Internal Parasites!
- Thread starter IFbettas
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Terra Ferma
New member
I've done it before, being very careful not to feed more than will get eaten right away.
Not sure of Metros toxicity to corals but might be worth emailing Hikari to find out.
Not sure of Metros toxicity to corals but might be worth emailing Hikari to find out.
IFbettas
New member
I've noticed on the Jungle pellets it say it contians metro, but my fish don't like to eat those. Also I noticed it says not for use in sw aquariums containing inverts. I'm not sure if it is the metro or something else that makes it unsafe, because it contains several different meds. I'm going to email Hikari and find out. Thanks for all the help.
IFbettas
New member
I finally got around to dosing Prazipro in my display tank on Saturday. How long will it be before I can tell if it worked or not? My fish still look exactly the same as before I dosed it, and I noticed the damsels poo is still white. Does this mean the prazi didn't kill whatever was inside the fish? If it did kill them, how long will it be before my fish gain weight again ( I feed once every evening.)
block head
New member
rc member by me used prazipro for 5 days then noticed large worms leaving her tang then melting in the water. i think prazipro is rather mild compared to many meds. i'd treat for a week ,do a lg water change,wait a week or two then then treat again .
IFbettas
New member
I know that my yellow tang has worms in it, because a few months ago I gave it a freshwater dip, and a few 2-inch long green worms came out of it. I know that there are more still there, though, because the tang got stressed a couple months ago and I saw worms hanging out. I'm hoping that they will come out later. Prazi must be pretty mild, because it is reef safe.
Terra Ferma
New member
IME, never. I only use Prazi to get rid of flukes and other nasties that live on/near the skin off fish and in the gills. For things that live in their digestive system Metro is the only thing that has worked for me.
Terra Ferma
New member
BTW is sounds like a quarantine/treatment system would be an excellent investment for you
IFbettas
New member
I have a quarantine system already. I just don't want to break down my entire tank in order to get the fish into it. When I fed my fish tonight my yellow tang pooped out a bunch of worms, I think. They looked kind of like cheato, but grayish brown. I know that the tang didn't eat any cheato, so it has to be worms.
Alberta-newb
New member
I originally went hunting for a "reef safe" anti-parasitic for my rabbitfish as they supposedly are prone to internal parasites. An article in the 2008 Reefkeeping Annual recommended using praziquantel, flubenol and metronidazole as a multi-pronged approach. I didn't want to tear my tank apart to get him into QT and wanted a food based product that targetted the fish not the water column.
I found a product called "Gel-Tek Ultra Cure PX". and is made by Aquarium Products.
Here's a link
This product has all three of the cited meds. Although they advertise that it has fish pheremones to enhance feeding, my fish won't touch it on it's own. I mix it with mysis the night before and then skip my morning feeding. By late afternoon the fish are pretty hungry and gulp down every piece. That way I reduce the risk of harming any inverts with the meds.
So far no problems, not sure on how effective though either as none of my fish have had visible problems.
I found a product called "Gel-Tek Ultra Cure PX". and is made by Aquarium Products.
Here's a link
This product has all three of the cited meds. Although they advertise that it has fish pheremones to enhance feeding, my fish won't touch it on it's own. I mix it with mysis the night before and then skip my morning feeding. By late afternoon the fish are pretty hungry and gulp down every piece. That way I reduce the risk of harming any inverts with the meds.
So far no problems, not sure on how effective though either as none of my fish have had visible problems.
pecan2phat
Active member
Sue,
I dosed 2 different systems recently with Prazipro. One was a SPS & clams and the other was all LPS & softies.
Both systems were fine except for some GSP. I left the full dosage in for 6 days with skimmer, UV, Ozone, GFO & carbon off.
I only dosed as a precaution because I never fully verified that I had flukes so I can't say if it dewormed my tank though.
I dosed 2 different systems recently with Prazipro. One was a SPS & clams and the other was all LPS & softies.
Both systems were fine except for some GSP. I left the full dosage in for 6 days with skimmer, UV, Ozone, GFO & carbon off.
I only dosed as a precaution because I never fully verified that I had flukes so I can't say if it dewormed my tank though.
pecan2phat:
Thank you for your reply, I am glad to hear that most your corals were unaffected. I did read that GSP and tube worms could be possible victims with this medication from the RC thread...http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...0067&perpage=25&highlight=flukes&pagenumber=1 I am wondering if this stuff is better for internal parasites than just dosing their food with Metronidazole for 5 days or so. Thanks again.
Thank you for your reply, I am glad to hear that most your corals were unaffected. I did read that GSP and tube worms could be possible victims with this medication from the RC thread...http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...0067&perpage=25&highlight=flukes&pagenumber=1 I am wondering if this stuff is better for internal parasites than just dosing their food with Metronidazole for 5 days or so. Thanks again.
pecan2phat
Active member
Sue,
I also fed with metronidazole during the treatment in case they had other parasites.
One thing I forgot to mention and did notice after the treatment period was that it affected my coralline algae a bit. I noticed that the bright purple started to fade a bit and pieces were flaking off. It has since started to regrow though.
I also fed with metronidazole during the treatment in case they had other parasites.
One thing I forgot to mention and did notice after the treatment period was that it affected my coralline algae a bit. I noticed that the bright purple started to fade a bit and pieces were flaking off. It has since started to regrow though.
Hi pecan2phat,
How exactly did you prepare the Metro in the food? I have never done this before. I have purchased the powdered Metro, and Focus (a food binder) made by Seachem. They suggest adding garlic to make it more accepted by the fish as well. So do I mix up some of the powdered medication, add a few drops of water to make a paste, then mix this with some freeze dried brine? Also how many days do I treat them for with this medicated food? Thanks so much for your help.
How exactly did you prepare the Metro in the food? I have never done this before. I have purchased the powdered Metro, and Focus (a food binder) made by Seachem. They suggest adding garlic to make it more accepted by the fish as well. So do I mix up some of the powdered medication, add a few drops of water to make a paste, then mix this with some freeze dried brine? Also how many days do I treat them for with this medicated food? Thanks so much for your help.
pecan2phat
Active member
Sue,
It's a 5:1 ratio with Focus being the five. So for say 1 tablespoon of frozen food, I add 5 measures of Focus & 1 measure of Metro.
(so you need to buy more Focus
)
Since I thaw my frozen in a shot glass first, I simply take another shot glass & mix the focus with the Metro then add to the top of the frozen (which usually has some liquid content from the thawing) and then add some liquid vitamin C & liquid garlic extract. Then I blend it well since the Focus likes to clump and then let it sit for 15-20 minutes before I feed it to the fish.
If you are using freeze dried food, I would use the liquid garlic & Vitamin C or just some water to make a thin paste as you suggested. Try some Piscines frozen Mysis. The fish will love it.
It's a 5:1 ratio with Focus being the five. So for say 1 tablespoon of frozen food, I add 5 measures of Focus & 1 measure of Metro.
(so you need to buy more Focus
)Since I thaw my frozen in a shot glass first, I simply take another shot glass & mix the focus with the Metro then add to the top of the frozen (which usually has some liquid content from the thawing) and then add some liquid vitamin C & liquid garlic extract. Then I blend it well since the Focus likes to clump and then let it sit for 15-20 minutes before I feed it to the fish.
If you are using freeze dried food, I would use the liquid garlic & Vitamin C or just some water to make a thin paste as you suggested. Try some Piscines frozen Mysis. The fish will love it.
Peacan2phat,
Got it! Thanks so much for confirming everything.
Since I will be feeding in the main tank, I will be careful to not let any other critters and corals eat the stuff...siphon the leftovers from bottom of tank...is this basically what you did?
Also: how many days do you treat for, assuming I feed once a day?
Many thanks.
Got it! Thanks so much for confirming everything.
Since I will be feeding in the main tank, I will be careful to not let any other critters and corals eat the stuff...siphon the leftovers from bottom of tank...is this basically what you did?
Also: how many days do you treat for, assuming I feed once a day?
Many thanks.
pecan2phat
Active member
I did not siphon any food out due to not really seeing any. I feed heavily so I'm sure the corals had a taste as well as my cleaner shrimps with no ill effect.
I fed them with the meds for 3 days straight, waited a day then another 3 days. I feed more then once per day but only the frozen food was innoculated with the meds once a day.
I fed them with the meds for 3 days straight, waited a day then another 3 days. I feed more then once per day but only the frozen food was innoculated with the meds once a day.
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