Camallanus Worms

[newfishaddict]

I am planning on treating my tanks for camallanus worms for the next 36-40 hrs. I have read that this drug is only effective if the pH is not above 7.0. My pH when lights are off is about 6.9, during the day it is abut 7.1-7.2…..

I think I will leave the lights off for 36hrs during treatment so that my pH is not above 7.0; does this sound like a good idea?

I am concerned about pH dropping too low. I am adding co2 via the yeast DIY method. My KH = 95 and pH is as described above in all of my tanks.

I am going to treat the water with levamisole HCL. I thought that feeding the drug (in food) to the fish with visible signs of camallanus at the same time ; anyone know if feeding at the same time as the whole tank being treated is a good idea?

I am posting in emergencies and planted tanks due to the variety of info I am asking for.

Update on levamisole vs the worms: one dead barb in my 29g. The worms that were visible at the vent of my angel and rainbows are gone. My rainbows are expelling white "stuff", as they were before the treatment also...

 

[newfishaddict]

I am planning on treating my tanks for camallanus worms for the next 36-40 hrs. I have read that this drug is only effective if the pH is not above 7.0. My pH when lights are off is about 6.9, during the day it is abut 7.1-7.2…..

I think I will leave the lights off for 36hrs during treatment so that my pH is not above 7.0; does this sound like a good idea?

I am concerned about pH dropping too low. I am adding co2 via the yeast DIY method. My KH = 95 and pH is as described above in all of my tanks.

I am going to treat the water with levamisole HCL. I thought that feeding the drug (in food) to the fish with visible signs of camallanus at the same time ; anyone know if feeding at the same time as the whole tank being treated is a good idea?

I am posting in emergencies and planted tanks due to the variety of info I am asking for.

I am going to log the results of treatment so that others with this problem , who can get levamisole, can perhaps use this info to help themselfs and others.

Alost all of my fish have lost their appatite on this drug, my bloodfin tetras and corries are the only fish that will eat.

Since adding the drug all of my fish are very "skitish", they scare easily if you walk close to the tank.

I stopped filtration overnight for about 8 hrs. my intuition told me this was a bad idea but I did it after misunderstanding a members advice regarding polywool....One of my Denisions barbs died in the night, this fish had no signs of disease, I suspect ammonia poisoning due to my stupidity when I turned off my filters...They are back on now with carbon removed....Tough lesson with not only my favorite fish but my most expensive by far...

My fish that had worms visible at the vent are not in good shape. My rainbow fish are very skitish , swimming strage, and look like they are going to die. My angelfish is not moving at all and not eating either....

I am prepared to loose my rainbowfish, I certainly am not prepared to loose all my fish, I pray and wait...

 

[WILDER]

How long is it since you added the med as they can act like that for a while.

 

[newfishaddict]

How long is it since you added the med as they can act like that for a while.

It has now been 14hrs...

 

[WILDER]

That's abit long then, have you increased aeration.

 

[newfishaddict]

That's abit long then, have you increased aeration.

No I have not because I am having trouble keeping my Ph at or below 7.0 , which is recommeded for this drug. I can start airstones in both tanks now but the increased surface agitation will cause more co2 to move out of the water and into the air, thus pH will rise to above 7.0......I will start airstones and monitor pH now.....

 

[WILDER]

Right, good luck.

 

[newfishaddict]

Right, good luck.

I would like to add, upon treatment the Ph in my 29g was higher than expected , it was about 7.3. The worms at my anglefish's vent are gone, and perhaps this some evidnce that the drug is effective at Ph higher than 7.0......

 

[WILDER]

If the fish are really infested with them they should becoming out in loads.

 

[newfishaddict]

If the fish are really infested with them they should becoming out in loads.

I have read that"If the fish are really infested with them they should becoming out in loads.", I suspect my fish in my 29g are not heavily infested. Shame that I lost my barb as I suspect there was nothing wrong with him....I suspect my young rainbows in my 55g are the only fish that are heavily infested...

I cant see any worms in the tanks, the worms at the vents of my angelfish and my rainbowfish are gone, and that is all I have seen happen. My rainbowfish have HUGE white mucusy poops comming out of their vents (anus).....

 

[WILDER]

Thats a good sign as that the parasites as well.

 

[newfishaddict]

Thats a good sign as that the parasites as well.

Sorry, I dont get you here, perhaps a typo?

 

[WILDER]

The long mucas poops that a good sign as that the parasites.

Abit more info for you, not the author of this information below.
ENDOPARASITES Nematodes, especially Camallanus which has a direct and indirect life cycle can occasionally cause problems. Usually introduced with live aquatic foods such as tubifex worms, numbers can build up rapidly in aquaria.Some fish will appear to bulge they carry so many worms.Diagnosed by typical ascarid eggs in faeces, or at post-mortem. Capillaria can be a problem in discus - signs include mucoid faeces and weight loss. Typical Capillarial eggs in faeces. Cestodes are usually of little significance in aquaria. The typical indirect lifecycles of these parasites cannot be sustained in captivity. Occasinally encysted stages in the muscle or body cavity may need attending to.

 

[newfishaddict]

The long mucas poops that a good sign as that the parasites.

Ok then there are many of these worms in the 55g tank. They are so small ,and with my lights off to keep the Ph down, I could see them before. I could see the ones at the vents of rainbowfish but I turned on the lights and I can see some worms in the water and on the substrate. There are not many, I saw one in the water, apparently dead (not moving at all) , and there are "mucusy filamentous strings" on one area of my driftwood....this looks like more dead worms.....

Icant see any in the 29g, I suspect my angel is the only fish with these worms in my 29g...I hope also....

 

[WILDER]

Sounds good, maybe tomorrow vac the dead worms out of the tank, good luck.