Medication For Internal Parasites?

[Xanthous]

Having trouble with keeping what I think to be internal parasites. Here's what I see with my fish.

-Once I see symtoms, about a week before death
-Clear/White Poop
-Very Aggressive right before death.
-Tails seem to be closed.
-Blueish/Cloudy like spots on fish.
-Shyness most of the time.

Okay, so here are some water test (10/08/09)

_Tap Water_
Nitrate: 3

_Tank_
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10

Fish in the tank: (55 Gallon)

2 Angels
10 Danios
5 Clown Loaches
5 Swordtails (Infected)
5 Cory Catfish

So I'll be perfectly honest because I want to fix the problem. The gravel hasn't been cleaned since it was set-up (6 months) I have a python but don't have the correct adapter yet. Last water change was 1 month ago (50%). I know what I'm "supposed" to do to keep the tank healthy...and I guess I will do water changes every week (25%) or so, can't hurt.

I was wondering if there was any medication I could use or anything else to rid my swordtails of whatever they have, I've already lost 3, tysm.

If you have any other questions, I'll be keeping track and fill those in.

 

[Xanthous]

So I was looking through the A-Z medications (very helpful btw) and found a product called "Flubenol 15"? Supposed to kill internal parasites.

You think I could find that at maybe a petsmart/petco?

I'm not even 100% sure they have this, so...just an idea, thanks.

 

[WILDER]

Sounds like an external parasite to me.

Do the fish have a blueish greyish film on them. Not spots.
Any signs of darting, erratic swimming, exess mucas, flicking and rubbing, labour breathing or gasping, sores or red streaking.

Signs of internal parasites are long stringy white poo or clear mucas poo. Or red poo.
Worms prutruding from the anus.
Enlarged anus or red inflamed anus.
Fish will look skinny or bloated.
Sunken in belly.
Bent spine.
Fish will sometimes swim on its side.

You need to buy a gravel vac and get the substrate in the tank hoovered.
How big are the clown loaches.


Flubenol is only available in the uk now from a vet.

Chilodonella



Symptoms:

The skin and gills become discolored, taking on an opaque, bluish-white to gray coloration. The area between the head and dorsal fin is generally the most severely affected. In advanced cases skin begins to swell, eventually shredding and falling off in strips. Gills are also affected and may be completely destroyed. Clamped fins, listlessness, hanging at the surface and gasping may also be seen. The fish may rub or scrape against objects in the aquarium in an attempt to relieve irritation.



Cause:

The ciliate Chilodonella cyprini. These heart-shaped parasites, at a size of 40 to 60 microns, are not visible to the naked eye. The parasites are able to swim freely, spreading easily from fish to fish. Reproduction occurs by asexual division.



Treatment:

Highly infectious and able to kill in great numbers, Chilodonella may very well be the most dangerous skin parasite there is. Overcrowding increases the risk of infection. Acriflavin Plus, Malachite Green, Paraform, Quick Cure or Formalin are the drugs of choice for Chilodonella. All fish as well as the aquarium they inhabit should be treated.

 

[Xanthous]

Do the fish have a blueish greyish film on them. Not spots. Yes, on some (in patches)
Any signs of darting Not noticed
erratic swimming Not noticed
exess mucas define?
flicking and rubbing not noticed.
labour breathing or gasping not noticed.
sores not noticed
red streaking define?

Signs of internal parasites are long stringy white poo or clear mucas poo. Or red poo. idk about stringy? but definitely not solid brown like it should be, white or clear.
Worms prutruding from the anus. not noticed
Enlarged anus or red inflamed anus. not noticed
Fish will look skinny or bloated. not noticed
Sunken in belly. not noticed
Bent spine. not noticed
Fish will sometimes swim on its side. not noticed

You need to buy a gravel vac and get the substrate in the tank hoovered.
How big are the clown loaches. 5"

Most of these I haven't seen...What really sticks out me is:

-Grey/Blue patches on fish
-Aggression before death
-Hiding
-Clamped Fins
-White/Clear Poop.

Thank you very much for responding. Btw, nitrate is at 10, not 0, sorry.

 

[Tolak]

Hiding & white clear feces are two out of three for internal protizoans, the third being refusal to eat. Get some metronidazole, Hex-A-Mit is one, Seachem makes a product called Metroplex, this should be readily available or easily ordered by any shop that carries Seachem Products.

Set up a medication tank, as you will be increasing the temperature as well as changing water daily. You want to turn the temperature up to the upper range for the species, around 84F should be good for swords. Medicate daily with 40mg/gallon, after a daily 50% water change. Understand that warmer water holds less O2, make sure there is plenty of surface motion.

If the fish are still eating, sprinkle a bit of metro on some frozen brine shrimp, feed this only, once daily. If they are not eating wait for about 3 days, having the higher temp & meds in the water should increase metabolism, thus appetite.

Continue with this for 10-14 days.

 

[Xanthous]

Thanks for the reply...so do you think this is it? I just want to make sure if I buy something, it has a good chance to work.

 

[plecostomus-mad]

i hope you get it all sorted bud but please, for the fishes sake, clean regularly, water change when required and hoover the substrate.clean tank = happy healthy fish

i noticed alot of your answers where ''not noticed ''is that, you didnt really see much difference or didnt notice because you dont spend much time watching them?

 

[Xanthous]

i hope you get it all sorted bud but please, for the fishes sake, clean regularly, water change when required and hoover the substrate.clean tank = happy healthy fish

Will do. I've really been busy lately, but I'm definitely going to get my python working, that's a must. Will make everything 5x easier.

noticed alot of your answers where ''not noticed ''is that, you didnt really see much difference or didnt notice because you dont spend much time watching them?

No, I definitely take time to watch them/feed them everyday...probably spend about 4-5 minutes/day. I put not noticed because I thought it could be possible, but I still spend a decent amount of time there and don't see it happening. For just about everything I put not noticed for, I'm about 80-90% sure it isn't happening.

 

[plecostomus-mad]

i hope you get it all sorted bud but please, for the fishes sake, clean regularly, water change when required and hoover the substrate.clean tank = happy healthy fish

Will do. I've really been busy lately, but I'm definitely going to get my python woring, that's a must. Will make everything 5x easier.

it will indeed! ive got my water change, water treatment and gravel clean down to 15mins. i dont rush but ive got into the routine now happy fish keeping and hope all is well soon.

No, I definitely take time to watch them/feed them everyday...probably spend about 4-5 minutes/day. I put not noticed because I thought it could be possible, but I still spend a decent amount of time there and don't see it happening. For just about everything I put not noticed for, I'm about 80-90% sure it isn't happening.

just wanted to make sure

 

[Tolak]

Thanks for the reply...so do you think this is it? I just want to make sure if I buy something, it has a good chance to work.

That's what I would do if it were my fish. This is more common in cichlids, and getting mostly cichlids shipped in it is one of the few meds I keep on hand. Hexamita or spironucleus are a common protizoan found in the digestive tract of many fish, and when kept in check by the fish's immune system are not a problem.

When stress occurs, which lowers the immune response, they can get out of control. In your case more maintenance is in order, water changes & gravel vacs. In my case it's a bit more difficult, shipping stresses fish, being acclimated to different water parameters, different diet, it all plays into causing stress.

 

[Xanthous]

How much does the medication cost?

 

[Tolak]

http/www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18439/si1380549/cl0/seachemmetronidazole5grams Add $8.99 for shipping. This is good for a small amount.

http/www.nationalfishpharm.com/products3.html Last time I ordered 50 grams set me back $34.47.

If you can get the Seachem product through a shop cheaper than $15 by all means do so.

 

[Xanthous]

How many grams will I need?

Is the probably source dirty gravel/water?

 

[Tolak]

It depends on the tank you plan on medicating them in. One gram is 1,000mg, so the smaller 5 gram tube is 5,000mg.

At 40mg/gallon you would be using 400mg per dose in a 10 gallon tank. That would give you 12 doses in the water. If you go with 10 doses, or 10 days in that size tank you will have enough left over for the food.

Dirty conditions will cause stress, which can cause this to happen. This is very common in larger cichlids, which are generally messy fish, requiring maintenance & filtration well beyond the usual community tank.

 

[Xanthous]

It depends on the tank you plan on medicating them in. One gram is 1,000mg, so the smaller 5 gram tube is 5,000mg.

At 40mg/gallon you would be using 400mg per dose in a 10 gallon tank. That would give you 12 doses in the water. If you go with 10 doses, or 10 days in that size tank you will have enough left over for the food.

Dirty conditions will cause stress, which can cause this to happen. This is very common in larger cichlids, which are generally messy fish, requiring maintenance & filtration well beyond the usual community tank.

I'm not sure I completely understand how the medication works. Does it go in the water? or on the food? I planned on quarantining the fish I thought were infected and put them in my cycled 10 gallon. Thanks