Intestinal nematodes

pleco_breeder · Post by **pleco_breeder** » 15 Dec 2003, 21:48

Hello all,

I've ran into an increasing number of aquarists who are having trouble with small white worms killing young pleco fry and newly acquired wild stock. I currently have a tank of ancistrus which I am having trouble raising the fry in for the same reason. I'm curious if anyone out there has had success treating this ailment and what has worked. I've been told that levamisol, which is a sheep de-wormer, has been effective with other intestinal problems, but the only person I've talked to who has tried it on this species of worm said it had no effect. Any other ideas?

Thanks,
Larry Vires

magnum4 · Post by **magnum4** » 15 Dec 2003, 22:38

I've been told that levamisol, which is a sheep de-wormer, has been effective with other intestinal problems, but the only person I've talked to who has tried it on this species of worm said it had no effect. Any other ideas?

Any idea on the concentration used, levamisol is still the first choice medication in this case

Another possible option is to use a cat worming tablet most contain some droncit so are quite strong. Try the white tablet first, just powder a quarter of a tablet(just to see if it is effective) and mix with flake plus very small amount of water let it dry and Then feed it to the fish. if it is effective a quarter of a tablet will treat about 40 small 1"-1.25" ancistrus, repeat after 10 days if effective, water change shoud be carried out as the worms are being passed.

Now this is not a common recommendation, and i can only say that it's not always effective in every case, however to my knowledge it has never caused any fatalities either.

Goodluck with the treatment and if it does work can you let me know.

Post by **Barbie** » 15 Dec 2003, 22:55

Skeptical Aquarist has a great write up on medicating for nematodes, that details the pH needed in order for Levamisol to be effective. You can read it HERE. Hope that helps. You don't mention what treatments you've tried on your ancistrus? I had good luck soaking food in metronidazole the one time I had an internal protozoal problem in young plecos that would still eat. Garlic is also supposed to be very effective. I keep threatening to make my discus mix up again, substituting different types of veggies and squash for the fish portion. If and when I do, I'll add a good portion of garlic. It can't hurt. They're saying now that it can help keep people healthier! (I still say that's because people carrying germs tend to keep more of a distance!

)

Hope that article helps at all. I found it very informative.

Barbie

Post by **Janne** » 16 Dec 2003, 20:06

I have tried some of this medication http://www.hueyhung.com.tw/En_ProductItemShow.php?
for treating different kinds of worms when I was breeding cichlids with extremely good effects, for exampel the Tapeworm medication had effect only after a few hours and the worms drop constantly from the fish until they was all gone. I have tried some of the others also and they are very effective, unfortunately they dont have any wholesalers in Sweden and I bought only a few samples from them for some years ago.
I was thinking maybe they are selling this trademark in the US or some one else maybe have some experience of them.

Janne