Only reason I ask if other meds would work is because Prazipro is not available to me unless I ordered online. I would like to get it today while I go out and buy my next batch of fish.
I don't like quick cure because it contains malachite green which stresses most fish. Plus it stains the water greenish.
For external parasites you can try coppersafe.
What other parasite meds are available to you for internal or external parasites? I'd stay away from ones that have malachite green.
For strictly internal I tend to use geltek parasite med a lot.
Ok good I'll be getting jungle labs then it's readily available. I read that you can't have carbon in the tank. My question now is, I have a Tom aquariums internal filter but it has no carbon it seems to be just a sponge. Was wondering if I had to take that out too?
Hikari's PraziPro is good and I use it for ALL new fish while in quarantine. It's a very mild medicine and the little 4 oz. bottle will last a LONG time.
That said, it doesn't treat all internal parasites and is more for de-worming fish. Praziquantel is the primary ingredient in dog and cat de-worming pills.
Jungle sells an anti-parasite fish food, if the fish is eating, which contains three active ingredients and is more of a broad spectrum internal parasite treatment. There are also water column based meds but I would use the food first... along with PraziPro if you can get both.
For external parasites, I would slowly raise the salt level in the Q-tank as salt at 3 teaspoons per gallon will kill most external parasites.... but not all. Since you are treating possible multiple issues, a salt water dip would be better than keeping the fish in 0.3% (3 teaspoons per gallon) water. This article gives more details. http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/salt.shtml
Not knowing exactly what you have, I would go with the food and PraziPro first... and if you can diagnose an external parasite, then
So yeah you need to add something like the jungle med that will start to cut down on the internal parasites. When he starts eating start medicating with medicated food to completely get rid of them.
Like I said, LFS dwarf gouramis seem to always have loads of internal parasites. I wouldn't get one without treating for it right off the bat.
There's a thread on here about their poor health, genetics (due to overbreeding) and how they tend to show up at the store with infections, parasites, etc. It's really quite unfortunate.
For future reference for anyone who is reading this, the medication is now called Paraguard or something like that. I was told it was from tetra but online it says jungle. It basically does internal and external all in one.
For future reference for anyone who is reading this, the medication is now called Paraguard or something like that. I was told it was from tetra but online it says jungle. It basically does internal and external all in one.
ParaGuard™ is the only fish and filter safe aldehyde based (10% by weight) parasite control product available. Unlike highly toxic and difficult to use formalin based medications, ParaGuard™ contains no formaldehyde or methanol and will not alter pH. ParaGuard™ employs a proprietary, synergistic blend of aldehydes, malachite green, and fish protective polymers that effectively and efficiently eradicates many ectoparasites on fish (e.g. ich, etc.) and external fungal/bacterial/viral lesions (e.g., fin rot). It is particularly useful in hospital and receiving tanks for new fish and whenever new fish are introduced to a community tank. For use in freshwater or marine.
I do NOT necessarily agree with the above quote from their page as far as treating all new fish with this product... or any other product for that matter... except for PraziPro which is very mild in comparison.
I do like that Seachem and API do have their MSDS sheets available right on their web pages. I wish all companies would do this but most don't want you to know what you're putting in your tanks.
They don't list the ingredients except to mention that it now has Praziquantel in it. As far as I know, the above ingredients that I listed in an earlier reply are the actual ingredients in Parasite Clear.
I haven't been able to check back on your situation until just now, but it looks like you've been getting some helpful input. After reading the further posts I believe it is likely that he does have internal parasites. You have no appreciable algae, he has been off his feed altogether yet has a swollen abdomen, and his poo is white; all signs do seem to point to internal parasites.
He may have early stages of external parasites, too, so I'd watch carefully for any visible signs of that, but for now I think I would go with the two Jungle Labs products.
The Parasite Clear tank buddies are easy to use and work very well for many external parasites, and the Anti-Parasite medicated food has metronidazole 1.0%, praziquantel 0.5%, and levamisole 0.4%. I think it must taste like crap, lol, because I had to work hard to get mine to eat it. I would soak the little pellets in some freshly squeezed garlic juice to help it taste better.
Hopefully, internal parasites are the only problem, but you can go after other problems as they arise. I hope your little guy is feeling better, soon.
