My fish are sick need suggestions

[Err]

OK, so I was watching my Oscar and I noticed red worms protrudeing from her anus . Camallanus, So I mixed up some jungle anti parasite treatment and dumped it in the tank, instantly red worms came flying out her butt, so it is working. Im going to feed her nothing but peas/spinach (her favorite greens) to keep her regular so she dosent get septic from the dying worms. I also plan on adding medicated food (jungle anti parasite) to supplament her food for the next few days. Im going to use these meds as directed and every 48 hrs give a mondo wc/vac/filter cleaning as also prescibed by the meds. I would like to hear from you guys and get any information/experiance you all may have to offer. Thanks in advance!

 

[Pharaoh]

Sounds like you got it under control. A little aquarium salt in the water wouldn't hurt.

 

[Err]

Allrighty, I have never faced treating Camallanus before. Can anyone tell me how persistant/difficult these guys are too beat? Also if these cheap 'O jungle meds dont work, what other treatments are available that would be more effective in treating these buggers.

 

[Err]

anyone? any dips that might help? would formalin be a more effective treatment? I have read that it kills everything in the tank but the fish. Which I dont mind seeing as i can always re-seed my filter with media from another tank.

 

[Lupin]

Dips will not help. You need to treat the whole tank instead as it is likely the camallanus worms have established themselves on all your fish.

What you can do is add garlic on their foods. Garlic tends to irritate the parasites that most parasites detach themselves from the hosts as a result thus making them a little mor vulnerable when exposed to treatments that are in your tank. Levamisole hydrochloride and fenbendazole are your best options to eradicate the camallanus worms. Overdosage of deworming treatments tend to make the fish lose their appetite completely so be very careful when administering them. I'd go with levamisole hydrochloride first and do treatment at 2mg per liter. Tablets are much easier but powder form is very difficult to measure.

Does your Jungle Anti Parasite treatment contain levamisole? If so, I'd go for that one. If that does not help, the levamisole ingredient may be less in amunt to be effective enough to destroy the camallanus worms. If that happens, I'd ask nearby veterinary clinics and livestock stores if they have a stock of levamisole hydrochloride also sold as sheep bolus, levasole, etc. Metronidazole and praziquantel will not be effective enough against the camallanus worms on the other hand.