Thread: Nuclear resistant Costia

Hi

Im after a bit of opinion and a little bit of reassurance.

Setup is 8 years old, heated to 14c 1500g with just 5 fish, all around the 50-60cm mark.

Parameters are good, though do have to buffer as water is a bit too soft from tap.

After having the odd fight with the flukes and tric over the years, where I’ve always won, back in May i introduced a Kohaku from a dealer which unfortunately brought with it an adversary I’ve never had to deal with before - costia .

it’s a tough little bugger isn’t it....

I’ve thrown PP, FMG and CT in various doses, but apart from knocking back, it never fully goes.

Last treatment was 35g of CT, then followed 24 hours later by FMG at 50% above recommended dose ( seperates, not premix ) 2 weeks before Christmas - checked today and it’s still there - though in small numbers which I had to scrape 3 fish for, but still there. .

Fish are generally fine, no sulking, only the occasional flashing ,and only a little bit more mucus than normal .

My question, and reluctance due to horror stories is do I bite the bullet and try Alparex / Kusuri A & MG , and if so do I strip with CT prior ?

I havnt used any fluke treatment in over 12 months, and will increase KH to 7dh, pond is unsalted .

opinion and reassurance would be appreciated 👍🏻

I had some nuclear resistance costia. Twice.

One time I got rid of them using FMG at a very high dose. So high that 3 or 4 koi didn't look like they'd make it (due to high dosage, not the costia) , and then subsequently took quite a few weeks to recover.

The 2nd time I used Alparex as per manufacturers recommendations and it shifted it.

I believe CT will get rid of any parasite at the "right" dose and in the right water. I've dosed it at seriously high levels (more than triple your dose) and never had an adverse reaction, but again, I wouldn't actively recommend it to others.

If I had to recommend one of the 3 options I'd say go with the Alparex, make sure your KH is above 5, add extra oxygen, and keep an eye on your koi as there have been reports of adverse reactions and losses. Mine sailed through it with no problems. Your water volume is low enough that you can quickly deal with any adverse reactions.

Also check the effective temperature range against your pond temps.

Thanks RS, it was the reassurance I was after and the opinion that it does work.

I’ve bought the Kusuri version, as Alparex was not available at my local dealer.

Was going to treat today but Kh was wavering between 4/5 dh so will have to wait a few days .

Bottle mentions treat after 7 days, up to 3 times, whereas am i correct in saying that Alparex is treat again 24 hours later ?

Out of interest, how long does it stay bright green for ?

And thanks Gaz, unfortunately I’ve already purchased, but will certainly make the journey over to the Black Country at some point for a gander !

Alparex stays green for about a week, 2 weeks to fully clear.

Yes it is dosed 24 hours apart, 2 doses in total.

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Quick update .

The Kusuri Acriflavine and Malachite appears to have done, what PP, Ct and FMG treatments couldn’t .

After 2 treatments, 8 days apart, I’ve scraped today 10 days after the second treatment and fish ‘appear’ to be clear of Costia.

They were fine on the first dose, but sulked a bit on the second dose for 2/3 days.

Interestingly, on adding the second dose the water did still carry quite a bit of green tinge, so guessing the first dose wasn’t completely spent .

I’ll scrape again next weekend, and if all ok would certainly use
again, but only if costia present.

Fingers crossed - scrapes I took yesterday appeared completely clear.

Costia has been by far the hardest parasite I’ve had to deal with, and every treatment prior has knocked backed, but never eradicated

Sounds promising.

The only thing worse than nuclear resistant Costia are Nuclear powered super flukes. I'm certain these things can survive Armageddon.

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Agreed Steve, they’re little b******


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hi mate

i tried virasure once a week and that did wonders for me.

Jim