Angel With A Parasite

1562 Views 26 Replies 4 Participants Last post by JustJen, Nov 10, 2016

JustJen

Discussion Starter · Oct 29, 2016 (Edited)

Updating my original post since finding what I am dealing with was easier than anticipated. It would appear I have callanus worms, and while the angels are the only ones that I can actually see them on, I'm assuming the entire tank is affected (especially considering the fish in that tank have been together anywhere from 6 weeks to 2 years). Is there any successful treatment for this that won't kill my vampire shrimp? The tank is heavily planted with driftwood and rocks and there is no way I'm getting those shrimp out of the tank to treat it unless I uproot and dismantle the entire tank. Obviously 30+ fish trump a couple of shrimp, but if there's a way that isn't either or, I'd certainly prefer to go that route.

Original Post:
I know I have seen this on here before, but I can't remember any details... I noticed this evening that both of my angels have little red things sticking out of their anuses. Pics are attached. They are otherwise active and seemingly healthy - but obviously this is not ok! I lost some dwarf neon rainbows randomly a couple weeks ago (they, one by one, just kinda started wasting away but had no other symptoms, nothing else was sick, and water quality is fine) and I couldn't figure out the issue, now I'm thinking this was probably it. The dwarf neons were the most recent additions to the tank (6 weeks or better, but still the most recent add of any livestock), the angels have been there over a year. What is this, and more importantly, how do I treat it?? If it makes any difference to my treatment options, I have 2 vampire shrimp in this tank, and due to the decor, I would literally have to dismantle the entire tank to get them out. I'm working off the assumption that if the angels have it, everyone does, so I need to just treat the tank but would prefer to not kill the shrimp in the process if that's possible.

The tank is a 46 bow, heavily planted low tech, running an eheim 2217, temp at 80-82. Tank is 5+ years old, amonia/nitrite are 0, nitrates run 20 or less, ph is 8.2, gh is 5, kh is 19. I have the 2 angels, 8 celebes rainbows, 4 dwarf neon rainbows, 2 gold rams, 2gbr, and a dozen or so neons.

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Nordic

· #2 · Oct 29, 2016

99% Pure Levamisole HCl Powder
You can dose 0.5g on your tank size.
First do a water change. Add medicine then keep tank dark for 24 hours after adding medicine.
After the 24 hours, siphon off as much water as you can, even 80% if you feel up to it, making sure to vacuum the substrate.
Wait 2 weeks and repeat. Follow up with a dose of metro.

http://www.loaches.com/Members/shari2/levamisole-hydrochloride-1
A bit more reading material.

mistergreen

· #3 · Oct 29, 2016

+1 on levamisol.

Did you feed them live food recently?

JustJen

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 29, 2016

mistergreen said:
+1 on levamisol.

Did you feed them live food recently?

No live food ever in that tank :-\ I assume the dwarf neon rainbows had to have been infected when I got them and have spread it around the tank.

I have seen in a spot or two that levamisol isn't safe for neons/cardinals. Any experience with that? I should be able to relocate my neons to a QT tank to treat with different meds or a lower dosage or something if that's absolutely necessary. Is it safe for the shrimp? I realize if it's not I am probably just going to have to sacrifice the shrimp, but...

mistergreen

· #5 · Oct 29, 2016

Yeah, it sounds like the neon rainbows brought them in.
Levamisole is fine if you dose correctly, like 2-5ppm in your tank. Follow the advice on the loaches.com link.

JustJen

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 29, 2016

Thanks! I'll get some on order!

Nordic

· #7 · Oct 30, 2016

It will be ok for the neons at the stated dosage, and is fine with inverts and shrimp.

bsantucci

· #8 · Oct 30, 2016

Side note so you don't stress. Your fish will look drunk and lethargic. Probably laying on the substrate. This is normal and they'll be fine after the water change.

Doesn't hurt to feed the some. Levamisole treated flakes after the water treatment to really get it in them if they are eating.

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mistergreen

· #9 · Oct 30, 2016

bsantucci said:
Side note so you don't stress. Your fish will look drunk and lethargic. Probably laying on the substrate. This is normal and they'll be fine after the water change.

Doesn't hurt to feed the some. Levamisole treated flakes after the water treatment to really get it in them if they are eating.

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If you treat with the correct dosage, that shouldn't happen. Certain instructions tells you to dose 10x what is actually needed although this drug is very forgiving. You can dose 2-3x and it'll be fine but 10 x is too much.

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Nordic

· #10 · Oct 30, 2016

Yes, at the stated dose, you will notice no behavioural changes. Lots of people selling levamisole advocate insanely high doses.

JustJen

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 30, 2016

Thanks for all the information. Everything in the tank is eating just fine and is perfectly active aside from the visible worms on the two angels. Hopefully meds get here quickly and we can get this wiped out before anything else succumbs.

JustJen

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 8, 2016

The good news is that there was no behavioral changes in any of the fish and the snails and shrimp are fine following the first round of treatment. The bad news is, there is literally zero change in the condition of the infected fish. I never saw any worms being expelled, and they are still just as visible as in the pictures posted previously. Any idea what's going on/what my next step should be? I know I should do a 2nd treatment in a week, (and I will) but everything I've read indicates that the visible worms should have been gone shortly after dropping the meds in the tank.

mistergreen

· #13 · Nov 8, 2016

How much did you dose? 2x your dosage next time.

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JustJen

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 8, 2016

I dosed approximately .5g (1/8 of a teaspoon) on a 46 gallon tank. Will double up next time and see if I get some results - thanks!

mistergreen

· #15 · Nov 8, 2016

Yeah, When I dosed, I dosed 5ppm instead of the recommended 2ppm. It worked fine for me.

JustJen

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 8, 2016

Definitely trying that this time!

Nordic

· #17 · Nov 9, 2016

Give it a go, and remember to feed the fish very well while yo are treating them so that they can pass the worms out.
Remember it is not a poison, it just paralyzes the worms so they can not hold on to the fish. Which is why we do a large water change and vacuuming afterward.

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JustJen

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 9, 2016

Dumb question that just occurred to me... I run purigen in my filters. Do I need to remove it prior to treatment? I know you always remove carbon (which I don't use), but didn't know about purigen.

bsantucci

· #19 · Nov 9, 2016

Purigen can remain, it doesn't affect it.

JustJen

Discussion Starter · #20 · Nov 9, 2016

Thanks! Just wanted to make sure that wasn't causing my lack of results in treatment!

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