Dactylogyridea
Symptoms:
Rubbing movements, rapid breathing, one gill is usually shut while using the other
Causes:
Poor water quality, stress and overpopulation will allow the gill flukes to reproduce quickly and the fish soon begins to rub over objects. If they are heavily infested, then they will stand under the surface breathing heavily. Adult fish usually can tolerate minor infestations but if infested heavily or severely stressed, they will eventually succumb to the gill flukes.
Dactylogyridea is an egg-laying gill fluke that is just the opposite of the Gyrodactylidea. They live mainly in the gills and can be visible with the naked eye as they reach 2-3 mm. Eggs fall to the bottom of the aquarium or vat. The fluke after it hatches eventually finds a host where it can attach itself.
Gill flukes have hooks that they use to attach themselves on the mucous membranes of the skin and gills of the fish thus injuring them. As a result, secondary infections such as fungi, protozoans and bacteria will appear and start to overtake the fish. Treatment must be done immediately to stop this situation from getting to the worse.
Treatment:
1. Formalin (It has been noted that this is not very effective against the eradication of fluke eggs.)
2. Potassium Permanganate
3. Flubendazole-Noted to be very effective against the fluke eggs.
4. Praziquantel
5. Salt dips
6. Sera Mycopur
7. Sera Ectopur
8. Chloramine T
