The Puffer Forum

Metronadazole and Levamisole are what I use for IP's myself.. but I've never had to deal with it gone so far as to where the fish stops eating and you have to dose the water. Friends of mine have though, with good results. The problem is, if a fish has a heavy load and you dose it, the die off of the parasites can be enough stress to kill the fish.. but if it doesn't eat, its going to die anyways.

I've read somewhere that somebody dewormed their discus with the addition of prazi in the water instead of soaking the food in it.

It would make sense that if the water had the meds in it the fish will ingest some of the meds. It will take a longer time for him to ingest any of the meds but that may cause a slower clear out of the IPs which may be best for his stress level.

what does anyone think of that??

I added some prazi (2mg/l)+metro(5mg/l)+levamisole(5mg/l) in the water last night, trying to save this little puffer's life. He was still alive this morning (Thanks God!). Anyhow, he might die if he keeps not eating... so this is an attempt to save his life.

Completely understood. Good luck with it, it should go one way or the other soon.

Did he make it? any updates would be great.

OMG! Everyday I wake up and say to myself: "I'll find my fish dead!" this is happening since last monday. Today is wednesday and he is still alive. It seems he's not feeling good with the meds, his skin is peeling off (I don't know if it is the right term to say he is like a snake changing its skin).

Also, he swiming erratic, I don't know what's the matter with him... I didn't notice any worm coming out from him. He's not eating yet...

Last night I forced feeding him but I saw that he didn't swallow the food. I feel I'm trying to whip a dead horse... but I love him just the same. I'm just asking for some help from you guys to try bringing his life back. I don't want him to die.

I want my healthy SAP back... =(

I DO think he DOESN'T want to die and he is fighting to be alive!

all you can do is keep trying. Its good to hear he is still around. Just keep the treatment goin just in case the worms are strong. He hasn't really eaten anything to poop out so that might be why you haven't noticed anything either. Hopefully you can get something in his stomach without him spitting it out too.

Hi, I have seen this topic telling the same case:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1796

I sent a PM to that member, hoping he can share his experience with us. I'm still force-feeding my SAP which is more active since I started to feed him like a baby. I hope everything work out fine in the end. He's not looking like knocking on death's door anymore (of course, he's still skinny). I'll be updating the topic as soon as I have some news.

wow you did some digging to resurect that old thread. It worked out though so there is hope. Just keep feeding him and he should turn around

LOL, that was what I was in need to find to help my puffer!! It's old... but very helpful!

I'm keeping the force feeding practice hoping he eats someday... That's all I wish!

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(11/23/2008)Edit:

After I did my best to try to save him... I found him dead in the morning!
Sad news...

But I DID really try! Thanks everyone in this forum for the help.

Sorry to hear about this. I tried levimisole for worming puffers once - they turned a terrible color, like it was burning them, and after two hours, I did a 90% water change because it looked like it was making them suffer. Can't say I'd try the stuff again. I'm not sure what happened. I also always recommend using an anti-protozoan (metrondazole, flubendazole) along with a literal worm killer(prazi, flubendazole again) because unless you see the actual worms in the feces, which indicates just prazi would be enough, you can't tell what kind you need.

An update:

Recently I took my Zebra Danios out of my SAP tank to move them into "cycling duty" for a new tank. My SAPs got stressed out and started pacing again, more than usual.

Well... I added the Danios back in and the SAPs are calmer now and are more often in "hunting mode"... this is at least for me 100% confirmed, its not a fluke as I changed nothing else.

Another benefit in this case: the Danios find food faster so sort of serve as an "early alert" team for the Puffers, who while having big cute eyes, do seem a little nearsighted sometimes (sloppy!!!).

So the Danios start going nuts on the krill or whatnot, and the SAPs come up to see what the fuss is all about.