Nematodes/roundworm ?

[ou7shined]

Wilder you absolute bloody star. You've nailed 'em!
Reading through all the links you kindly provided only confirms that these are indeed Camallanus. For example (apart from the dead ringer in the pic ) the 2 fish I have that suffered then survived this outbreak both have a small indentation around the anus where the tissue had been destroyed then healed over and when my old male betta died all the tissue around his anus was festering. Also cheers for the heads up about pulling the blighters out of the fish, I must admit I was feeling tempted.

Treatment:

Treat with Internal Parasite Guard, Pipzine, Disco-Worm, Trichlorfon or Fluke-Tabs as well as a medicated food to prevent a bacterial infection.

Can you suggest where I might get the treatments you listed. I've done a quick search but it just keeps coming up with agricultural suppliers for sheep and what-nots so dosage would be a nightmare. BUt if you could point me in the direction of an aquarists supplier that would be great. I think I'll be worth phoning my local vet on Monday to see if he can provide me with some Levamisole as suggested in those American links but I don't hold out much hope.

 

[WILDER]

Levamisole is the best med on the market for these evil parasites, they are very hard to cure, and it's a pig worming tablet, don't no your location so its hard to no what to suggest for treatment.

 

[ou7shined]

I'm in Aberdeen, there's not really an over abundance of pigs round here . However, my mum lives in the country so I'll get her to ask her vet.

 

[WILDER]

It's the best bet as they isn't no meds in the uk for internal parasites, some use hole in the head meds, but don't no how good it is, good luck.

 

[WendyinWichita]

I went through a round of these buggers myself in two of my tanks. I found Levamisole quite easily at the local feed store (where I buy grain, and other products for my horses). On the shelf right next to the horse dewormers was Levamisole Hydrochloride, soluble pig wormer by Durvet, a small bit of powder in a 1/2 liter sized container, it was around $12 US dollars.

I hydrated it as directed to make the liquid and somewhere online I found the dose, for me 1 tsp per 10 US gallons. I did not do a beginning water change (as some sites suggested) but did do a 50% water change every other day with the addition of a full dose of med. (not just the dose of the amount of water I took out) I did not gravel vac (as suggested) at each of the water changes because my tanks are fully planted and pretty impossible to vac without stripping the tank. I did that for three cycles and had amazing results.

I have Amano shrimp in one of the tanks and they all survived. Both of the tanks infested are fully planted and I did get an outbreak of algea, the med must have had some affect on the plants themselves so I am dealing with that now.

I know there are "pill" or bolus forms of the med, but they are not very water soluble so try to find the version that is "hydrochloride" because it is very easy to work with.

Good Luck, and keep all of those fish together because they will spread the parasite!

 

[WILDER]

http/www.animalmedics.co.uk/category.asp?CatID=6

 

[ou7shined]

Thanks a lot guys, you're being most helpful.
WendyinWichita : how long did you treat for the nematodes, did you have to do a follow-up a few weeks later to take into account their life cycle or did the Levamisole blitz them first time?