Clbrtwewill
Fish Fanatic
I posted originally in (I think) mid-November, when I found red thread-like worms protruding from my angel fish's anus. I originally didn't spell the problem right but it was camallanus worms, which are not easily treated by any medication purchased in a LFS or even farm and garden store. I spent hours trying to locate a drug called Levamisole HcL because with help here that's what was determined would help.
I ordered 5 grams of a powdered form of it from someone on the web and received it while I was at college an hour away. I have two cycled tanks and just move my fish back and forth; but they're at home between Thanksgiving & holiday break because there are only two weeks between. I brought the angel back with me in a 2.5 gallon starter tank, figuring I'd either find the meds or I would dispose of it when it passed (it didn't eat the entire time it was sick or when it was treated).
Five grams of levamisole powder treats 100 gallons of aquarium water. So, 1:20, 1/2:10, 1/4:5 and I figured 1/8:2.5 I had no way to measure 1/8 of a gram at college so I just treated the tank with a small amount of it. The fish appeared to spasm for several days and when I did the first water change the worms were still there, still red.
The second treatment went similarly; I kept the light off both times and covered the tank with a blanket because from what I read the medication is somewhat light-sensitive and the fish was panicking (from the treatment) and from anything it saw moving outside of the tank.
I did a second water change and then brought my angel fish home; all of the worms are gone, the sore where they were protruding from is gone, and the fish is eating again.
It is now about 3/4 the size of the other angel fish and the larger one is picking on the smaller one now. That never happened before. I may end up having to sell one of them on Craigslist but will keep an eye on them for the time being.
I just wanted to say thanks for the help, and if you're faced with this nematode, levamisole is probably your best option!!
I ordered 5 grams of a powdered form of it from someone on the web and received it while I was at college an hour away. I have two cycled tanks and just move my fish back and forth; but they're at home between Thanksgiving & holiday break because there are only two weeks between. I brought the angel back with me in a 2.5 gallon starter tank, figuring I'd either find the meds or I would dispose of it when it passed (it didn't eat the entire time it was sick or when it was treated).
Five grams of levamisole powder treats 100 gallons of aquarium water. So, 1:20, 1/2:10, 1/4:5 and I figured 1/8:2.5 I had no way to measure 1/8 of a gram at college so I just treated the tank with a small amount of it. The fish appeared to spasm for several days and when I did the first water change the worms were still there, still red.
The second treatment went similarly; I kept the light off both times and covered the tank with a blanket because from what I read the medication is somewhat light-sensitive and the fish was panicking (from the treatment) and from anything it saw moving outside of the tank.
I did a second water change and then brought my angel fish home; all of the worms are gone, the sore where they were protruding from is gone, and the fish is eating again.
It is now about 3/4 the size of the other angel fish and the larger one is picking on the smaller one now. That never happened before. I may end up having to sell one of them on Craigslist but will keep an eye on them for the time being.
I just wanted to say thanks for the help, and if you're faced with this nematode, levamisole is probably your best option!!
