Re: Seeking Camallanus/Capillaria Advice

["alex pastor" <alexp@idirect.com>]

When I got back into the hobby I picked up a few books and read all about
the various diseases a fish can have.  When I saw the worm pictures, it was
a total gross-out and I hoped to h*ll I'd never end up with sick fish like
the ones in the picture.

Well, it happened.  I had wild-caught apistos (cacatoides and agassizii)
with worms hanging out of their butts!  Bonus.

By the time I got to the levamisole, I had destroyed all but one female who
"showed" very late in the game, i.e had her for three months and had spawned
twice.

I used the formula available on the Krib (5ppm) or 5mg/litre into the water
at a pH below 7.  I contacted Janssen-Ortho, one of the manufacturers of
this stuff for human consumption, and Ayerst who makes the veterinary
supply.

I had to re-treat my female about 4 times until she was cleaned out.  The
problem with the worm-business, is that by the time you see them hanging out
of the fish, the fish may have lost it's appetite and won't eat medicated
food especially.  Picky little buggers are apistos.

None of the youngsters has ever shown infection despite the fact that they
lived with mom for three months and were never treated.  There are people
who have written on the Apisto list who say that Camallanus can spread from
fish to fish.  I would like to have some definitive answers to this question
also.  Perhaps someone can consult with a parasitologist working with
aquaculturists.

As to treament, make sure the pH is below 7 or the drug becomes
de-activated.  Don't use carbon filtration and do as close to a 100% water
change after 24 hours as you can.  Repeat the treatment after 4 days.  That
gets the cysts or whatever that were not affected by the drug at treatment
#1 but have since "hatched".




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