Tape worm example---check this out

[Eddie]

In water is just as effective.

[kreekree]

Reading this is freaking me out!!! Currently I have six discus from a sponsor. They all are doing great. My other two discus, lemon tetras, cori's are in a 40 gallon tank I had before I found this awesome site. One of the discus is stunted, the other discus seems to be growing and eats like a monster! Before I introduce him to the sponsor fish should I deworm that tank and see if he has worms?

Do the discus when they have tapeworms poop normal? I read that they don't really grow....Can the tetra's and cory's get it?

[Chicago Discus]

Reading this is freaking me out!!! Currently I have six discus from a sponsor. They all are doing great. My other two discus, lemon tetras, cori's are in a 40 gallon tank I had before I found this awesome site. One of the discus is stunted, the other discus seems to be growing and eats like a monster! Before I introduce him to the sponsor fish should I deworm that tank and see if he has worms?

Do the discus when they have tapeworms poop normal? I read that they don't really grow....Can the tetra's and cory's get it?

They will have normal poop and eat fine don't freak out tape worm won't kill the host... If you worried just Deworm them....Josie

[Crystalwaters]

Thanks for the help. I got lucky and saw the tapeworm, once it fell out of the fish the cardinals ate it (ewwww). Their poo is normal and they have ferocious appetites, also not "pinched".
This site is amazing, it was great I was able to get a positive ID. Thanks again!

[kreekree]

If one fish has it in the tank does that mean they all have it? Does the Prazi Pro screw up my sponge filter (meaning I need to toss them out after)?

[Wes]

If one fish has it in the tank does that mean they all have it? Does the Prazi Pro screw up my sponge filter (meaning I need to toss them out after)?

Prazi pro does not kill your bio filter or do anything harmful to the sponge.

[Eddie]

If one fish has it in the tank does that mean they all have it? Does the Prazi Pro screw up my sponge filter (meaning I need to toss them out after)?

Not necessarily but its likely. And as Wes said, it won't affect your bio bed.

[cdsmith]

Learn something new everyday. Thanks!

[kreekree]

So why doesn't one do this once a year or every six months just to make sure your discus all stay healthy?

[Dogvet06]

what is the source of tapeworms in discus? in dogs and cats its from eating a flea and once gone and fleas controlled u dont have a problem. do they get it from a food source or do they come in from their previous environment?

[Eddie]

what is the source of tapeworms in discus? in dogs and cats its from eating a flea and once gone and fleas controlled u dont have a problem. do they get it from a food source or do they come in from their previous environment?

Here's a little bit on cestodes (tapeworms)

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa041

Cestodes, also called tapeworms, are found in a wide variety of animals, including fish ( Figure 23 ). The life cycle of cestodes is extremely varied with fish used as the primary or intermediate host. Cestodes infect the alimentary tract, muscle or other internal organs. Larval cestodes called plerocercoids are some of the most damaging parasites to freshwater fish. Plerocercoids decrease carcass value if present in muscle, and impair reproduction when they infect gonadal tissue. Problems also occur when the cestode damages vital organs such as the brain, eye or heart.

And some great info on nematodes (roundworms)

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa091

[Tommo]

Great summaries in the links - thanks

[Dogvet06]

Thanks so its copepods so once eliminated shouldnt need retreatment if nothing new added. Cool thanks eddie.

[Crystalwaters]

Saw the worms in three discus after prazi-pro, all the other fish seem okay or I haven't noticed the worms. SD member mmorris recommended that I worm them months ago, I should have listened :S

[ivo]

This is a fantastic for tapeworm. I am about to treat mine. My question is do I need to keep light off during prazi treatment?