PraziPro, use, flukes  
Hello, I recently purchased a Klein Butterfly, after being in a quarantine tank for 2 weeks (with nothing apparently wrong) I added it to the display tank. Now I think it may have flukes because it scratches against rocks a lot.
<Mmm, might I ask, how much is "a lot?". Most fishes can/do "scratch some"...>
Catching it would be very difficult and would stress out it as well as others. The tank is a 180 g reef with many SPS
and LPS and snails, no shrimp or crabs. PraziPro states that it is safe for most aquarium inhabitants, but I am skeptical. If left untreated will the flukes spread to others?
<Mmm, not often... turns out that most Trematodes are rather species, genus, family specific>
Are there any whole tank treatments?
Thanks
Mike Winston
<There are... but I urge patience here... Have another few weeks go by... see if the "scratching" abates... not worth the risk of killing all (and there may indeed be a bunch!) of your Praziquantel sensitive life here. Bob Fenner>

Re: PraziPro, flukes   10/3/08
Thanks for the reply, well he is scratching enough to cause some scales to come off,
<! This is too much. Let's see... there are several, okay a few reasons why fishes "scratch"...>
no bleeding but looks bad. I added some iodine to water thinking it might help with wound.
<Good>
So my other fish include yellow and hippo tang, swallowtail angel, blue throat trigger, dispar Anthias, Sixline wrasse and some clowns. If flukes are not an issue to others I will hold off any tank treatment, I was concerned others might be infected.
<A reasonable concern. I am more inclined to consider other (Protozoan) possibilities... Still, at this juncture, I would not "add" anything here... The fact that the range of fish life you list is doing fine... leads me to wonder re other "itchy" potentials... maybe this fish brushed up against something irritating... BobF>
Thanks again.
Mike

Praziquantel
Also Bob, I am wondering if you can help me.
We have some incident of trematodes in our system.  These worm/fluke is in the fish and when we fresh water dip the fish, the worm came off from the fish.  Some people I talk to say to treat with Praziquantel or PraziPro from Hikari.  Do you have any info as far as treating the entire system with PraziPro (side effect, other problems etc).
Thank you,
Fred
<Ah, yes. For trematodes, treating their systems as well as fish livestock, 2 to 10 mg Praziquantel/liter (or 7.6 mg/gallon)... the lower does for Monogeneans will do it, the higher for digenes. There are also methods (not applicable here) for injection and oral administration, baths... Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Re: Praziquantel
Thanks Bob, what about PraziPro?  Is it safe?
<Yes... is just Praziquantel and a stabilizing agent: http://www.uskoi.com/prazipro.htm>
  I know it is a lot more expensive but no need to dilute.
<Agreed>
I heard you need to dilute Praziquantel with Vodka?
<Heeee! Can use this solvent... or not>
Also, how can you tell the difference between Monogeneans and digenes.
Thank you,
Fred
<Mmm, sorry for the added confusion. I would not worry re the digenetic trematodes... they can/will perish along with the rest or die out quickly enough due to the lack of intermediate hosts (Di as in two... two or more other life forms to pass through before getting to their determinate host (your fishes)...), as opposed to Monogenes that have a direct life cycle. Bob Fenner>

What's in Fluke Tabs?
Hi Chuck! I bought the Fluke tabs. Do you know what are the active ingredients? It's not written on the product. Thanks! Dominique
<The active ingredients are Mebendazole and Trichlorfon.-Chuck> 

Praziquantel dosing for sharks - 3/11/05
What Would The Average Dose For a 2 ft. shark be? 
<The treatment is based on weight. It is important to note that Droncit (Praziquantel) is usually very difficult to come by and usually will need a veterinarian to prescribe. In light of that these are the recommended treatments for when you can get your hands on some. For oral treatments the recommendation is nine milligrams per kilogram of bodyweight once a day for seven days. The recommended treatment for external trematodes is a saltwater bath mixture of 10 milligrams per liter for a three hour bath every third day for three treatments. As an alternative, 20 milligrams per liter for 90 minutes every third day of three treatments is not usually prescribed but can administered. Praziquantel is difficult to dissolve. Using 95% ETOH will help ( 1 g to 10ml ETOH), or it can be pressed through a stocking or other fine mesh net. Adding slowly to the water while stirring may help avoid coagulation. Hope this will help. Good luck. ~Paul> 

Pesticides for killing isopods... ahhhh, No. 5/10/04
Hi Guy's
<howdy!>
Great site!
<thanks kindly>
Was wondering what your thoughts are on the use of dog heartworm medication (Melbemycine oxime) to eradicate Cirolanid Isopods.
<a dreadful idea/advocation... its efficacy runs the gamut, but more importantly, it will kill far many more desirable crustaceans in the main display than bad ones. The bad ones should be/have been easily screened in  a proper 4 week quarantine on arrival>
I'm aware I'll lose all crustaceans, at least the ones I don't remove, but see very few options.
<ahhh.. OK. Although I cannot agree>
I believe they arrived in the aqua cultured LR that I cycled the tank with.
<yes... they are common in Florida live rock... especially that dreadful heavy stuff from shallow coastal waters (many parasites there)>
Tank has been up and running for about 6 months. The predatory Isopods made their presence know, at least to me, only this past week. I've caught and removed 3 pods from two different fish.
<sigh... I regret you have learned this way as many of us do. But QT is not an option, and must be done for all things wet: fishes, corals, live rock, sand, plants... everything! There are too many pests, predators and diseases that can and will be carried in with live products>
A tank raised Perc. And a bi-color angel. The tank is 72g bow front, 85lbs of LR, 4inch sand bed, Thanks for your thoughts on this. Mike
<remove the fishes to QT and trap for isopods in the display with meat. Read more on this in the FAQs on this subject in our archives at wetwebmedia.com. Anthony>