Camallanus Worms.....advice Needed

[Faythee]

I bought a Ram a couple days ago and noticed 2 red threads near her vent. After research it appears to be Camallanus worms. It apparently is very hard to treat. I plan on either taking it back to the store tomorrow or putting it in my hospital tank. My concern is if the other fish have contracted it or not. Currently 2 baby Angels, 10 Danios, and 1 BN Pleco in a 56 gallon. I read it can take months before the worms are actually visible and it wipes out tanks ! I'm freaked out ! Should I go ahead and treat the entire tank as a precaution ? With what ?

 

[WILDER]

Best med for camallanous worms it levaimsole.
Fish can catch them just by sucking an infected fish poo up.

Get you a good link.

http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/nematodes.shtml

Camallanus



Symptoms:

When the fish is stationary, deep red worms can be seen protruding from the anal pore. They are only visible when the fish is still because the worms retreat into the intestine at the fish’s slightest movement. Other signs may include an inflamed and enlarged anus. In severe infestations, the fish may become emaciated and spinal curvature may also occur.



Cause:

The parasitic worms Camallanus Cotti and Camallanus lacustris. These small, livebearing parasitic worms attach to the intestinal walls and rectum with pinchers. The worm’s grip is so tight that any attempts to remove it forcibly will rip away tissue from the intestinal wall. The worm’s pinching causes ischemia (reduced blood flow) to that part of the intestine. In time, the tissue to that part of the intestine will die, at which time the worm will migrate to another part of the intestine. This causes perforations throughout the intestine, which allows other pathogens to gain entry. If the fish is not treated, either the parasite or bacterial will kill the fish. Camallanus infestations occur most often in livebearing fish such as Guppies and Mollies, though infection is possible in all fish. Camallanus infestations are contagious. All fish, including those not yet showing visible symptoms, as well as the aquarium, should be treated.



Treatment:

Treat with Internal Parasite Guard, Pipzine, Disco-Worm, Trichlorfon or Fluke-Tabs as well as a medicated food to prevent a bacterial infection.

 

[Faythee]

Thanks Wilder ! I did pick up some anti-parasite food today. I noticed the Jungle Anti-Parasite fizz tabs have one of the ingredients recommended to treat this. Anyone use this and know how safe it is ? It looks like the only one I can find in the LFS.

 

[fry_forever!]

Thanks Wilder ! I did pick up some anti-parasite food today. I noticed the Jungle Anti-Parasite fizz tabs have one of the ingredients recommended to treat this. Anyone use this and know how safe it is ? It looks like the only one I can find in the LFS.

Actually, I have tried to use Jungle Labs Parasite clear many times, and it really does nothing for the fish. It really only treats external parasites, because fish take in water through osmosis, and leave any medication in the water behind. I recommend Jungle Labs anti-parasite food, as it will kill the parasites as it moves through the fish's body. I have never actually used the medicated food, but I am getting some soon, as I have almost the same problem as you. Man, these diseases suck!

Here's more info on the food:
http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753421

 

[Mikaila31]

You need levamisole. You can get it at fleetfarm/farm and fleet otherwise look at stores that carry lots of farm supplies. You can buy it as a pig dewormer, usually under the name Levamisole Hydrochloride. The medicated food is a good option, it does contain levamisole as well as some other meds. Though I've never had much luck using it. I would suggest not following the directions and feeding it exclusively until signs disappear. Pure levamisole would be the best though treatment is quick and effective, the medicated food takes forever. I would move the ram to the hospital tank to avoid spreading the disease.

This link goes over treatment and dosage- http/www.loaches.com/Members/shari2/leva...hydrochloride-1

 

[Clbrtwewill]

I bought a Ram a couple days ago and noticed 2 red threads near her vent. After research it appears to be Camallanus worms. It apparently is very hard to treat. I plan on either taking it back to the store tomorrow or putting it in my hospital tank. My concern is if the other fish have contracted it or not. Currently 2 baby Angels, 10 Danios, and 1 BN Pleco in a 56 gallon. I read it can take months before the worms are actually visible and it wipes out tanks ! I'm freaked out ! Should I go ahead and treat the entire tank as a precaution ? With what ?

Fay, I had success treating an angel fish for camallanus with levamisole hcl. I posted on here looking for information in regards to what I needed to order and was given this link http/www.inkmkr.com/Fish/ItemsForSale.html . I referred to the other link (http/www.loaches.com/Members/shari2/levamisole-hydrochloride-1) to get a rough estimate of dosage for it. The fish ended up swimming around like some sort of leaf falling from a tree (it was rocking side to side, floating downward, all over the place during the treatment), but the worms died & were passed. I hope this helps =)

 

[Faythee]

Thanks everyone. Here is my plan. I will be treating with Praziquantel and Fenbendazole. I ordered flake food with the Fenbendazole and will treat the water with Praziquantel.

Link: [URL="http/cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=180349229194"]http/cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=180349229194[/URL]

Hopefully that will clear it. Thing is the things hanging from the Ram do not move, they are like tiny stickers visable at all times. I am wondering if the worms aren't already dead but the fish hasn't passed them. I will be treating the Ram in the hospital tank and we will see what happens from there.

 

[WILDER]

Good Luck.