Repeating Levamisole treatment against Capillaria

[Amazon Sword]

Hello everyone, here goes :

Problem

1. Microscope samples have revealed a capillaria infection in 2 of my wild discus, one of them a big fat male, and the other one a still small fish.


2. Symptoms: Both fish have been excreting "white poop" - what I assume to be intestinal lining - and used to be shy with a non existent appetite. The small fish has a caved in belly and is extremely thin.

3. The aquarium has been treated 3 times with Levamisole at a concentration of 2ppm for 48h. Activated carbon and an 80% water change was done after every treatment. Treatments were repeated weekly. Last treatment was 4 days ago.
Results: The small fish has regained its appetite and has not excreted any intestinal lining ever since the first treatment, but is still very thin. The large fish is behaving normally, but is still excreting intestinal lining, even after the 3rd treatment.


Tank/Water

4. 240L aquarium, with a population of 5 wild reds/browns and 3 heckels

5. Water change regime: 30% daily


6. The aquarium has been running for a bit more than a year and a half now and is bare bottom

7. The water is aged for a day before being added into the aquarium, with no pH swing. I use a R/O and waste R/O mix to get to my desired pH.

8. Parameters and water source;

- Temp: ~86F (the weather is extremely hot here, the fish do not seem to mind)

- pH: 6.5

NH3: 0ppm NO2: 0ppm NO3: ~5-10 ppm

10. No new fish have been added in a very long time.


11. Fish are fed several times a day with all sorts of pellets and flakes, as well as the occasional frozen artemia/daphnia treat

Essentially, I have 2 questions. The first one is, do you think a 4th treatment of Levamisole is going to be safe for the fish? I do not have much experience with the substance so I'm a bit scared about this many administrations. I'm also very surprised 3 treatments have not been enough, although I have not yet checked a sample from the big fish since the last treatment, perhaps the intestine is shedding its lining as part of the healing procedure; I do however realise that capillaria infections can be notoriously difficult to treat. Second question is, how would you guys recommend fattening the little guy up? The poor thing is very VERY thin.
Thank you all in advance

P.S.: When I took the very first sample from the big fish 3 weeks ago, there were a LOT of capillaria eggs.

[captainandy]

I am not a tropical fish bet but I would suggest the following, assuming your diagnosis.
I would not repeat the levamisole since you have used it three times already. I would suggest Fenbendazole. For three days.
Each day before dosing I would do at lease 80% water change and make sure you have removed all debris and mechanical and chemical filtration.

Assume your little guy will not have an appetite until days after the treatment. After treatment would raise temp to 90 degrees and feed live black worms. You might also use Enson salts during the treatment to help purge the intestines

[seanyuki]

Fenbendazole added to food and not in water.

I am not a tropical fish bet but I would suggest the following, assuming your diagnosis.
I would not repeat the levamisole since you have used it three times already. I would suggest Fenbendazole. For three days.
Each day before dosing I would do at lease 80% water change and make sure you have removed all debris and mechanical and chemical filtration.

Assume your little guy will not have an appetite until days after the treatment. After treatment would raise temp to 90 degrees and feed live black worms. You might also use Enson salts during the treatment to help purge the intestines

[captainandy]

Except they are not eating. But no reason to not use oral and in water

[Amazon Sword]

Thank you for your replies guys. Do you think that a fourth treatment will be pointless and/or dangerous? Also, haven't ever seen Fenbendazole on the shelves around here, do you think that I could find it at the vet's? Any alternatives?

[seanyuki]

Flubendazole and fenbendazole are chemically related but not the same. Flubendazole is commonly added to water, and can also be used in food.. But Fenbendazole (panacur) should only be used in the food. ...never add it to the water.


For intestinal nematode infections of ornamental fish, several anthelminthics (dewormers) are available. Two effective and commonly used dewormers are fenbendazole and levamisole. Fenbendazole can only be used as a feed additive at the rate of 1.14 grams per pound of food fed for three days, with a repeat treatment in two to three weeks. Levamisole can be used both in the feed and as a bath treatment. One effective oral dose is 1.8 grams of levamisole per pound of food fed once a week for three weeks. One effective bath treatment dose is 2 ppm (mg/liter) levamisole for 24 hours, with a repeat treatment in two to three weeks. However, be sure to consult with a fish health specialist before commencing any treatment and always follow their recommendations.

Nematode (Roundworm) Infections in Fish .....Dr.Roy P.E.Yanong (in fish health management and aquatic animal health @ University of Florida




http://www.simplydiscus.com/library/...ematodes.shtml

Except they are not eating. But no reason to not use oral and in water

[seanyuki]

Try here

Fenbendazole for fish by Thomas Labs2F48307A-B3CB-436F-B14D-24F727134C1D.jpg
https://www.healthypets.com/fish-ben...3-packets.html

Or

Panacur (fenbendazole) Dog dewormer.

Thank you for your replies guys. Do you think that a fourth treatment will be pointless and/or dangerous? Also, haven't ever seen Fenbendazole on the shelves around here, do you think that I could find it at the vet's? Any alternatives?

[dornblaser]

I purchased this product based on a recommendation from this board: https://angelsplus.com/collections/f...worming-flakes

[coralbandit]

Flubendazole is for non eating fish ..

Flubendazole 10 % powder
Postage is to increase in 2020 soon.
Best for eliminating Hydra. Treats protozoa wasting disease, serious treatment for Velvet, enternal and external parasites, 1/4 teaspoon of 10 % powder
treats about 20 gallons of water for most parasitic Protozoa. Eliminate Carbon filtration during treatment. Change most of the water after 10 days.
Will not harm plants, Prolonged use will kill most all snails. ........

25 grams of 10% Flubendazole including Postage and paid through PayPal.com is $25.00 plus ?
50 gams for $43.50. Priority mail $8.25 paid though PayPal.
100 grams for $81.25. Priority mail $8.25 paid though PayPal.

http://www.inkmkr.com/Fish/FlubendazoleTreatment.pdf

Taken from Charles page ; http://www.inkmkr.com/Fish/ItemsForSale.html