I have a 5 inch green spotted puffer who I think has parasites. For a couple of months, he has been getting thin the next day after eating and is always hungry. At first he didn't get too thin so I didn't really notice it, but for a few weeks now he gets a sunken looking stomach the next day after eating.
Before, I had been trying to use garlic, but it didn't seem to help so last week I ordered some Levamisole online after reading the article on treating internal parasites in the Puffer Library. I soaked some large freeze-dried krill in the recommended dosage (100mg in a teaspoon of water) and fed about six pieces to him, but he threw it all up and I asummed it was because I gave him too much. The next day I tried again with just a couple of pieces and he ate it fine. Nothing happened though, so I waited a day then dosed him again.
My question is, how exactly are you supposed to treat when using Levamisole? Is it supposed to be a one time dose, or given over several days or weeks? I'm afraid to give him another dose in case I might overdose him.
Or could it be another disease entirely?
How to use Levamisole?
Forum rules
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
Read this before posting!!
Since this board has been up, we have found there are several questions that routinely get asked in order to help diagnose problems. If you can have that information to begin with in your post, we'll be able to help right away (if we can!) without having to wait for you to post the info we need.
1) Your water parameters - pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates and salinity (if appropriate). This is by far the most important information you can provide! Do not answer this with "Fine" "Perfect" "ok", that tells us nothing. We need hard numbers.
2) Tank size and a list of ALL inhabitants. Include algae eaters, plecos, everything. We need to know what you have and how big the tank is.
3) Feeding, water change schedule and a list of all products you are using or have added to the tank (examples: Cycle, Amquel, salt, etc)
4) What changes you've made in the tank in the last week or so. Sometimes its the little things that make all the difference.
5) How long the aquarium has been set up, and how did you cycle it? If you don't know what cycling is read this: Fishless Cycling Article and familiarize yourself with all the information. Yes. All of it.
We want to help, and providing this information will go a LONG way to getting a diagnosis and hopeful cure that much faster.
While you wait for assistance:
One of the easiest and best ways to help your fish feel better is clean water! If you are already on a regular water change schedule (50% weekly is recommended) a good step to making your fish more comfortable while waiting for diagnosis/suggestions is to do a large water change immediately. Feel free to repeat daily or as often as you can, clean water is always a good thing! Use of Amquel or Prime as a dechlor may help with any ammonia or nitrite issues, and is highly recommended.
Note - if you do not normally do large water changes, doing a sudden, large water change could shock your fish by suddenly changing their established water chemistry. Clean water is still your first goal, so in this case, do several smaller (10%) water changes over the next day or two before starting any large ones.
-
OraLacerta
- Former Staff Member
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- Location: USA
Re: How to use Levamisole?
Read the IP article in the library, it has dosing instructions:
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/lib ... treatment/
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/lib ... treatment/
-Michelle
Prevent unnecessary deaths due to disease- quarantine ALL new additions at least 4 weeks in a separate tank before adding to your main display tank!
Puffers: Hindenburg the Figure Eight, 75gallon Brackish
Prevent unnecessary deaths due to disease- quarantine ALL new additions at least 4 weeks in a separate tank before adding to your main display tank!
Puffers: Hindenburg the Figure Eight, 75gallon Brackish
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Nick
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- Location: Middletown, CT
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Re: How to use Levamisole?
Make sure you treat the tank water with something precautionary in case segments or whole worms are waiting to recontaminate...
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
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marfisa
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Re: How to use Levamisole?
OraLacerta-
Sorry if this is a silly question, but I did read that article, and I don't think it's very clear on the exact usage. It doesn't mention anything about whether I need to use Levamisole over several days or weeks, etc. It only says this-
Nick-
Actually, it might just be my imagination, but I don't think he's getting quite as thin after eating anymore. I never saw him purge any worms though, so I haven't vacuumed the gravel yet, but he's getting a water change and tank cleaning this weekend anyway. Do I still need to treat the tank water? What should I use and will it kill the good bacteria?
Sorry if this is a silly question, but I did read that article, and I don't think it's very clear on the exact usage. It doesn't mention anything about whether I need to use Levamisole over several days or weeks, etc. It only says this-
Does that mean it should only be one dose every few months and that it's not safe to give my fish more doses over several days?The debate of whether fish, or any other animal for that matter, should be dewormed on a regular basis, only when showing signs of parasites or if they should be treated at all is an ongoing one. Some fishkeepers deworm every 4 months or so as a preventative. However, with a sensible initial deworming and quarantine protocol, this should not be necessary. As always, observe your aquatic charges, and let their health be your guide.
Nick-
Actually, it might just be my imagination, but I don't think he's getting quite as thin after eating anymore. I never saw him purge any worms though, so I haven't vacuumed the gravel yet, but he's getting a water change and tank cleaning this weekend anyway. Do I still need to treat the tank water? What should I use and will it kill the good bacteria?
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OraLacerta
- Former Staff Member
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- Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2006 12:51 am
- Gender: Female
- My Puffers: Tetraodon biocellatus.
RIP: C. travancoricus, Chilomycterus schoepfi. Canthigaster jactator. - Location (country): USA
- Location: USA
Re: How to use Levamisole?
There is a more specific section on the treatment dosages specifically for Levamisole. I would treat for a week, and observe the puffer closely after that week, and if there are any signs of the parasites persisting I would dose for another week. All that that section you quoted was referring to is that some people will treat their puffers every few months as a precautionary measure. It wasn't saying only to treat once every few months if you suspect an infestation is present.
-Michelle
Prevent unnecessary deaths due to disease- quarantine ALL new additions at least 4 weeks in a separate tank before adding to your main display tank!
Puffers: Hindenburg the Figure Eight, 75gallon Brackish
Prevent unnecessary deaths due to disease- quarantine ALL new additions at least 4 weeks in a separate tank before adding to your main display tank!
Puffers: Hindenburg the Figure Eight, 75gallon Brackish
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Nick
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- Location: Middletown, CT
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Re: How to use Levamisole?
The Figure 8 my GF and I most recently flubenoled started holding food in his system less than half a day after treatment. You can treat the tank water with the levimisol as well, I'd do it once early on and once a few weeks after treatment in case the parasites are egg laying and babies hatched.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
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marfisa
- Dwarf Puffer
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0 x F8 - (RIP ttypuff & Bittypuff) - Location: Houston, TX
Re: How to use Levamisole?
I'm still having trouble using the Levamisole. Is it possible for fish to be allergic to it?
I've tried to give my puffer more doses with food, but it's very hit or miss, most of the time, he'll spit it back out, or else throw it up. I've managed to get maybe three or four doses since I started so he doesn't get quite as thin anymore, but he's still not completely well. It's very strange since neither of my other 2 GSPs or F8s (in other tanks) have a problem with eating the medicated food.
I also tried to treat the whole tank, but he got so upset like the medicine was hurting him, that I panicked and did a huge water change to get rid of as much as I could. Then he relaxed and went back to normal after a few hours. When I poured some in, he splashed around like he was trying to get away from it and got very black and breathing hard.
Am I using the right stuff? I bought this version, which I diluted with water (distilled) according to the directions. Then I used the dosages recommended in the article in the Puffer Library.
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html ... b0d0204ae5
Could I be using too high a dose still?
Should I try another medication like Flubenol?
I've tried to give my puffer more doses with food, but it's very hit or miss, most of the time, he'll spit it back out, or else throw it up. I've managed to get maybe three or four doses since I started so he doesn't get quite as thin anymore, but he's still not completely well. It's very strange since neither of my other 2 GSPs or F8s (in other tanks) have a problem with eating the medicated food.
I also tried to treat the whole tank, but he got so upset like the medicine was hurting him, that I panicked and did a huge water change to get rid of as much as I could. Then he relaxed and went back to normal after a few hours. When I poured some in, he splashed around like he was trying to get away from it and got very black and breathing hard.
Am I using the right stuff? I bought this version, which I diluted with water (distilled) according to the directions. Then I used the dosages recommended in the article in the Puffer Library.
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html ... b0d0204ae5
Could I be using too high a dose still?
Should I try another medication like Flubenol?
-
Nick
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 3231
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:47 pm
- My Puffers: Mine:
GSPs - Shakespeare and Jillybean
F8 - Velvet
My fiance:
DP - Emma Goldman
Narrow Lined Puffer - Ulrike - Location (country): Northeastern USA
- Location: Middletown, CT
- Contact:
Re: How to use Levamisole?
I've never tried that stuff as it is not meant for use in aquaria, the 2.02 grams of non-levimisole in there worries me a bit, it would never have been tested for a reaction in fish, since it's not meant to use this way. Perhaps your fish had a bad reaction to the fillers.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
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marfisa
- Dwarf Puffer
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Re: How to use Levamisole?
Wow, I didn't even notice that when I got it! You're probably right. I had a lot of trouble finding it though. The fish stores near me didn't have it, and I couldn't seem to find it online either. Is it under some special brand name?
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Puffalicious
- Dwarf Puffer
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Re: How to use Levamisole?
kind of off topic... but do you have pix of you GSP? I just want to see how it looks like at 5", I can't wait for mine to grow that bigmarfisa wrote:Wow, I didn't even notice that when I got it! You're probably right. I had a lot of trouble finding it though. The fish stores near me didn't have it, and I couldn't seem to find it online either. Is it under some special brand name?
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marfisa
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 12:03 am
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0 x F8 - (RIP ttypuff & Bittypuff) - Location: Houston, TX
Re: How to use Levamisole?
This is how Mr. Fattykins looked a couple of years ago- about 5 inches with his tail included. This picture was taken to prove how big these fishies get to a woman who ran the fish department in the pet store who sold him to us saying that he would stay small. He's a little bigger now at 5 inches not including his tail.
Here are a few more recent pictures-
http://gallery.rahenna.com/d/150-1/fattysmile.JPG
http://gallery.rahenna.com/d/162-2/iluvfattykins.JPG
http://gallery.rahenna.com/d/191-2/sticker.jpg
The reflections on his skin look like someone removed a price sticker improperly.
Here are a few more recent pictures-
http://gallery.rahenna.com/d/150-1/fattysmile.JPG
http://gallery.rahenna.com/d/162-2/iluvfattykins.JPG
http://gallery.rahenna.com/d/191-2/sticker.jpg
The reflections on his skin look like someone removed a price sticker improperly.
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Nick
- Former Staff Member
- Posts: 3231
- Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2006 8:47 pm
- My Puffers: Mine:
GSPs - Shakespeare and Jillybean
F8 - Velvet
My fiance:
DP - Emma Goldman
Narrow Lined Puffer - Ulrike - Location (country): Northeastern USA
- Location: Middletown, CT
- Contact:
Re: How to use Levamisole?
Shakespeare responded very well to Flubenol-15, which is created specially for aquarium use. Ships internationally, even though the makers are in the UK.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
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marfisa
- Dwarf Puffer
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 12:03 am
- My Puffers: 3 x GSP - Chunkypuff, Mishe Mishe, Lord Puffington (RIP Mr. Fattykins)
0 x F8 - (RIP ttypuff & Bittypuff) - Location: Houston, TX
Re: How to use Levamisole?
Could you recommend a store that will ship to the US? The http://www.flubenol.co.uk site doesn't seem to exist anymore.
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Hilly
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Previous:
Tetraodon Sabahensis
Montrete Abei
Tetraodon Biocellatus
Carinotetraodon Salivator - Location (country): UK
- Location: Nottinghamshire, UK
Re: How to use Levamisole?
The flubenol website doesnt seem to be working at the moment, you could try and PM Paul Fox on here as he supplies the stuff.
Nice pics, biggest GSP I have seen, if you would like them added to the Pufferpedia as a reference to others on what a big GSP looks like, PM me and i'll sort it.
Nice pics, biggest GSP I have seen, if you would like them added to the Pufferpedia as a reference to others on what a big GSP looks like, PM me and i'll sort it.
Hilly
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spoot
- Green Spotted Puffer
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C. travancoricus - Location: Vancouver
Re: How to use Levamisole?
marfisa, do you have a picture of your GSP without using the flash? I'd like to see how his color is naturally. I find the flash washes out some of the colors. Great pics though, you have and amazing fish.