Fish with internal parasites???

[JustinReef]

I have a Valentini Puffer in my FOWLR who seems to have internal parasites. He looks quite thin but is eating very well. What other signs should I be looking for? What is the best meds for internal parasites? Is there something I can give him just in case he has IP or do I need to wait until Im sure???

 

[Hattie B]

Hi,

What does the feces look like. Feces can be a good indicator of worms. Is it stringy? White, doesn't look normal?

To deworm a fish, I use praziquantel. orally is the best way as you are able to make sure the fish actually receive the medication.

You can search for food with praziquantel or you can soak food in it or you can gut load differnt items of food such as brine shrimp.

it's avalibale at some LFS or online.

best.

 

[JustinReef]

Thank you so much for the response!

I am not sure about the feces, as I cannot find it. Unfortunately my QT tank is being used by some new fish I just bought, so I cannot QT this guy. Is it safe to treat him in the display tank? Do I need to try to treat all the fish in the tank anyways? I have heard that if one has IP that they all will to some degree. I don't want to overreact but I am very worried about my other fish! The Valentini just seems quite thin even though he eats and acts normal...

 

[Hattie B]

Its a good idea to deworm all the fish.

Follow the directions on the label and they should be fine. I treated my clown in her display. The medication is either soaked on or in the food. So it's not like your treating the whole tank hoping for the fish to get the meds.

There are products out there that are like that but I dont rec them. you want your fish to get the meds.

Once you get them it will be easy to do. =)

Then hopefully your guy will put on some more weight too. You should also supplement with some vitamins for over all health.

Best,
HB

 

[JustinReef]

I do supplement with vitamins already. The only praziquantel I can find around here is the stuff for cats and dogs...what is the difference between them? Is there somewhere online you know of who sell it for fish?

 

[JustinReef]

Oh and thanks so much for all your help! I really appreciate it and I know my Puffer does too!

 

[Hattie B]

I would get the stuff for fish. The dosage would be differnt.

Dr fosters and smith sells it.

sorry, I lied. I will look where I got mine. Dr fosters and smith sells the kind to treat the aquarium.. BRB..

 

[Hattie B]

So I have this food-
You can probably get it at any big-box retailer;

Jungle-Medicaded fish food-Anti-parasitic

From the PetsMart website; "Pond Anti-Parasite Medicated Fish Food
Aids in control of internal flagellates, trematodes, and cestodes, which includes hexamita (hole-in-the-head), spironucleus, intestinal worms, tapeworms, and nematodes (e.g. camallanus). Directly treats infected fish and protects against secondary infections. Great for use as routine prevention against disease. Feed exclusively for 3 consecutive days a week for 4 weeks. Do not use other foods during the 3 day periods. May be used with external water treatments and antibiotic/fungal/parasitic treatments. Will not cloud water. Is ruminant meat and bone meal free."

 

[Hattie B]

Does that help?

 

[Hattie B]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8933027#post8933027 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hattie B
Does that help?

Also the praziquantel is spendy. I have some but I ordered it from where I work.

Try the jungle food first, or look online for the powder form of praziquantel its also called Droncit.

 

[JustinReef]

Yes, that helps a lot! Thanks so much again!

 

[JustinReef]

I still would like to find the praziquantel though, Im really not worried about the price as these fish mean a lot to me and I would not put a price on them. Although I can get the Jungle products from my LFS, so that might be where I should start.

 

[JustinReef]

Well I have found a bunch of info about using praziquantel on the net and it seems like the best meds and is very safe. Most sites were saying to use 1 gram per 100G once a week for two or three weeks, although after one dose, the parasites should die within two to three hours. Apparently it has no bad effects on reefs or filter bacteria, no need for water changes and does not affect water quality. Does this sound right to you? I think this was all based on using the powder form. Only thing I am wondering about is why all the sites are saying NOT to mix with the fishes food. Does that sound right?

 

[Hattie B]

Ya, that is right, if you don't get the oral kind then don't mix it with food.

If you fo with the powder, I would take the guys out and give then a 'bath' in old tank water and the meds. I think that is a better bet to making sure the fish get the treatment.

It can be more diffucult as you have to catch them, but you will know they receieved it and then you won't run the risk, as a 'just in case' it harms anything else.

I haven't used praziquantel in my main tanks but I have used it once in a bucket as a bath. I believed it worked quite well, on a little damsel.

Best,

 

[JustinReef]

Ok, I got both the praziquantel and jungle medicated food, which also has praziquantel in it apparently. I was reading the instructions about the liquid praziquantel treatment and it says it is safe to use in the main aquarium but you have to stop protein skimming for the treatment period of four days...Not so sure I want to do that though. Its just one dose that should last four to five days it says but I dont like the idea of turning off my skimmer! So I think I will try the food first and then if that doesnt work, I will try the praziquantel. Maybe in a bucket though...If I can catch the fish!

 

[Hattie B]

Good luck. =)

 

[JustinReef]

Problem now is, none of my fish will go near the jungle med. food! One puffer will put it in his mouth but just spits it back out! Would soaking in garlic help maybe? I have never used garlic before for my fish. Can I use garlic from the supermarket?

 

[Hattie B]

You could try that. It might just be becuase it's new and it could smell different to them; there not used to it.

I use Garlic; Kents garlic extreme. I like it becuse I like the was it smells.. LOL..

I actually got my puffer to eat the Jungle food by stuffing it into a shrimp. I know the directions say to feed only the food for 3 days, but to start him, off, I stuffed a lot into a shrimp so just the outside of the shrimp was there and he ate it.

I had to do this until there was just a very small piece of shrimp like the skin, then he would eat it only if I moosed it together like a ball.

(I have also taken food like squid or shrimp and squeezed it over the food to make it smell like that type of food. Garlic, might help but that is new too, if it takes a bit don't get worried.)

Also depending on the infestation that he might have you might be able to see it if it is a heavy infestation. If not then you won't see anything in the feces.

 

[JustinReef]

I really don't know how bad the parasites are. I guess Im not even 100% sure he has parasites but I believe he must. He is quite thin. He is very active and normal otherwise though. I will try mixing the jungle food with some of his other foods like squid or prawn and see if that works. Thanks again for all your help!!!

 

[Hattie B]

your welcome..

I meant more that if he did have a lot of worms you might see them or you might not after you administer the food.

So if you didn't actually see them that was not necesarily a bad thing =).

Good luck..