camallanus worms :(

chilligirl

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Nov 9, 2007
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oh boy. I pulled my female nannacara out of my 90g a couple weeks ago, when she started developing white fungus-like spots on her caudal fin and body, which quickly evolved into her tail rotting almost completely off, and put her into my 10g for quarantine. The only "symptom" she'd had prior to this was a really noticeable darkening of her gut, so that you can see it from outside her body - it looked like she'd eaten dye or something.

The only other inhabitants of the 10g are a bamboo shrimp and a handful of snails.

I've been treating with Pimafix and Melafix, and her fins have grown back, but she still keeps getting these white spots. Then, yesterday, I spotted something terrible - camallanus worms. The darkened gut now makes sense - I suspect her gut is so crammed with worm(s) that that is what I'm seeing.

Everything I've read says that this is really hard to treat, and that fish losses are common with treatment. I expect that my nannacara, being a small fish with what appears to be a LARGE worm problem, wouldn't survive treatment.

I've no idea how my nannacara even got sick - she must have been sick when I got her, back at the start of December, before I learned, the hard way, the value of QTing new fish.

I can't see any signs or symptoms in the remaining fish in my 90g. Should I treat that tank anyway? It's a HEAVILY planted tank, and inhabitants include a breeding pair of kribs and a breeding pair of angels, that I would be very sorry to lose.

It seems the most recommended medication is Panacur, a dog wormer - can anyone confirm if it is shrimp-safe? I've got some amanos in my 90. Also, would you advise trying to treat my 10g? Or would it just be best to euthanize at this point? Can my bamboo shrimp act as a carrier?
 
Panacur is just the brand name for fenbendazole - it's sold for dogs.

Do y'all think I should treat the big tank? Or should I just leave it unless symptoms appear?
 
Panacur is just the brand name for fenbendazole - it's sold for dogs.
I just realized that. My brain is mashed for the morning.:duh:
Do y'all think I should treat the big tank? Or should I just leave it unless symptoms appear?
Treat the tank.
 
well, I've finally tracked some of the stuff down - my vet is the only place I can get it. So now, I'm waiting to hear back on whether they will sell it to me OTC or not.
 
well, I've finally tracked some of the stuff down - my vet is the only place I can get it. So now, I'm waiting to hear back on whether they will sell it to me OTC or not.

Very often you can pick up these worm medications at Farm and Feed stores (think horses, cows, sheep, goats, pigs, etc.)

You will have to research the proper doses in mg/gal and use the product(s) appropriately. When I had this problem a few years ago, they sold these products in capsules and if I remember correctly, they were rather cheap when compared to meds from fish stores ...

Regards,
JS
 
Actually, I should have mentioned, Fenbendazole is "methyl carbamate" (sometimes words combined as methylcarbamate)--an insecticide ...

Regards,
JS
 
Ive used levamisole Hcl twice to combat camallanus worms and it worked both times, I got a container of powder from my local hardware store which also sells animals feed and stuff for like 15 bucks for like 78grams or something like that.
 
Ive used levamisole Hcl twice to combat camallanus worms and it worked both times, I got a container of powder from my local hardware store which also sells animals feed and stuff for like 15 bucks for like 78grams or something like that.

That was what was my favorite cure. When helping others with camallanus, we have had difficulty finding Levamisole ... I just hope I never see another nematode again! Nasty critters! (It seems the FDA has made a lot of meds almost impossible to get, or else in a form you really don't want ... i.e., mixed in an oil base, etc. Makes one wonder why?)

I have always made my own Melafix (1ml Tea tree oil with 100ml RO water and just enough Tween 80 to get good solubility--now I can't find the Tween 80!)

Just in passing, it was always those "dark bellies" which I seen first. Had a heck of a time getting it out of a 125g guppy breeding tank ... if I just seen a guppy with a dark belly I was throwing Levamisole at it!

Regards,
JS
 
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