Worm Treatment Update.

[dylema]

Hi, I posted a couple of weeks ago about finding a worm in a dead pleco.

I tried the treatment that the fish shop sold me but it was not effective so I spoke to a vet and got some levamisole which is sold as a cattle, sheep, pig, chicken, worming drench called nilverm here in Australia. I can't advise on the dosage because I don't know how stong the solution was that the vet sold me but I needed to add 1ml per 7lt of aquarium water, wait 24 hours and do a 100% water change (I actually only changed about 90% and will do small changes ever day for the next few days). It has seemed to have worked well as I can no longer see the worms comming out of the plecos anuses.

The only problem is that the plecos seem really lethargic now (about 7 hours after the huge water change) and one of the big ones is not even sucking on the glass, he's just laying against the top of the filter. The other small fish seem fine. I guess the plecos are stressed from the water change and unfortunately over the course of the water change the temp dropped by close to 2 degrees . I hope they will get over this shock ok. Has anyone had any experience with having to do huge water changes like this and having fish in shock or stressed? Any advice?

 

[WILDER]

You could contact tokis pheonix she been through it, if they were really in infested with them the parasites can cause bacterial infection on top.

 

[dylema]

Thanks Wilder, I have been told by many people including the vet and the LFS that there is a high risk of bacterial infections due to damage in the intestines and the rotting worms that may not have been passed.

Today they all seemed much better, I left the lights off most of the day and I fed them some broccoli which they jumped strait on and started eating which must be a good sign. They seem to be almost back to normal so I guess they were just in shock after the water change and shock from the temp drop. I will be testing the water over the next couple of weeks and doing extra water changes to keep it in tip top condition. So hopefully they will remain happy and healthy now.

 

[WILDER]

Glad there feeling better, good luck.