Camallanus worm

[Cyberguppy]

A difficult to treat worm that is usually described as looing like several 'pins, antenna, or straight threads' hanging from the anus of the fish. these will dissappear and re-appear as the fish moves around and are the female worms depositing young in the tank.

there are several reported treatments for this worm the most succsessful being 'Lavamisole', also sold as lavamicide. This is most commonly found in products such as 'big l pig and poultry wormer' 'allwormer for reptiles' and apparently one kind of discus treatment.

a thread tanken from another forum: Medication to cure camallanus worm

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I lost a few guppies to the viscitudes of the camallanus worm, but have managed to cure the survivor.

Apparantly there are no effective fish targetted treatments for camallanus worm. There are two treatments available for either birds or reptiles (Levamisole HCl or Fenbendazole, usually with Piperazine as a secondary ingredient). Fenbendazole is more difficult to use, there is a danger of overdose.

I tried the easy approach first. I put a diluted solution of Levamisole onto the fish food, let it soak in for 10 minutes then fed the fish (I didn't bother to dry it as some have recommended). I used the dosage recommended on the packet. This had no effect. I then used the solution directly on the food (no dilution). This did work. In three days (three feedings) the worms were gone. By the fourth day the guppy looked completely normal (no swelling, no stretching of the anus).

also: www.ausfishforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=61138

[sammigold]

Just thought I would give you a link that provides info, including photo of Big L pig & poultry wormer and mentions other products that are safe to use that contain levamisole... it also mentions to read the ingredients carefully as some bird wormers include glucose to make the wormer more palatable to the birds... Glucose can cause a bacteria bloom in the aquarium and be fatal to your fish..

so be very careful and make sure that the levamisole product you buy does not have glucose in it...

this link also provides dosage recommendations.... HTH

www.discusforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=39797&highlight=levamisole#39797

[Bumblebee]

that was a great article. I thought the link contained in one of the forum threads about all different worms was very useful.

edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA091

[sammigold]

direct link to Sykes - makers of Big L pig & poultry wormer.

www.sykes.net.au/sykes/bigwormpoultrypigs.htm

[momo]

Online seller - www.horsesuppliesdirect.com.au/prod964.htm

[Cyberguppy]

found another useful thread on another forum relating to the article:

I found something called "Anti-parasite medicated fish food" by Jungle. It's ingredients are metronidazole, praziquantel and levamisole. It says it treats internal flagellates, trematodes and cestodes, including hexamita, spironucleus, intestinal worms, tapeworms, and nematodes, including camallunus. The directions say to feed exclusively for 3 consecutive days a week for 4 weeks. I will feed all my tanks with this.

The pellets are a little big, so I put some in a baggie and crushed some and then fed it to the fish. I hadn't fed them since yesterday morning, so they all ate ravenously, so that is good! Hopefully, it will work.

taken from:

www.theaquarians.net/html/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17069&highlight=&sid=3c4b2b3d5d5f0728146a75f293d538c7

the thread has a few nasty pics of badly infested fish

[sammigold]

i am surprised that it has metro in it as that is usually available only by prescription from vet.... also there are a few things that affect the effectiveness of metro... ie... light degrades it, and it is usually very important to time doses etc..... I wonder if we can find out more about this wonder wormer.....

[Bumblebee]

not 100% sure but I think Metro may also be one of the active ingredients in the 'aquarium science' all-wormer. possible that like some prescription drugs it is available at very very low dosage? Definitely good news to hear of a few fish worming products with the ingredient (lavamisole) though.

I have herd of another possible two sources one being Disco-med and dewormex flakes from Aquatronics the other being a product called 'clout' (un-confirmed)

[sammigold]

i just cant help but think it could be a bit scammy as metro is very light sensitive and you should usually treat with black out of tank and you also have to be very aware of the time of doses as it is less effective if not given at (i think) 8 hr intervals.... I would be thinking that even if these meds include metro that it would be ineffective in that form... Just my opinion... I might see if I can find out more somehow... dont really know where to start.. might ask the manufacturers....

[Bumblebee]

No-one is even sure if metro will treat camallanus. A little like the 'cycle' products. farther doubt has been shed on how effective they are also, as the species of bacteria cultivated are found to only be useful in brackish/salthingyer tanks anyhow. I notice on the bottles they not only claim to contain 'live bacteria' (species that need constant oxigenation, ammonia, nitrite food-source) but that they are also effective for BOTH salt-water and fresh-water. even though entirley different organisms live in the different environments.

More aqua-marketing garbage.