Camallanus Worms!

[newfishaddict]

Hi, I have camallanus worms (that I can see out of some fishes' vents) in my 29g and 55g.

I need some information to help me decide the best way to treat my tanks (for example I am considering treating my 21g with no signs of camallanus)

1) Are copepods an intermediate host for camallanus?

2) Are copepods in the average planted tank?

Thanks so much for any help.
cheers!

 

[WILDER]

Not the writer of this information below.
Copepods- Many species of parasitic copepods infest the gills of a wide variety of freshwater and marine fishes. The common parasite is Ergasiulus sieboldi, which infests many freshwater fishes and has also been reported on herring. This species is up to 1.7mm long and has a bluish pigmentation. E. briani is slightly smaller and also lives on various freshwater fish. E. boettgeri is only up to 0.75 mm long and is seen in tropical freshwater fish. E. minor lacks the blue pigment. Caligus rapix is found on imported marine fish and affects skin and fins as well as the fish's gills. Symptoms- The evidence is very difficult to spot in the early stages. When the parasites take hold the affected fish become emaciated and have a hard time breathing. Lifting the gill flap of a dead or anesthetized fish may reveal the parasites nestling in the gill folds. Treatment- There are many anti-parasite treatments available that are successful. Damaged gills may develop fungus as a secondary infection; treat with a medication to deal with this as well. top

 

[*Kristy*]

Hi,
Thought id put my two cents in. I bought my poweder levamisole hydrochloride at www.wormer.com. Its very expensive stuff for the amount you get. Maybe you can find somewhere cheaper. I'm going to tell you right now, these things are very hard to kill. I'm sure if you read my signature you will see I lost all of my fish except for 4. I thought these 4 were safe until just yesterday. I found another worm coming out of one of my baby female guppies. So I added a bit of my powder worming stuff and no joking, a million or more of these worms came out of hiding and were swimming around my tank. I was confused why they were white. But Wilder said its only because they havent drank blood yet, which makes alot of since. So anyways, the next morning I woke up, some of these things were still alive.

What I did is a HUGE no no and I hope nobody fusses at me. But when all of your fish have died except for 4 you kinda feel like I'LL DO ANYTHING! I put my 4 fish in a small one gallon tank that had no filter, only a little heater. Put in some meds, 4 different times. Kept checking to make sure the pH level was down of course. I let them hang out in there ALL DAY! poor things. So all day yesterday I took all my rocks, fake plants, TOSSED my Live plants (they stick to everything!) and my one decorative castle and SOAKED them in Bleach Water. I rinsed them well of course, filled up my tank again, let it run till night time. Then right before bed I added my fish back, very carefully, trying not to stir up the water. Most dead worms were at the bottom by then (because of the no filter, before they were flying around). So I slowly moved then back into the now Clean tank.

I really think i've got them clean now. I pray I do at least. This is the second go round of these things. The first time i thought I killed them, BUT BOY WAS I WRONG! So good luck to you. I pray your fish will live and you won't loose almost all of yours as I did. My husband kept telling me to flush them and start over, but were all I had left. So I just did the best I can. Once I get the pH level down in the clean tank, i plan to add more meds, just to see if I see anymore and to be on the safe side.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[newfishaddict]

Not the writer of this information below.
Copepods- Many species of parasitic copepods infest the gills of a wide variety of freshwater and marine fishes. The common parasite is Ergasiulus sieboldi, which infests many freshwater fishes and has also been reported on herring. This species is up to 1.7mm long and has a bluish pigmentation. E. briani is slightly smaller and also lives on various freshwater fish. E. boettgeri is only up to 0.75 mm long and is seen in tropical freshwater fish. E. minor lacks the blue pigment. Caligus rapix is found on imported marine fish and affects skin and fins as well as the fish's gills. Symptoms- The evidence is very difficult to spot in the early stages. When the parasites take hold the affected fish become emaciated and have a hard time breathing. Lifting the gill flap of a dead or anesthetized fish may reveal the parasites nestling in the gill folds. Treatment- There are many anti-parasite treatments available that are successful. Damaged gills may develop fungus as a secondary infection; treat with a medication to deal with this as well. top

Thanks for all your help Wilder. In this case I am asking about nonpathogenic copepods. Mainly; "are nonpathogenic copepods a common inhabitant of the AVERAGE non-diseased home aquarium"?

cheers

 

[WILDER]

Did you receive the med, as i would start using it, as its the last resort as you will lose most fish anyway as they are very nasty and do a lot of damage to the internal organs.

 

[newfishaddict]

Did you receive the med, as i would start using it, as its the last resort as you will lose most fish anyway as they are very nasty and do a lot of damage to the internal organs.

Yes, I have the med(13.65% injectable levamisile HCL), I have a feeling or perhaps a "hope" that only a few fish are infected. I have numerous Reasons to think this, basically I found one vet a work with allot of knowledge of nematodes and fish.

I will treat now....and post regarding my success!I hope

 

[WILDER]

As once they really destroy the organs the med won't me much good anyway, trust me they are evil.

Plus if you don't treat the tank, I know you have your doubts but they soon pass from fish to fish as even a fish sucking another fish poop can get infected, Ive had them and seen them wipe alot of fish out in the tank, i had to strip my down in the end.

 

[newfishaddict]

As once they really destroy the organs the med won't me much good anyway, trust me they are evil.

Ok first off, I want to send you some wine, is this appropriate? Your link was how I got the drug. You have helped me the most.

The drug company had no problems sending it to Candada. This drug is not approved in Canada anymore and I was concerned about what would happen at the boarder.

My rainbows are all going to die, I am certain, but I have reason to think my other fish might be ok.

My rainbows had it first; I failed to see the symptoms. If I have fish that have a minor infection of the parasites, it seems to me, that using antibiotics on them after the parasite treatment would make sense. I have heard that, with camallanus, secondary bacterial infections often cause death after the parasites are removed.

PLEASE comments?

 

[WILDER]

Other fish in the tank only have to suck up the poop of an infected fish and they will get them as well.That's about all i know sorry i wish i could help more, but the med is not that harmful from what ive read anyway.
Levamisole. Levamisole hydrochloride, marketed as Ergamisole, is proven effective in boosting the efficiency of drugs combatting colon cancer, so it's not easy to obtain, unless you're in a rural setting and can pick it up in its former guise as a sheep de-wormer. A 1978 study suggested that Levamisole paralyses worms, which let go their hold and soon perish. Levamisole is the most-recommended anthelminthic for eliminating Camallanus. An excellent faq on Levamisole tablets successfully treating worm-induced wasting sickness in Clown Loaches is archived at Loaches on Line. A well-known aquarium company markets a capsule that contains an unspecified level of Levamisole; it also has salt. Some experienced aquarists feel that there is not enough Levamisole in the commercial product for it to be effective. In any case, before you use Levamisole, adjust your pH to about 6.6. If the pH is above 7.0, the drug is rendered ineffective. Use 800mg per 10 gallons. Turn off your filtration for the 24-hour period. Though the drug has absolutely no effect on the biological filter, carbon or polyfilters will remove it from the water.

 

[newfishaddict]

As once they really destroy the organs the med won't me much good anyway, trust me they are evil.

Plus if you don't treat the tank, I know you have your doubts but they soon pass from fish to fish as even a fish sucking another fish poop can get infected, Ive had them and seen them wipe alot of fish out in the tank, i had to strip my down in the end.

Did you have this drug(Levamisiole HCL - I think remember you saying you couldnt get ahold of it..?.)? am I waisting my time? Things like "strip my down in the end" scare me BIG TIME!

newfish out

Other fish in the tank only have to suck up the poop of an infected fish and they will get them as well.That's about all i know sorry i wish i could help more, but the med is not that harmful from what ive read anyway.
Levamisole. Levamisole hydrochloride, marketed as Ergamisole, is proven effective in boosting the efficiency of drugs combatting colon cancer, so it's not easy to obtain, unless you're in a rural setting and can pick it up in its former guise as a sheep de-wormer. A 1978 study suggested that Levamisole paralyses worms, which let go their hold and soon perish. Levamisole is the most-recommended anthelminthic for eliminating Camallanus. An excellent faq on Levamisole tablets successfully treating worm-induced wasting sickness in Clown Loaches is archived at Loaches on Line. A well-known aquarium company markets a capsule that contains an unspecified level of Levamisole; it also has salt. Some experienced aquarists feel that there is not enough Levamisole in the commercial product for it to be effective. In any case, before you use Levamisole, adjust your pH to about 6.6. If the pH is above 7.0, the drug is rendered ineffective. Use 800mg per 10 gallons. Turn off your filtration for the 24-hour period. Though the drug has absolutely no effect on the biological filter, carbon or polyfilters will remove it from the water.

CRAP!!!!!!!!!! pOLY Filters will remove it!!!??? I took out my carbon but I have a rena xp 3 with what I THINK is called poly fiber! what to do now!?

 

[WILDER]

I had to strip my tank down because there is no meds in the uk for them i never got my hand on the Levamisiole HCL, Good luck.