To treat dats for parasites or not?

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Keister

Keister

Gambusia
MFK Member
Apr 26, 2012
807
8
18
Hummelstown, Pennsylvania
I am getting mixed reviews on whether or not to treat my 3 8-9" ntts for parasites with prazipro. They show no signs of parasites at all but I know that doesn't mean that they don't have them. I am getting two rays flown in on Saturday so if I need to treat them I need to do it tonight so I can do a water change before the rays come. Is it a smart decision to treat them or not if they aren't showing any signs of parasites? They have no red spots, bumps, pimples, no rubbing and no gill pumping/ rapid breathing. They are the only fish in the tank and the whole system will need treated if I do need to treat them.


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strollo22 said:
Always treat ntts for ip's. It can't hurt.


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Awesome just dosed the whole tank with prazi so I should be good! All the carbon is out and I'll let it run this way until Saturday morning when I'll do a big water change and put the carbon back in and the tank should be ready for my rays!


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RD. said:
Are these new fish?

Just so you know, Praziquantel is not a cure all for parasites, internal or external. Most people don't seem to understand that Prazipro is only really effective on flukes, tapeworms, and flatworms. Not roundworms, not hexamita, and not the numerous other pathogens that a fish can be hosting on the inside &/or outside of their body.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/praziquantel-oral-route/description/drg-20065610
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+1, what medication would you use to cover the other parasites you mentioned RD?
 
RD. said:
Are these new fish?

Just so you know, Praziquantel is not a cure all for parasites, internal or external. Most people don't seem to understand that Prazipro is only really effective on flukes, tapeworms, and flatworms. Not roundworms, not hexamita, and not the numerous other pathogens that a fish can be hosting on the inside &/or outside of their body.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/praziquantel-oral-route/description/drg-20065610
Click to expand...

Yes they are new, but are not showing any signs of parasites at all but I just wanted to make sure I was ok. I don't want to have all my other fish get parasites from these three because that would really stink... I treated them with prazi last night just to be safe. I have to be really careful what chemicals I put into my water because of the rays. I would rather get rid of the dats then hurt my Rays but now that they are in the tank my tank is potentially contaminated by them so I had to do something for my own piece of mind even though there are no signs of parasites at all... No rubbing, bumps, sores, redness, pimples, gill pumping or heavy breathing nothing. I know that doesn't mean they don't have them that's why I just treated them with prazi anyway.


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Unless properly QT'd for a 30 day period or so, it all becomes a roll of the dice. Gill flukes are pretty obvious once they begin to spread (fish flash & rub like mad dogs) and tapeworms come with their own symptoms as well. Chances are your fish have neither by the sounds of it, I just wanted you to understand that Prazi is basically only effective for those two issues.

Josh - I would treat the tank with copper (coppersafe in smaller systems) if the water is at pH 7 or greater. Another product that is very effective is Seachem Paraguard.

http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/ParaGuard.html

As a dip it can be used on fish before being introduced to any tank, including a QT tank, and especially on new fish going into an established tank without a proper QT. Not the most ideal situation, but it's certainly better than just crossing your fingers & hoping for the best. I use this method for healthy fish that are showing no signs of problems, and that are coming from a trusted source.

If the fish are eating pellets, then I also always start them off on 5 days of epsom soaked pellets, as described in the sticky in this section on hexamita/spironucleus. It's safe on all species, and can potentially erradicate a hex problem before it becomes a problem.


HTH
 
I suggested coppersafe in one of the posters other threads about this situation but I thought it might be risky to use with rays in the tank.
 
I use Seachem ParaGuard, but I was under the impression that it was really only useful for external parasites (I mainly keep it on hand for random ich outbreaks). I soak everything in epsom salt water that I feed, pellets, blood worms, even tilapia, granted pellets hold the soak better obviously.

On a similar note I wish I would have read the bottle better with ParaGuard as I was unaware it treats fungal infections as well. I'm currently battling a fungal outbreak in my pickerel tank with PimaFix and MelaFix....looks like I'll be switching meds for that haha.
 
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