I get new wild Discus and plecos I immediately begin a combined treatment with metronidazole, flubendazole 10% powder and Hikari PraziPro(praziquantel).
I don't think any wild fish is parasite free. The metronidazole works on many internal flagellate parasites.
The other two drugs belong to a class called antihelminthics, for parasitic worms.
Praziquantel is for gill flukes, internal flukes and tapeworms.
Flubendazole is for the round worms, Nematodes.
All three have wide dosage safety margins and may be safely used at the same time.
It is normal for newly imported wild fish to have been starved often for weeks and come in pretty scrawny. When this persists and they are eating then those ingested nutrients are probably feeding parasites.
Some fish become unable to eat in advanced severe infestations and can't be saved but some will respond quickly to the treatments and make remarkable comebacks. I doubt one treatment completely eliminates every parasite but fish immune system can keep them down at at tolerable level. I usually treat new fish for 3 weeks. Latent hatching of eggs can occur when the treatment period is too short. I treat my wild Discus with the antihelminthics every six months during their first year in my care.
I haven't tried that with plecos because as long as they breed I assume they are doing well. In getting wild Discus to spawn, the hardest part is to bring the females into breeding condition so I want them kept at as low parasite levels as is practical.
The F1 wild Discus are no more difficult to breed than hybrid domestic discus. The tank raised fish are much less subject to becoming infected with many of the worms because nearly all parasitic worms have complex life cycles involving one or more intermediate hosts unlikely to be present in an aquarium like birds, mammals and often a specific genus of snails.
You may want to try treating your fish(s) with these medications since in at least the one fish's case, I don't see how you stand to having anything to lose but everything to gain.
--
You are correct. I know in some countries which do not have some of these available as fish meds many use dog or pig versions of the antihelminthincs.
Flubendazole is insoluble in water but suspensions seem to work just the same. This is the most inconvenient one to find when you need it most. Chalr%s sells 10* powder at $10/10 gram and 25 grams/$20 plus postage. $10 grams is enough to treat 250 to 500 gallons depending on the dose you decide to use. Only a pinch per 10 gal kills hydras. I use about 1/2 tsp/10-20 gal of water.
One reliable source of all the antihelminthics med is:
CHARLES HARRISON FISH MEDS
[email protected]
Work: (636) 677-1900
Reply With Quote
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks