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I've been fighting Gill Flukes in Chi for a few months. I thought I had gotten rod of them, but I guess I should have know better, since they are PAIN to get rid of.

Feb: Chi started showing major signs of stress, right around the time my filter died. Figured it was because he was constantly chasing and flaring at his reflection. He soon started to flash, and have random attacks of shimmies. In late February, I finally got a new tank kit (strangely cheaper than replacing an Eclipse System 3 filter), transferred everything over to the new tank, for an instant cycle, and added a bottle of Tetra SateStart just to help out. The symptoms subsided, and he regained color.

This lasted about a week, then he was back to flashing, to the point where he had huge raw spots on either side of his gills, and his were clouding. At that point, it was decided that he had gill flukes.

While I researched what to treat him with, I started daily Epsom Salt baths, which helped a little. I soon found that almost all of the treatment options for Gill Flukes, weren't available in my area! Freaking AWESOME! scream So, I got creative, and started looking at everything every pet store here had. Decided on a combined treatment of QuICK Cure and Jungle Anti-Parasite medicated pellets. Gave him a 3 day run of each, at the same time.

After the treatment, he showed no further signs of infection, so I called it quits, as he doesn't handle stress well.


March: The symptoms return. After, of course, I add Pygmy Cories to my tank. Pygmy Cories are sensitive creatures, being "scaleless," and many medications will kill them at just a 1/2 dose.

Late March comes, and just a few days after Chi starts showing signs of Flukes again, and so do my precious Cories. I've also gotten a new Betta, Ume, who's temporary tank I have seeded with sand and plants from the 5.5 gallon where Chi and Cories live.

Now, I have several problems. I have a tank that is infected with Gill Flukes, and houses ADFs, MTS and RCS, all of which aren't very fond of medications, and a second tank that is potentially infested with them, as well.

I've found a medication that should be safe for the Cories, but I'm not sure about the inverts. Worst part is, snails are known to carry Gill Flukes, so its not like I could take them out, and put them back in when the treatment is done. I can, though, remove the frogs and shrimp, and treat the tank, and hope that the snails survive.

April: Now that I've decided on a treatment option, API General Cure, I just have to wait for some money to buy it, as its $15. And its just my luck that the $2 off $10 purchase Pet Supermarket coupon has just expired a few days ago. *sigh*

What I'm going to do, it treat Chi with the food and QuICK Cure again for a few days, until my pay check goes in, then buy the General Cure, give him a days break, catch the RCS and frogs, and put them in a separate 1/2 gallon tank for the duration of the treatment. Whether or not I treat Ume has yet to be decided.



If anyone has ANY experience with this, please, please, please let me know!

Probably not in small, wallet friendly amounts LOL That is a good idea, though. I've tried Epsom Salt and Aquarium Salt baths.

I'll certainly look into it for the future, thats for sure smile With the Cories, I'd rather medicate them salt dip them, though.

Tell that to these gill flukes @.@

Alas, I have had my first casualty. One of the Pygmy Cories didn't make it. I'm not sure if it was the flukes, the meds, a combo of the two, or something else. Last night, he was having serious swim bladder issues, and could only swim upside down, even with me gently righting him.

Cories have a very low tolerance to medication. I'd bet on that if you're dosing heavily.