TribeOfShroom
Fishaholic
For those who have or haven't read my thread on my recent problem with one of my new rams (serves me right for not waiting until my regular LFS had new stock in). One of my bolivian rams has camallanis worms.
Now even though I've been told (only by one person so far) that Waterlife's Sterazin won't work, I thought seeing as my LFS were kind enough to let me pick some up (even though they were closed. It was a sunday) and advise me (even though it wasn't a fish from their store) I thought I'd give it a shot.
Now bear in mind before I get people up in arms telling me that my LFS don't know jack, they've been the most knowledgable and on the ball fish keepers I've met in all the stores I've visited. Not to say they know everything, but they haven't let me down yet and they are the only ones to suggest fishless cycling to everyone who buys a brand new tank. Unlike many fish stores.
But anyway, here we go.
Sterazin dosage days are 1,3,6,8 & 10. So 27th, 29th, 1st, 3rd & 5th
Affected fish is in a breeding trap in the 125L tank. I might as well keep him in there as he was in there a whole day before I noticed the worms, so I'm medicating the whole tank
26/01/08: I brought the fish on saturday and didn't notice anything wrong with them. (my mistake as I usually check all the fish over before buying any)
27/01/08: Noticed swelling + worms. Instantly rang my regular FS, had a good ol chat about what to do and how to go about it. Even though they don't open on sundays, they said I could come and pick up some Sterazin from them.
28/01/08 am: Ram looking more active and healthier, got it to eat as well. Poop's are long, white and stringy. Worms still visable.
28/01/08 pm: A lot more active and feeding well
29/01/08 am: 2nd dose in. Tank mates seem fine, ram poops looking like they're returning to 'normal' eg not white and stringy. Worms still present.
29/01/08 pm: Worms still present, but appetite has improved. Awaiting Wormer + from plymouth discus. Thinking that it might be wise to switch over to the wormer and not complete the sterazin course.
30/01/08 pm: Wormer + arrived. Did a 60% water change, then added just over dosage for my tank.
31/01/08 am: Fish don't seem affected by medication. The infected Ram is eating normally and is no longer hiding. Worms appear to have reduced and swollen anus doesn't look as 'sore' as it once did. I've decided after doing a lot of research online on similar products using flubendazole. I'm going to re-dose in 7 days time (either same dose or higher depending on worms) and re-dose another 7 days after that. Seeing as these worms apparently have a 30day life cycle, I intend to keep the tank dosed for over this period and carry on using this thread to update on progress.
I have only come across a few journals on various sites that say that flubendazole will work, so I'm not holding my breath.
01/02/08 pm: Swelling doesn't look sore at all now, and worms appear to be retreating. Seeing as wormer + can be used with other medication, I've decided (after consultation) that I will resume the sterazin medication.
02/02/08 pm: Fish seem very active. Feeding like little monsters as usual. Worms are definately on the retreat. Will carry on dosing for full 30day life cycle. (I'm making sure that I will not be bothered by this again) As a futher precaution, I'm testing the water stats twice a day to monitor any changes that might be due to the medications. All fish behaviour will also be carefully monitored.
03/02/08 pm: No change! Fish colour is steadily improving, but anus is still swollen.
04/02/08 pm: Worms are retreating, but there is increased swelling around the Rams anus. Will try to feed soem blanched peas to try and help it 'pass' the worms
05/02/08pm: Fish won't eat the peas, so I'm not too sure what to do there. My LFS suggested that I might soak some food in a bird wormer. So I shall try that soon. Second dose of Wormer + tomorrow *fingers crossed*
06/02/08 pm: Infected Ram is looking a lot thinner, not eating. Although the worms now appear to be turning white and 'passing'. Second dose of wormer + added (this time I soaked some food in it as well as just adding it to the tank) Also added another dose of Sterazin.
07/02/08 pm: The Ram died sometime while I was at work
I will not let anymore die from this!! All other fish appear to be fine. There have been no toxin spikes.
08/02/08 am: Another dose of Sterazin is in. My plans are to possibly change all of the substrate to ensure there are no lavae in it. But definately doing a 60% water change this weekend and washing all wood and rock and giving the gravel a good vac all the way down (the substrate is about 3" in a couple of spots)
11/02/08 pm: Well gave the tank the biggest clean out possible, gravel, wood, plants n all. Fresh water in and then another dosage of sterazin. So far so good. I know these b*stards have a life cycle of 30days, but so far no fish seems to be infected. Not letting up though, I going to carry this through to the end. I will rid my tank of these infernal worms!! * I wonder if you can up the dosage safely of sterazin... maybe double dosage might kill em off......hmmm will get in contact with waterlife tonight*
14/02/08 pm: So far so good. No more signs of worms. Although I've been watching like a hawk. Rang waterlife and was reccomended not to increase the dosage. oh well. If the worms come back.. I guess I might just euthanise the entire tank and start all over No bad thoughts!! I won't give up!! Come on few more weeks and we'll know if I've done it.
Now even though I've been told (only by one person so far) that Waterlife's Sterazin won't work, I thought seeing as my LFS were kind enough to let me pick some up (even though they were closed. It was a sunday) and advise me (even though it wasn't a fish from their store) I thought I'd give it a shot.
Now bear in mind before I get people up in arms telling me that my LFS don't know jack, they've been the most knowledgable and on the ball fish keepers I've met in all the stores I've visited. Not to say they know everything, but they haven't let me down yet and they are the only ones to suggest fishless cycling to everyone who buys a brand new tank. Unlike many fish stores.
But anyway, here we go.
Sterazin dosage days are 1,3,6,8 & 10. So 27th, 29th, 1st, 3rd & 5th
Affected fish is in a breeding trap in the 125L tank. I might as well keep him in there as he was in there a whole day before I noticed the worms, so I'm medicating the whole tank
26/01/08: I brought the fish on saturday and didn't notice anything wrong with them. (my mistake as I usually check all the fish over before buying any)
27/01/08: Noticed swelling + worms. Instantly rang my regular FS, had a good ol chat about what to do and how to go about it. Even though they don't open on sundays, they said I could come and pick up some Sterazin from them.
28/01/08 am: Ram looking more active and healthier, got it to eat as well. Poop's are long, white and stringy. Worms still visable.
28/01/08 pm: A lot more active and feeding well
29/01/08 am: 2nd dose in. Tank mates seem fine, ram poops looking like they're returning to 'normal' eg not white and stringy. Worms still present.
29/01/08 pm: Worms still present, but appetite has improved. Awaiting Wormer + from plymouth discus. Thinking that it might be wise to switch over to the wormer and not complete the sterazin course.
30/01/08 pm: Wormer + arrived. Did a 60% water change, then added just over dosage for my tank.
31/01/08 am: Fish don't seem affected by medication. The infected Ram is eating normally and is no longer hiding. Worms appear to have reduced and swollen anus doesn't look as 'sore' as it once did. I've decided after doing a lot of research online on similar products using flubendazole. I'm going to re-dose in 7 days time (either same dose or higher depending on worms) and re-dose another 7 days after that. Seeing as these worms apparently have a 30day life cycle, I intend to keep the tank dosed for over this period and carry on using this thread to update on progress.
I have only come across a few journals on various sites that say that flubendazole will work, so I'm not holding my breath.
01/02/08 pm: Swelling doesn't look sore at all now, and worms appear to be retreating. Seeing as wormer + can be used with other medication, I've decided (after consultation) that I will resume the sterazin medication.
02/02/08 pm: Fish seem very active. Feeding like little monsters as usual. Worms are definately on the retreat. Will carry on dosing for full 30day life cycle. (I'm making sure that I will not be bothered by this again) As a futher precaution, I'm testing the water stats twice a day to monitor any changes that might be due to the medications. All fish behaviour will also be carefully monitored.
03/02/08 pm: No change! Fish colour is steadily improving, but anus is still swollen.
04/02/08 pm: Worms are retreating, but there is increased swelling around the Rams anus. Will try to feed soem blanched peas to try and help it 'pass' the worms
05/02/08pm: Fish won't eat the peas, so I'm not too sure what to do there. My LFS suggested that I might soak some food in a bird wormer. So I shall try that soon. Second dose of Wormer + tomorrow *fingers crossed*
06/02/08 pm: Infected Ram is looking a lot thinner, not eating. Although the worms now appear to be turning white and 'passing'. Second dose of wormer + added (this time I soaked some food in it as well as just adding it to the tank) Also added another dose of Sterazin.
07/02/08 pm: The Ram died sometime while I was at work
I will not let anymore die from this!! All other fish appear to be fine. There have been no toxin spikes.08/02/08 am: Another dose of Sterazin is in. My plans are to possibly change all of the substrate to ensure there are no lavae in it. But definately doing a 60% water change this weekend and washing all wood and rock and giving the gravel a good vac all the way down (the substrate is about 3" in a couple of spots)
11/02/08 pm: Well gave the tank the biggest clean out possible, gravel, wood, plants n all. Fresh water in and then another dosage of sterazin. So far so good. I know these b*stards have a life cycle of 30days, but so far no fish seems to be infected. Not letting up though, I going to carry this through to the end. I will rid my tank of these infernal worms!! * I wonder if you can up the dosage safely of sterazin... maybe double dosage might kill em off......hmmm will get in contact with waterlife tonight*
14/02/08 pm: So far so good. No more signs of worms. Although I've been watching like a hawk. Rang waterlife and was reccomended not to increase the dosage.
oh well. If the worms come back.. I guess I might just euthanise the entire tank and start all over No bad thoughts!! I won't give up!! Come on few more weeks and we'll know if I've done it.
Right, so I've spent £5 on sterazin, £9 for wormer plus and now I have to spent £25 on a drug, that my local vets probably don't stock.
