS. People working in that field should have enough knowledge and enough professionalism to be able to give people solid, honest advice coming from experience and education. That guy knew damn well that that fish was ill. Everybody who has been into saltwater aquariums for a while has seen ich and many other related diseases, and should easily be able to tell when a fish isn't well. If there were any doubts in his mind, he should have held on to the fish just to make sure it would pull through. I believe we don't put enough pressure on LFS's. When you go to a pharmacy and spend 100 dollars on drugs, you expect quality and honest advice. When you go to homedepot and spend 100 dollars on parts to plumb a bathroom, you expect quality and honest advice. So why is it, that when we spend 100 dollars at these LFS', we don't hold them responsible for information regarding the product we are buying?

IMO, take the dead fish back, or whatever is left of it. Take out your inverts or anything else living in the 6 gallon tank and treat it with metronidazole (Flaygyl), and then a copper treatment of some sort. If it was in the same tank as your other fish (whos now dead), there is a likely chance that it too will become ill. If you decide not to treat it, just keep a very close eye on it for the next month or two.

 

all good advice on the previous post EXCEPT NEVER NEVER run copper in a tank you ever plan on keeping inverts in, it's nearly impossible to get rid of all traces of it

If you must run copper to get rid of an illness setup a tank that will never host an invert and do it there

Sorry for the loss, and as previously stated I'd be pitching a fit at the dude at the LFS for insisting a dying fish was healthy and insisting he make a quick buck on it

 

Second fish died today!! $100/down the drain!

I am shutting this tank down now for at least 8 weeks...suggestions on how to keep everything running, bacteria wise? I will post another post as it might be missed here?

Thanks for advice. Next time I am up there I will mention it to them. They have been trying to get me to switch to them from another LFS and came right out and said so last time I was there, so I dont think it will be a problem getting some type of reimbursement back. But again, I should have stuck with my first instinct. The guy who sold it to me is partial owner so I should be ok, plus he knows I am setting up a bigger tank from another store and is dying to get some of that business, and we have a good relationship

Thanks again

 

well i hope you can get your money back... i think he will reimburse you if he wants you to continue to use that store.