Do my fish have Flukes?

Question
Hi, I have a new 300 litre tropical community tank which has been set up for about 8 weeks now. When we first transferred the fish to the larger tank, most of them got white spot which took me 2 weeks to get under control. since then we sometimes see the fish flicking, and have lost a clown loach and two rams. Their symptoms were swollen red gills and struggling to breath for several days until they died.  They looked healthy other than the reddened gills, and did not lose colour or show any signs of fungus etc.  Now one of the corydoras is showing signs of red gills. The other fish, including cardinal tetras, rainbows, clown loaches,sturgisoma etc all seem fine.  The water quality has varied in the past few weeks, but the ammonia has never been in the danger zone.
I have read that whitespot can linger and not show signs of spots, but can still cause harm, is it possible that this is the case?  Alternatively could it be flukes?  I don't want to just start adding treatments without knowing which one I should be trying.  I would be really grateful for any advice please.....

Answer
Hi Hazel,

I pulled your question out of the question pool.

Was your tank COMPLETELY through the nitrogen cycling process?  Was the ammonia and nitrites 0 and nitrates 5-20 ppm before you moved them over?  If it wasn't this likely caused immediate illness.  Even cycled, the fish should have been moved over 2-3 at a time, letting the newly established filter adjust to the new load, then in a week adding 2-3 more.  Dumping a lot of fish into a tank, if cycling is disastrous, and even when not, will cause a lot of sickness.  Stating ammonia hasn't ever been 'in the danger zone' would mean that it's always been flat 0.  ANY ammonia will cause disease and illness, especially to sensitive fish like clown loaches, rams and cories.

Clown loaches are particularly good at getting ich (or white spot) and they are extremely sensitive to water conditions.  They have to be just perfect.  The same goes for rams.  Rams do not do well in 'new water' at all.  I usually do not recommend putting rams into a tank until it is at least cycled and 6 months old.

You need to get the ammonia and nitrites out of that tank, this will cause red gills and lethargy and labored breathing.  You should be doing 25% water changes daily, and double dosing the Seachem Prime.  This will condition the water and it will detox the ammonia and nitrite for the fish.  This will slow the cycling process down but it's the only chance for the fish to live.

Ich is a parasite and should be treated quickly.  Anything with malachite green, methylene blue or formulin will do it.  Your fish could have also have flukes as a result of being in a cycling tank.  You need to complete the ich treatment first.  For flukes, the fish may rub against hard objects, and the skin may appear opaque or inflamed.  This is easily treatable with potassium permanganate, or fluke tabs.

Good luck: ) April M.