Ember Tetras Losing Weight

[LauraFrog]

6 gallon tank with really strong filtration, water changes 50%/week. 8 ember tetras, 2 pgymy corys and some tiny shrimp. (Yeah, I know it's overstocked but the stats are perfect and I've never had a problem with it.)
Ammonia and nitrite 0, nitrate 10 or slightly less.

I got the ember tetras about a month ago, I was thrilled because I have never been able to get them, they are hard to find. They settled in very well and are feeding well on NewLife Spectrum Optimum flake (can't get them to take small fish formula, they try but it's just too big for them.)

I've noticed that a few of them are losing weight, reminds me a lot of the internal parasite issues I've had with livebearers so I'm pretty sure the issue is intestinal worms - I can possibly get photos.

Usually if I had a tank with intestinal worms I'd just shove some praziquantel in it and forget about it, problem solved. But I'm worried about the shrimp. Does anybody know if the praziquantel will harm them? I really hope it won't because catching either the tetras or the shrimp out of a tank that small is insanity - I'll have to uproot all the plants and embers REALLY don't like being moved.

Can anybody help me?

Thanks

 

[WILDER]

If you use the med with the shrimp in the tank there a chance you could lose them.

 

[LauraFrog]

Ah, crap....

What do you suggest? Try and get the tetras out?

 

[WILDER]

You need to treat the whole tank if you suspect internal parasites.
Its really best to remove the strimp, as the corys need medicating too.

 

[LauraFrog]

Ugh... this will be fun. There's about six or eight of them in there and they are tiny and really fast.
It WOULD be that tank, wouldn't it.... lol

I'm surprised it's taken this long for the tetras to show symptoms actually, 2 wks quarantine they were fine and eating like pigs. Some of them are STILL plump and healthy and eating like pigs... well, they're all eating like pigs but two of them are way too skinny. Guess I'm gonna have to haul the shrimp out then. (Back in 8 hours, soaked to the skin and filthy.... lol)

Should I reduce the dose of prazi for the corys or full strength?

 

[WILDER]

What ingredients are in the med. You should really use full dose of the med for it to be affective.
Fish can get internal parasites by just sucking another fish poo up.