Re: apisto with intestinal worms

["Bolton Museum, Art Gallery & Aquarium" <bolnathist@gn.apc.org>]

 I have had bad experiences with
> trichlorphon and these fish when treating a fluke infestation once.
But if I remember rightly Trichlorphon is an organophosphate and 
therefore best avoided anyway. 
> Another question - do you think it is possible for me to have infected all
> my tanks with the nematode by using the same net ?
Unfortunately yes. I know some textbooks refer to intermediate hosts with
Camallanus but in my experience it can transfer directly. 
As an aside, some Madagascan cichlids here were treated with 
Levacide prophylactically due to their value from a conservation 
point of view. Following this, they were fed large amounts of live 
chironomid larvae to condition them up for breeding. When a fish 
was subsequently sent for p.m. following some aggression an 
infestation of nematodes were found in the intestinal tract( the fish, 
a female was shown to have died from heavy internal bruising 
probably caused by a rival female). While not conclusive, this 
suggests that the live food was the source of infection, as no new 
specimens were introduced in the interim period. 
However, in spite of the prescence of nematodes, the fish was 
described as in good condition. This of course, may not be relevent 
with dwarf cichlids which have much smaller reserves. If at all 
possible we should remove all such problems to maximise the 
potential for success. 
 
Pete Liptrot
Bolton Museum Aquarium
Le Mans Crescent, Bolton BL1 1SE
01204 332200


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