FH de-worming advice

[islandguy11]

Posts on a recent thread have me a bit concerned that I've never de-wormed my Thai FH (and I didn't want to hijack that thread so started my own, even if there might be some repetition in advice provided). My Kamfa shows no signs (that I can discern) of having worms or other parasites -- he's active and a voracious pellet eater. However, as RD points out in that thread, that doesn't necessarily mean my fish doesn't have any worms/parasites. Who knows, he might have some and they're preventing optimal body or kok growth.

I'm normally hesitant/a bit paranoid about putting any unnatural chemicals or meds into my tanks (except a bit of water conditioner during some water changes), unless really necessary, so I'm wondering whether or not I should even administer some de-worming medicine on a preventive basis...

I'm also wondering if I do that, should I treat with something like Clear, or something with Praziquantel, like this medicine I just picked up at a shop at Chatuchak Market in BKK? It seems a crap shoot if your fish isn't exhibiting any signs and you therefore cannot easily gauge the results -- and likewise I certainly don't want to risk over-medicating by trying both....this really has my head spinning, any advice would be appreciated.

 

[philipraposo1982]

All your questions are valid.

This is exactly why in that same thread I am advocating the use of a microscope to help with understanding what your fish has and doesn't have. Also to reduce of "preventative treatment".

Here's what I do know. If your fish had a parasite, you medicated it, you confirmed through fecal smears that worms.are now gone, there is no need to keep medicating every year or anything like that. There only time you take getting you fish sick again with the same parasite is if you reintroduced it into the closed system.

Like through a new fish or cross contamination. I also know that different meds kill different parasites.

 

[islandguy11]

All your questions are valid.

This is exactly why in that same thread I am advocating the use of a microscope .....

Thanks for the input, and while I don't want to ignite another microscope mini-war as both you and RD make valid points in that other thread, it seems logical that microscopic fecal examination would be the best/safest way, esp. in cases where one wasn't even sure their fish has worms/parasites.

But I'm really no junior biologist, if he had these baddies is it pretty obvious under a microscope and easy to tell? Any good reference sites with good pix for reference you know of offhand?

 

[JGotti]

Posts on a recent thread have me a bit concerned that I've never de-wormed my Thai FH (and I didn't want to hijack that thread so started my own, even if there might be some repetition in advice provided). My Kamfa shows no signs (that I can discern) of having worms or other parasites -- he's active and a voracious pellet eater. However, as RD points out in that thread, that doesn't necessarily mean my fish doesn't have any worms/parasites. Who knows, he might have some and they're preventing optimal body or kok growth.

I'm normally hesitant/a bit paranoid about putting any unnatural chemicals or meds into my tanks (except a bit of water conditioner during some water changes), unless really necessary, so I'm wondering whether or not I should even administer some de-worming medicine on a preventive basis...

I'm also wondering if I do that, should I treat with something like Clear, or something with Praziquantel, like this medicine I just picked up at a shop at Chatuchak Market in BKK? It seems a crap shoot if your fish isn't exhibiting any signs and you therefore cannot easily gauge the results -- and likewise I certainly don't want to risk over-medicating by trying both....this really has my head spinning, any advice would be appreciated.

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I went ahead and ordered levamisole of eBay around 10 dollars prazikill for 15

 

[philipraposo1982]

I never touched a microscope before this either. I don't have a fancy one either $100-150 will be good enough for hobby needs. There is a great video on YouTube from a fish vet where he talks about mics.

I will see if I can find it and link it.

As for identifying parasites and such it is fairly easy. There is lots of images online and YouTube videos of different microscopy showing various parasites. And they all look different. I was able to id even a type of.plankton I found in some of my slides.