My guppy has worms

[Atmosphere123]

I’ve just noticed one of my guppies has some of what I believe to be Camallanus worms ive watched a few YouTube videos and they all seem to recommend API General Cure, however I can’t seem to find it for sale in the UK. Does anyone know any alternative worming medications that are effective? I have included some pictures just incase my diagnosis is wrong, thanks

 

[On_a_dishy]

Following a thread on here about these worms that was like something out of a horror film, I've just ordered:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B012WKCRTM/?tag=
It says it treats roundworms but when I looked for more information it also mentioned "It Works Against Parasitic Nematodes Like Anisakis Camallanus, Capillaria, Pseudocapillaria, Eustrongylids, Oxyurids E.a. This Product Also Kills Planaria And Non-parasitic Nematode Worms."
No idea if it works, but the reviews are good!

 

[Essjay]

API General Cure isn't available in the UK as it contains metronidazole which is only available on prescription.

For camallanus worms you need levamisole (eSHa-ndx)
For tape worms you need praziquantel (eSHa gdex)
Or flubendazole which treats both (NT Labs Anti Fluke & Wormer)

 

[Colin_T]

I’ve just noticed one of my guppies has some of what I believe to be Camallanus worms ive watched a few YouTube videos and they all seem to recommend API General Cure, however I can’t seem to find it for sale in the UK. Does anyone know any alternative worming medications that are effective? I have included some pictures just incase my diagnosis is wrong, thanks

Yes, your fish have Camallanus (thread/ round) worms.

Feed the fish more often for the next month so they can grow some more blood and hopefully not die from lack of blood while you are treating them.

Intestinal Worms like tapeworm and threadworms cause the fish to lose weight, continue eating and swimming normally, and do a stringy white poop. Fish can do this for months and not be too badly affected. In some cases, fish with a bad worm infestation will actually gain weight and get fat and look like a pregnant guppy. This is due to the huge number of worms inside the fish.

Livebearers like guppies, mollies, swordtails & platies are regularly infected with gill flukes and intestinal worms.

You can use Praziquantel to treat tapeworm and gill flukes. And Levamisole to treat thread/ round worms. If you can't find these medications, look for Flubendazole, which treats both lots of worms.

In the UK look for:
eSHa gdex contains praziquantel that treats tapeworm and gill flukes.
eSHa-ndx contains levamisole and treats thread/ round worms.
NT Labs Anti-fluke and Wormer contains flubendazole.

Remove carbon from filters before treatment and increase aeration/ surface turbulence to maximise oxygen levels in the water.

You treat the fish once a week for 4 weeks. The first treatment will kill any worms in the fish. The second, third and forth treatments kill any baby worms that hatch from eggs inside the fish's digestive tract.

Treat every fish tank in the house at the same time to prevent cross contamination.

You do a 75% water change and complete gravel clean 24-48 hours after treatment. Clean the filter 24 hours after treatment too.

Do not use the 2 medications together. If you want to treat both medications in a short space of time, use Praziquantel on day one. Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate on day 2 & 3. Treat the tank with Levamisole on day 4 and do a 75% water change and gravel clean on day 5, 6 & 7 and then start with Praziquantel again on day 8.

The water changes will remove most of the medication so you don't overdose the fish the next time you treat them. The gravel cleaning will suck out any worms and eggs that have been expelled by the fish. Repeating the treatment for 3-4 doses at weekly intervals will kill any worms that hatch from eggs. At the end of the treatment you will have healthier fish.

 

[Atmosphere123]

Thanks for all the info I found another fish with the worms so I have ordered some eSHa-ndx to be able to combat this in the future but it won’t arrive for another 6 days. I took the two fish and a water sample to the shop to see if they could recommend anything to treat them with that I could get instantly and they took the fish back and very kindly gave me a 20ml bottle of ‘AquaCare anti-fluke and wormer’ to try out on my tanks and have offered to replace the fish free of charge when the treatment is done and my tank is worm free.

 

[Essjay]

Maidenhead Aquatics website says that it contains flubendazole, so that with treat both camallanus worms and tapeworms.


That's another med to add to the list, Colin.



(Actually, as MA doesn't make it's own products I suspect that "AquaCare Anti Fluke and Wormer" may well be "NT Labs Anti Fluke and Wormer" with MA's own label on it).

 

[robrofox]

If you are in the UK, you can go to fenbenlab.com. It's a site that sells fenbendazole-based preparations for deworming birds, animals, and fish. It's effective against worms in all kinds of animals. We have also cured Camallanus in our pet fish. We noticed a change in her health due to her bloated stomach. At first, we thought it was just gas, but then we noticed worms in her feces. I suggest you see a specialist and ask them about fenbendazole. I'm sure they will give you permission to use it and lead you to the same site.