Thought I'd write about my experience treating this, and ask a couple of questions.
The other day I noticed a reddish brown worm hanging out of a female molly. After some searching I found it was most likely a camallanus infestation. Most people were saying to treat by adding levamisole hydrochloride to the water. So after some more searching I found a product which contained this medication. It's a bird wormer made by Aristopet and is called "Worm-Enda".
So I rang the LFS and they said they only had Worm-Enda Plus in stock. This is the same as the normal version but also contains Praziquantel, which I had read was fairly safe for fish as well. The helpful LFS owner rang their fish supplier, who said he has used both of these products to cure camallanus outbreaks and I was on the right track. He also said that my clown loaches should be safe with the treatment but to keep an eye on them just in case.
Yesterday I did one last check around town to find some pure levamisole, to no avail, so I went and bought the Worm-Enda. But before dumping half the bottle in the tank, which was the dosage I had calculated, I thought I'd try another form of treatment, which is to soak food in it at the rate of 250mg per 100g of food. Glad I did too, as this product contains a very strong red dye.
So I put 2.5 mg of Worm-Enda in a gram of pellet food and let soak. At first the fish wouldn't eat it, but became accustomed to it through the day. I'd heard that levamisole was light-sensitive so it seemed better to just mix it when I need it.
Today, all fish are accounted for and seem happy, there's no sign of the worm, and the anal swelling has gone down a fair bit. So it looks like the treatment may be working, though it will take a couple of weeks to know for sure. Fingers crossed.
Now after a bit more research I have a question. Has anyone had luck treating camallanus with levamisole in food? Some people say it will only work by putting in the tank water. Others say it only works through oral application. I would like to continue this method as I feel it is safer for the tank occupants. But if most people haven't had luck I will have to do the full tank dip.
Thanks
Dave
The other day I noticed a reddish brown worm hanging out of a female molly. After some searching I found it was most likely a camallanus infestation. Most people were saying to treat by adding levamisole hydrochloride to the water. So after some more searching I found a product which contained this medication. It's a bird wormer made by Aristopet and is called "Worm-Enda".
So I rang the LFS and they said they only had Worm-Enda Plus in stock. This is the same as the normal version but also contains Praziquantel, which I had read was fairly safe for fish as well. The helpful LFS owner rang their fish supplier, who said he has used both of these products to cure camallanus outbreaks and I was on the right track. He also said that my clown loaches should be safe with the treatment but to keep an eye on them just in case.
Yesterday I did one last check around town to find some pure levamisole, to no avail, so I went and bought the Worm-Enda. But before dumping half the bottle in the tank, which was the dosage I had calculated, I thought I'd try another form of treatment, which is to soak food in it at the rate of 250mg per 100g of food. Glad I did too, as this product contains a very strong red dye.
So I put 2.5 mg of Worm-Enda in a gram of pellet food and let soak. At first the fish wouldn't eat it, but became accustomed to it through the day. I'd heard that levamisole was light-sensitive so it seemed better to just mix it when I need it.
Today, all fish are accounted for and seem happy, there's no sign of the worm, and the anal swelling has gone down a fair bit. So it looks like the treatment may be working, though it will take a couple of weeks to know for sure. Fingers crossed.
Now after a bit more research I have a question. Has anyone had luck treating camallanus with levamisole in food? Some people say it will only work by putting in the tank water. Others say it only works through oral application. I would like to continue this method as I feel it is safer for the tank occupants. But if most people haven't had luck I will have to do the full tank dip.
Thanks
Dave
