Want Your Serrasalmus To Grow Quickly?

[Ohio Entusiast]

I just spent the morning with a buddy that's advanced in keeping Serrasalmus species. He has a Rhomb that I last saw about 2 months ago. I walked in today and didn't even recognize it as it had grown dramatically since I saw it.

After a long conversation, he disclosed his method for quick growth. He claims to get 1-2'' of growth in Rhoms by treating with Praziquantel. Praziquantel kills parasites, namely cestodes [tapeworms] and once a fish is rid of all parasites, it's growth increases substantially. I saw it for myself otherwise I would not be writing this. He gave me a dose to treat my Sanchezi I just bought. I dropped it in the tank and within 15 minutes, there were hundreds of little worms clinging to the glass. About an hour later half of them have dropped off and assumeably died. I can't wait to see the results after another treatment and a year or so.

Just thought I'd share this.

 

[cchhcc]

I don't doubt it. Although most people don't want to believe it, almost all wild caught fish have internal parasites. When I was studying to be a vet (back during the Lincoln administration!), everything we dissected from the wild had "something."

 

[Ohio Entusiast]

I don't doubt it. Although most people don't want to believe it, almost all wild caught fish have internal parasites. When I was studying to be a vet (back during the Lincoln administration!), everything we dissected from the wild had "something."

I've read up on it and according to the ''experts'' virtually every Serrasalmus species imported is infected with cestodes among other parasites. After seeing the growth of his Rhomb and the hundreds, if not thousands of ''worms'' clinging to my glass after treating mine I'm convinced it will at least encourage growth and in fact, Piranhas are filled with parasites.

Add the fact that few hobbyists ever treat for parasites and many feed Comets...It only makes sense.

 

[jp80911]

I don't argue that treating serra. with parasites will aid the growth; however, no one dose the river in the wild with Praziquantel but rhom still grows faster in the wild then in our tank..........

 

[Ohio Entusiast]

I've read up on it and according to the ''experts'' virtually every Serrasalmus species imported is infected with cestodes among other parasites. After seeing the growth of his Rhomb and the hundreds, if not thousands of ''worms'' clinging to my glass after treating mine I'm convinced it will at least encourage growth and in fact, Piranhas are filled with parasites.

Add the fact that few hobbyists ever treat for parasites and many feed Comets...It only makes sense.

I would think the number 1 factor in the wild is diet. There is no way to duplicate a Piranhas' natural diet. Secondly one can not duplicate the natural ecosystem nor the sheer size and volume of the Amazon river or it's tributaries. Throw in factors such as current and minerals unavailable in the hobby and there's no comparison between nature and an artificial environment.

I would say if you took a Large Mouth Bass or other North American native fish and threw it in an aquarium you'd see the same results in regards to growth.

Increased growth or otherwise, it warms my heart to see thousands of dead parasites once attached to my fish now floating around dead....

 

[jp80911]

I would think the number 1 factor in the wild is diet. There is no way to duplicate a Piranhas' natural diet. Secondly one can not duplicate the natural ecosystem nor the sheer size and volume of the Amazon river or it's tributaries. Throw in factors such as current and minerals unavailable in the hobby and there's no comparison between nature and an artificial environment.

I would say if you took a Large Mouth Bass or other North American native fish and threw it in an aquarium you'd see the same results in regards to growth.

Increased growth or otherwise, it warms my heart to see thousands of dead parasites once attached to my fish now floating around dead....

Diet wise I think they mainly eat fish, fins and bonds all together, which should contain good amount of calcium, which would help in their growth. I'm trying to duplicate such diet as close as possible myself, hope that helps.

Also I'm not sure if this would be true but in the wild they may have to need to get big fast as the larger they get the less chance they'll be come prey and more prey will be available to them. in the home aquarium such drive is no needed which may cause the lack of release of some growth hormone. probably not true as this should be in their gene but since we know so little about them I try not to out rule it.

of course the excellent water parameter in the amazon river and the volume of current would be part of the factor too. however, some other species of fish from amazon are less effected by it, such as aros, etc.

I guess we could only use our imagination

anyway, I would probably try to dose my fish too just to give it a boost.
question, where do you buy that med?

 

[Ohio Entusiast]

He gets his from the vet. He mentioned a product by Jungle Labs...Parasite Clear I believe was the name.

 

[jp80911]

ok, i'll stop by petsmart and pick some of those up. thanks
does the box look like this?

 

[cichlaguapote]

Another option:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12098

 

[Ohio Entusiast]

ok, i'll stop by petsmart and pick some of those up. thanks
does the box look like this?

I'm almost certain that's the name he gave. However I'm assuming the Parasite Clear is a weaker version as he buys his from the vet under prescription.
I've read a bit on Praziquantel and it seems it is used to treat cat's, dogs...even humans,

I just wanted to add. My buddy claims growth of 1''-2'' per month in juveniles after using this. I left the ''per month'' bit out of my original post.
I can say that I saw first hand about 2'' of growth since I last saw the fish a couple months back. He was a lot meatier as well.