Camallanus Worms?

[meguro]

My angelfish have thin red worm like things protruding from the anus. Would this be camallanus worms? I haven't noticed the same thing in any of my other fish does this mean they haven't spread? Or just not showing symptoms?

What is a good treatment for these worms if they are what's wrong with my fish? I'm in nsw australia if that helps.

 

[nmonks]

You need an anti-helminth medication. In most parts of the world, this will require a trip to your local vet.

Historically Levamisole, Piperazine and Praziquantel were often recommended, but they don't work at all reliably, and Fenbendazole and Flubendazole are now recommended as being much more reliable. Some aquarists have used dog worming tablets, but this is a risky approach and I wouldn't recommend it. There are aquarium-specific medications available, for example in the UK "Fluke M Koi Treatment" or "Discus Wormer Plus", but you may or may not have access to these in Australia. Whichever medication you use, remember to follow the instructions, dose correctly, and remove carbon (if used) from your filter.

Yes, Camallanus will cause health to decline over time, and yes, Camallanus worms can infect other fish in your aquarium. This needs to be treated, promptly.

For what it's worth, Camallanus worms are particularly common among certain types of farmed fish, angelfish and livebearers in particular seem to be very widely infected by them. You may want to complain to your retailer, as this is something retailers can do much to prevent. Properly quarantining new livestock and sourcing from good rather than cheap fish farms are both critical issues.

Cheers, Neale

 

[lamujerlinda]

You need an anti-helminth medication. In most parts of the world, this will require a trip to your local vet.

Historically Levamisole, Piperazine and Praziquantel were often recommended, but they don't work at all reliably, and Fenbendazole and Flubendazole are now recommended as being much more reliable. Some aquarists have used dog worming tablets, but this is a risky approach and I wouldn't recommend it. There are aquarium-specific medications available, for example in the UK "Fluke M Koi Treatment" or "Discus Wormer Plus", but you may or may not have access to these in Australia. Whichever medication you use, remember to follow the instructions, dose correctly, and remove carbon (if used) from your filter.

Yes, Camallanus will cause health to decline over time, and yes, Camallanus worms can infect other fish in your aquarium. This needs to be treated, promptly.

For what it's worth, Camallanus worms are particularly common among certain types of farmed fish, angelfish and livebearers in particular seem to be very widely infected by them. You may want to complain to your retailer, as this is something retailers can do much to prevent. Properly quarantining new livestock and sourcing from good rather than cheap fish farms are both critical issues.

Cheers, Neale

But how do they appear. Does it only happen when introducing infected fish to the community tank without quarantining them? I have lost several fish to this illnes.

 

[nmonks]

Mostly, it's aquarists themselves who buy and introduce Camallanus infected fish into their tanks.

Camallanus have an indirect life cycle. Typically the mature Camallanus produces larvae that are consumed by tiny crustaceans in the aquarium, and then the Camallanus larvae somehow leave the crustacean and get into the fish, perhaps when the crustacean is eaten by that fish.

Prevention comes down to making sure infected fish are isolated from healthy fish, and that crustacean foods such as daphnia are not used if there's any risk those crustaceans were collected somewhere that fish live. Brine shrimp, incidentally, will be perfectly safe because they live in hypersaline waters where there are no fish.

Cheers, Neale

But how do they appear. Does it only happen when introducing infected fish to the community tank without quarantining them? I have lost several fish to this illnes.

 

[lamujerlinda]

Mostly, it's aquarists themselves who buy and introduce Camallanus infected fish into their tanks.

Camallanus have an indirect life cycle. Typically the mature Camallanus produces larvae that are consumed by tiny crustaceans in the aquarium, and then the Camallanus larvae somehow leave the crustacean and get into the fish, perhaps when the crustacean is eaten by that fish.

Prevention comes down to making sure infected fish are isolated from healthy fish, and that crustacean foods such as daphnia are not used if there's any risk those crustaceans were collected somewhere that fish live. Brine shrimp, incidentally, will be perfectly safe because they live in hypersaline waters where there are no fish.

Cheers, Neale

But how do they appear. Does it only happen when introducing infected fish to the community tank without quarantining them? I have lost several fish to this illnes.

I only feed my fish nutrafin max complete flake food. The babies eat their baby fish formula and baby brine shrimp... Thats all I feed them

 

[nmonks]

If it's livebearers or cichlids with the worms, it's very likely that you bought infected fish.

As I've stated here and elsewhere, it is very important to buy good quality fish, and then to quarantine them carefully afterwards.

Cheers, Neale

I only feed my fish nutrafin max complete flake food. The babies eat their baby fish formula and baby brine shrimp... Thats all I feed them

 

[meguro]

Thanks for the responses. I'll see what my vet has to say (no idea if they even do fish, most don't...). Otherwise I might have to just try levamisole, fenbendazole, flubendazole etc. from other animal worming products. I assume things like sheep, pig, poultry etc. de-wormers would be safe provided I check the ingredients/active ingredients etc. carefully and dose appropriately? As doing a google has yielded results where other people have had success with non-fish worming medications.

Also, is there some sort of time period for treatment before it's too late? As I think they've probably had them for quite some time now. All my fish are still readily accepting food.