Aphotic Phoenix
Fish Addict
This journal is currently a work in progress detailing my treatment against one of the most dreaded aquarium parasites. Hopefully it may prove useful to others in the future.
What is Camallanus sp.?
A livebearing parasitic nematode (worm) that infects host fish via digestion of an intermediate host such as copepods. Once introduced to the fishes digestive system the Camallanus worm(s) firmly attaches itself to the intestinal tract of the infected fish growing for several months until the worm has reached sexual maturity, after which it will proceed to move down the intestinal tract until it can protrude from the anus to allow the release of larve.
Diagnosing Camallanus sp.
Initial signs may be slight swelling of the abdomen or loss of appetite, but many fish will show no signs or systems and may even continue to spawn until the worms reach such a length as to become visible as small red "threads" protruding from the anal vent. The anus of the fish may become red/swollen. Worms may distend when the host is stationary, and retract when moving.
Why it is so dangerous?
- Due to the length of time it can take for visible symptoms to be present this parasitic infection easily passes through most quarantine periods
- larvae can easily be transmitted through multiple tanks via shared equipment such as nets, spyhons...even splashes or wet hands!
- Due to the way these parasites attach themselves to the intestinal tract there is a high risk of internal hemorrhage and secondary bacterial infection to the host.
- Deceased, unpassed worms can cause death of the host by decomposing in the intestinal tract and/or causing impactions.
- Unaffected by most common anti-parasitic medications, and increasingly resistant to anti-nematodal treatments.
Treatment Used
Levamisole Hydrochloride - a livestock dewormer that works by causing paralysis in the worms and larve. Has no detrimental effects on biological filter, invertebrates, or live plants. Suggested dosage is 2 mg/L of the active ingredient Levamisole. Levamisole is light sensitive so UV filters should be turned off, and like most medications will be removed by activated carbon. For a more indepth look at Levamisole Hydrochloride as a nemotodal parasite treatment please visit: http/www.loaches.com/disease-treatment/l...hydrochloride-1
Journal of Treatment
Day 1 - Two red hair-thin 1.5 mm protrusions were observed in the anal vent of the Keyhole Cichlid. Fish displayed normal eating habits, and no other indications of illness. No other fish displaying symptoms.
Day 2 & 3 - Observation and research continued. Some dark edging and dark flecks noted on the dorsal / anal fins of the affected fish.
Day 4 - Purchased 1 packet of Prohibit (tm) Levamisole Hydrochloride at a local farm "co-op" for the price of $20 USD. Prohibit is a water soluble "drench" designed for Cattle/Sheep... you can imagine my hesitation when thinking about treating my fish tank with something designed for 800 lbs. animals! Proceeded to prepare a dosage of approx. 0.3 grams for my 28G tank. Powder dissolves almost instantly. Dumped in tank along with several roughage treats to encourage "passing" of the worms.
Observations:
- Worms appeared to retract initially, but after a few hours began to slowly be expelled.
- Fish showed some minor signs of agitation...increased schooling, increased aggression, and known parasite carrying fish showed increased jumpiness and hiding, but no signs of serious distress (no stress discolorations, lethargy, loss of appetite, or gasping at the surface). Due to my experience I would highly recommend observing more aggressive fish just in case separation may be required.
Day 5 - Performed an ~80% water change to help remove the medication and to very throughly vacuum the substrate. Affected fish had already passed one of the worms, and I gently assisted the removal of the second before replacing the fish in the tank. Please note that this prob. isn't a recommended procedure (and you should never attempt to remove them without treatment first as this can cause severe internal damage to the fish), but since Levamisole is not an ovicide I didn't want to risk having a mature worm present in the tank dead or not.
Day 6 (Sep. 14, 07) - Fish still seem slightly more skittish than normal but all fish are eating normally and showing good colors. Affected fish still has slight discoloration in spots on the dorsal and anal fins, but is showing no other ill effects. Some studies have shown Levamisole to have an immune boosting effect on fish (and some other animals) that previously had depressed levels of immuno response...thus why I have decided to delay use of activated carbon to remove the remaining traces until the full treatment regimen has been completed.
***Update Oct 16***
Completed two subsequent treatments over the following two weeks. No harm was observed to the biological filter, invertebrates, plants, etc. Currently no sign of reoccurance.
What is Camallanus sp.?
A livebearing parasitic nematode (worm) that infects host fish via digestion of an intermediate host such as copepods. Once introduced to the fishes digestive system the Camallanus worm(s) firmly attaches itself to the intestinal tract of the infected fish growing for several months until the worm has reached sexual maturity, after which it will proceed to move down the intestinal tract until it can protrude from the anus to allow the release of larve.
Diagnosing Camallanus sp.
Initial signs may be slight swelling of the abdomen or loss of appetite, but many fish will show no signs or systems and may even continue to spawn until the worms reach such a length as to become visible as small red "threads" protruding from the anal vent. The anus of the fish may become red/swollen. Worms may distend when the host is stationary, and retract when moving.
Why it is so dangerous?
- Due to the length of time it can take for visible symptoms to be present this parasitic infection easily passes through most quarantine periods
- larvae can easily be transmitted through multiple tanks via shared equipment such as nets, spyhons...even splashes or wet hands!
- Due to the way these parasites attach themselves to the intestinal tract there is a high risk of internal hemorrhage and secondary bacterial infection to the host.
- Deceased, unpassed worms can cause death of the host by decomposing in the intestinal tract and/or causing impactions.
- Unaffected by most common anti-parasitic medications, and increasingly resistant to anti-nematodal treatments.
Treatment Used
Levamisole Hydrochloride - a livestock dewormer that works by causing paralysis in the worms and larve. Has no detrimental effects on biological filter, invertebrates, or live plants. Suggested dosage is 2 mg/L of the active ingredient Levamisole. Levamisole is light sensitive so UV filters should be turned off, and like most medications will be removed by activated carbon. For a more indepth look at Levamisole Hydrochloride as a nemotodal parasite treatment please visit: http/www.loaches.com/disease-treatment/l...hydrochloride-1
Journal of Treatment
Day 1 - Two red hair-thin 1.5 mm protrusions were observed in the anal vent of the Keyhole Cichlid. Fish displayed normal eating habits, and no other indications of illness. No other fish displaying symptoms.
Day 2 & 3 - Observation and research continued. Some dark edging and dark flecks noted on the dorsal / anal fins of the affected fish.
Day 4 - Purchased 1 packet of Prohibit (tm) Levamisole Hydrochloride at a local farm "co-op" for the price of $20 USD. Prohibit is a water soluble "drench" designed for Cattle/Sheep... you can imagine my hesitation when thinking about treating my fish tank with something designed for 800 lbs. animals! Proceeded to prepare a dosage of approx. 0.3 grams for my 28G tank. Powder dissolves almost instantly. Dumped in tank along with several roughage treats to encourage "passing" of the worms.
Observations:
- Worms appeared to retract initially, but after a few hours began to slowly be expelled.
- Fish showed some minor signs of agitation...increased schooling, increased aggression, and known parasite carrying fish showed increased jumpiness and hiding, but no signs of serious distress (no stress discolorations, lethargy, loss of appetite, or gasping at the surface). Due to my experience I would highly recommend observing more aggressive fish just in case separation may be required.
Day 5 - Performed an ~80% water change to help remove the medication and to very throughly vacuum the substrate. Affected fish had already passed one of the worms, and I gently assisted the removal of the second before replacing the fish in the tank. Please note that this prob. isn't a recommended procedure (and you should never attempt to remove them without treatment first as this can cause severe internal damage to the fish), but since Levamisole is not an ovicide I didn't want to risk having a mature worm present in the tank dead or not.
Day 6 (Sep. 14, 07) - Fish still seem slightly more skittish than normal but all fish are eating normally and showing good colors. Affected fish still has slight discoloration in spots on the dorsal and anal fins, but is showing no other ill effects. Some studies have shown Levamisole to have an immune boosting effect on fish (and some other animals) that previously had depressed levels of immuno response...thus why I have decided to delay use of activated carbon to remove the remaining traces until the full treatment regimen has been completed.
***Update Oct 16***
Completed two subsequent treatments over the following two weeks. No harm was observed to the biological filter, invertebrates, plants, etc. Currently no sign of reoccurance.