Need A Good External Parasite Medication

[DiscusKeeper403]

Hey guys,

Let me give you a little information:

Tank: 55 gallon
Inhabitants: 5 Discus, 5 Red eye tetra, planted.
Water stats: Ph 7.5, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0
Symptoms: Flicking against objects, finicky at times.
Suspect: large amounts of Planaria
Tank maintenance: 20 percent water change once everyday (depending on my schedule I might miss a day)


Okay so, I have been adding salt to see if I could make the Planaria problem go away. I have also started to clean the filter every week (which I thought was the food source)

So far it isn't really working, and I'm stumped as to why I have it in the first place.

I'm not sure, as someone also told me it could be flukes, but I don't see any on the fish, and the gills aren't red and don't look irritated. I also say the Planaria on the body of one of my Discus yesterday, and I think this is turning into a small problem. So, what medication should I use? Agian, I don't want anything that will mess with the bacteria colony. Thanks,

DL

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Try Jungle Parasite Clear;

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/JUNGLE-PARASITE-CLEA...VQQcmdZViewItem

I've used to kill of flukes in the past with success and it doesn't harm the biological filtration in the tank either .

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Great! I think we carry that at the store, but if not, got any others?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Great! I think we carry that at the store, but if not, got any others?

Unfortunately i don't know of any others that are likely to be sold where you live, the only other i know of is "anti velvet and slime" by Interpet which is also good for killing off flukes and doesn't harm biological filtration but i don't think it is sold where you live in the world .

 

[Angel_Queen]

Discuslova, was your nitrAte stats a typo?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Discuslova, was your nitrAte stats a typo?

No.


I came home with some Aquari-Sol. Anyone used this?


http/www.aquariumguys.com/aquarisol4oz.html


It said on the package it is Ideal for treating sensitive species of fish, so I thought it would be good, considering it's the Discus.

 

[fry_lover]

Flukes wont necessarily be visible to the naked eye by the way

Consider Flubenol if you have any suspicion it might be flukes, i speak from experience on this matter, its a long story to do with livebearers

Waterlife Sterazin is also an option for you, considering the symptoms

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Okay, but will the stuff I got work? I don't think it is flukes, someone on the forum told me it may be. As I said, I think it's just the Planaria.

 

[fry_lover]

i have cut and paste this from google

Treatment
The chemical Flubendazole 5% is very effective against planaria used at 1-2 mg/L of water. Pre-dissolve the powder in a container with some aquarium water, and then pour it in the aquarium.

I believe Flubendazole is the active ingredient of Flubenol but you will need to confirm this for yourself.

As for your meds, i checked the link, perhaps i am being pessimistic for no sound scientific reason BUT, the med concerned me for 2 reasons........ it treats "mild ick" as in white-spot, never heard a med refer to "mild" white spot before, i know there are different types and some more resiliant strains, but whats the med saying..."it can cure white spot maybe?" just makes me a bit dubious

Its good it lists its active ingredient (copper), but it is only ONE active ingredient, most anti parasite meds use atleast x2 types of active ingredient, whether this means for the better i dont know

 

[Tolak]

The prazi in the jungle tabs should take care of it. Any med with copper sulfate will kill all invertibrates, which planaria are. Mardel coppersafe is a common one, use half the dose for planaria, it doesn't take much to kill them. It will kill any invertibrates, including snails. It also kills algae, and concentrates in it, so if you have any algae eating fish such as plecs or ottos you will want to move them is there is any amount of algae.

Planaria is often caused by overfeeding. This is something I encounter occasionally, and use copper. Below a gH of 50 it will affect the fish adversly, so if you have softer water use caution.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

The prazi in the jungle tabs should take care of it. Any med with copper sulfate will kill all invertibrates, which planaria are. Mardel coppersafe is a common one, use half the dose for planaria, it doesn't take much to kill them. It will kill any invertibrates, including snails. It also kills algae, and concentrates in it, so if you have any algae eating fish such as plecs or ottos you will want to move them is there is any amount of algae.

Planaria is often caused by overfeeding. This is something I encounter occasionally, and use copper. Below a gH of 50 it will affect the fish adversly, so if you have softer water use caution.

Thanks! I don't think my water is soft. The Ph is around 7.5, and normally ph and hardness go hand in hand (in most cases.)

The active ingredient in this medicine is copper. So I will half dose.

Thanks,

DL