Cleansing Filter of Possible Parasites

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meghanashley

meghanashley

Candiru
MFK Member
Jul 15, 2008
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I have three filters that were in a tank with a ray with parasites, I had not started treatment on her before she passed. What can I do to make the filters safe to switch back onto my big tank without killing all off the bb. Filters are hydro v sponge (new not worried about bb on this one ) and emperor 400 and a fluval internal 3. Any suggestions? Thanks,
 
Lupin;3897455; said:
What parasite was involved?
Click to expand...

It was an internal parasite, she had white feces. I guess if it was absolutely necessary I could open her up but I really dislike the thought. Are there any alternatives to indentifying the parasite?
 
None. For internal parasites, a post mortem necropsy is your best bet. You'd want to slice the abdominal area carefully without puncturing other organs otherwise you won't be able to diagnose correctly the actual issue albeit involvement of organ damage, etc.

Do you have other established tanks? I'd just vacuum the substrate (if any) thoroughly or boil them and then boil the filter media.
 
I do have other tanks and other establised filters and substrate. Maybe I'll just have to start new bb colonies in the filter. If I do cut her open and am able to indentify the parasite what would my choices be then. What if I dose the tank with prazi pro and them just use carbon at the end of the cyle before putting the filters back on the other tank?
 
No, boiling the filter media is sufficient enough.

It'd be nice to know the actual issue of your fish and be able to prevent that. For your reference, internal parasites can be killed by the following.

Metronidazole-hexamit (flagellates)
Praziquantel-cestodes (flatworms) and trematodes (flukes)
Levamisole hydrochloride, fenbendazole, flubendazole-nematodes (capillaria and camallanus)
 
It was a ray pup that I had for less than 2 days. If it had been one of my other guys I've had for years I would feel that I would have to know what happened and do the autopsy. I also kinda of feel bad opening up a baby, as lame as that sounds :) , but if I go home and am feeling inquisitive and adventurous, I'll attempt the autopsy and post some pics to help identify the culprit :)

Thanks Lupin, really appreciate the help.
 
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