Angel fish, serious internal parasite problem.

[kittyhazelton]

This is a question not for me, but for a friend of mine. She has an agelfish in a 30gal tank along with a few other small tetras and guppies, all fish are happy healthy, and water paramiters are in check.
The problem is with the angelfish. Recently she's noticed what looks like multiple red worms potruding from the fishes anus. She's been trying to treat these parasite with Marvel Coppershave, (I think that's what she said it was) for a couple weeks but the wormy things are still there.
The fish seems to be in overall good heatlh, and is eating regularly, but this is definitely causing some concern.
Has anybody had any experience with this problem, and if so what is the BEST treatment for this fish. She unfortunately doesn't have a quarantine tank, so whatever she uses will have to be safe for other fish and plants that are inhabiting the aquarium. HELP PLEASE!!!
:sick:

 

[msawesum]

It is a brand called Mardel and it is Coppersafe. I put it in my tanks once a month, it is as much a preventative, as a cure. I had a bad case of ick and the the other medications were not working. I know your friend has probably read the insert paper that comes with the Coppersafe, but if your friend hasn't, they shoud. it is for the wormy parasites you describe..but it may be ..they are to far infested to have an effect. i am by no means a fish expert..i just learn from " hit and miss" kind of trying different things. i wish the best for your friend's fish.

 

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

Jungle Internal Parasite Guard...Petsmart carries it...Dose the whole tank because it is easily passed from fish to fish, even if you dont notice it yet...If you can get mediacted food, go for it...Usually more reliable and goes straight to the "source" of the problem faster.

Be sure to disinfect all nets, buckets etc with bleach to prevent a re-infestation or moving it to another tank...

Coppersafe is useful for External parasites...What you are describing is Camallanus, an internal variety...

 

[Emg]

Those are camelanus nematodes Kitty...I had issue with them in some german blue rams I had purchased a ways back....

Tell her to go to her vetrinarian and ask if they carry levisol or levamisol. It is a common wormer for sheep and cattle. Tell them what you need if for, they may think your crazy, but if they don't have it they may be able to tell you where you can get it. Or...if you are as lucky as I am and live near a University that has a specialty in animal husbantry/research....you could for sure find some there...lol....

This stuff is very easy to treat with, you add the proper amount to the tank....(remembering to remove the carbon if you use it).....leave the med in for 24 hours and then do a complete water change the next day, syphoning the gravel best you can. You can repeat again in a week.....you can also soak thier food in it, but they may not want to eat it...

The angel however, may need to be removed to it's own tank, in fact, I suggest that you do put it in a tank to itself, a hangon that doesn't mix water with the tank it's in will work ok. Once they show that many worms they need extra care....I find that changing the water in the little tank every day, even twice a day helps alot to get rid of them...you remove the nematode offspring that way. Dose it's little tank with the med and then change out almost all the water one or two times a day for as long as it takes to start seeing improvement. If you still see worms at the vent, dose again. I have read that you cannot overdose with that particular medication but you will have to be sure they get enough of it because the worms can develope an immunity to it if not properly administered. (forgot to mention, you'll have to put an airline in the small hangon if you try that approach)

Do a google on Camelanus Nematodes for more info, that's what I did when I found my fish had them.

Here's a site to check and read through for more info.....a person log of trying to treat an infestation of these worms.....only, I don't think he vacummed his gravel after treatments...but I just browsed through it so it could be that he did.... http://www.guppylog.com/story/2005/5/6/12123/81868

Also, a place mentioned at previous site where you can order some levasole drench...it's for cattle but will work for fish too... http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=30e0794a-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5