Deworming GSP

Oh no! Sick fish?! Come here and see if someone can help!
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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.
cuteyiddlepuff
Dwarf Puffer
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Location: Turnersville, NJ

Re: Deworming GSP

Post by cuteyiddlepuff »

I did the water treatment, waited 48 hours and did the second (which was Tuesday). He looks really skinny today-it's freaking me out. I'm wondering if it's because the worms died off? I mean REALLY skinny.
:cry:
Did this happen to anyone else?
PUFFER RULES
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
cuteyiddlepuff
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 80
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:14 pm
My Puffers: My Puffers:
29 Gallon-My GSP
30 Gallon- Two Figure 8's
20 Gallon- Figure 8 & Nerite Snail
5 Gallon-Betta
Location: Turnersville, NJ

Re: Deworming GSP

Post by cuteyiddlepuff »

Today he looked thin again. Usually I feed him at night until his belly buldges and the next day he'll be thin again. I got Levamisole from my Aquatic Vet, I put him in a separate tank to treat him, used 1/4 of a ML (1 ML per 20 gallons) in five gallons. I kept him in there for two hours. I didn't see any worms so at this point I can assume either he has internal damage from parasites OR he has a high metabolism. I do hope he points on some weight.
PUFFER RULES
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
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Pufferpunk
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Re: Deworming GSP

Post by Pufferpunk »

IMO, you must treat food to get rid of IPs.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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Re: Deworming GSP

Post by Nick »

Levamisole is only effective against actual worms, much like praziquantel. In cases of protozoan wasting diseases, only metrodiazole or flubendazole will be effective.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
cuteyiddlepuff
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 80
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:14 pm
My Puffers: My Puffers:
29 Gallon-My GSP
30 Gallon- Two Figure 8's
20 Gallon- Figure 8 & Nerite Snail
5 Gallon-Betta
Location: Turnersville, NJ

Re: Deworming GSP

Post by cuteyiddlepuff »

He needs some metro in his food to get rid of the IPs.....no problem. I'm going to pick up some metro powder today and make a cocktail. I did one round of the tabs I'll do a WC today and start another round. Monk says Thanks :)
PUFFER RULES
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
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: Deworming GSP

Post by Nick »

No problem.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
cuteyiddlepuff
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 80
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:14 pm
My Puffers: My Puffers:
29 Gallon-My GSP
30 Gallon- Two Figure 8's
20 Gallon- Figure 8 & Nerite Snail
5 Gallon-Betta
Location: Turnersville, NJ

Re: Deworming GSP

Post by cuteyiddlepuff »

I just fed him a cocktail of Metro + 3 drops of Levamisole.
PUFFER RULES
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
cuteyiddlepuff
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 80
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:14 pm
My Puffers: My Puffers:
29 Gallon-My GSP
30 Gallon- Two Figure 8's
20 Gallon- Figure 8 & Nerite Snail
5 Gallon-Betta
Location: Turnersville, NJ

Re: Deworming GSP

Post by cuteyiddlepuff »

I'm removing Monk from his tank and putting him in QT until he's fully healed. I bought the Metronidazole Powder and am going to treat the water with that. The directions say to treat 1/4 teaspoon per 20 gallon and 25% water change every 24 hours followed by another treatment for 10 days. I soaked some food in this so hopefully this works. I might have to force feed him but I hope it doesn't come to that.
PUFFER RULES
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
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: Deworming GSP

Post by Nick »

If you have only one fish in the tank, why QT him? You will want to eliminate the parasites in the main tank itself as well.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
cuteyiddlepuff
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 80
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:14 pm
My Puffers: My Puffers:
29 Gallon-My GSP
30 Gallon- Two Figure 8's
20 Gallon- Figure 8 & Nerite Snail
5 Gallon-Betta
Location: Turnersville, NJ

Re: Deworming GSP

Post by cuteyiddlepuff »

During the Metro treatment each day I need to do a large water change for 10 days so I figured it'll be easier to keep up with if I have him in a smaller tank as opposed to his regular tank. After I move him back to his regular tank I'm going to continue his food/water treatment so it won't reinfect him.
PUFFER RULES
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
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: Deworming GSP

Post by Nick »

Make sure you move his filter to the QT with him.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
cuteyiddlepuff
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 80
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:14 pm
My Puffers: My Puffers:
29 Gallon-My GSP
30 Gallon- Two Figure 8's
20 Gallon- Figure 8 & Nerite Snail
5 Gallon-Betta
Location: Turnersville, NJ

Re: Deworming GSP

Post by cuteyiddlepuff »

I had him in QT last night and moved him back today b/c he is grey and I hate to him sad. I gave him some medicated food he ate a little and then spit the rest out. I tried force feeding him with a syringe last night but it didn't end up in his mouth b/c he was squirming.
PUFFER RULES
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
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: Deworming GSP

Post by Nick »

Metrodiazole, flubendazole, and praziquentel, while most effective in food, will work well enough added to the water. Rather than mess around with lots of different things, I just use jungle labs parasite cure fizz tabs these days, they have metrodiazole and praziquentel. I treat the tank, do a 50% or so change two days after then treat again, and repeat in a week. Seems to work fine.
No matter how magnificent your successes or devastating your failures, the worlds' approximately 5 billion impoverished people could not possibly care less.
cuteyiddlepuff
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 80
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:14 pm
My Puffers: My Puffers:
29 Gallon-My GSP
30 Gallon- Two Figure 8's
20 Gallon- Figure 8 & Nerite Snail
5 Gallon-Betta
Location: Turnersville, NJ

Re: Deworming GSP

Post by cuteyiddlepuff »

I'm still using the tabs to treat the water I just figured food will help kill this stubborn parasite!I did one round of the tabs today is the second round....hopefully this clears it up. I saw him poo, it's white and string-like.
PUFFER RULES
Do not take your Puffer out of water (you can kill them)
Change water at least 1x a week
Change water immediately if there is high Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
Monitor water levels (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, SG,etc.)
Give your Puffer snails to wear down his/her teeth
Soak dry food with tank water/vitamin water
When buying a Puffer look for one with a fat belly
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32862
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Puffers I have kept:
T lineatus
T miurus
A modestus
T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
C lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Greenville, SC
Contact:

Re: Deworming GSP

Post by Pufferpunk »

Even if he eats one mouthful, that's good enough to get some of the meds in there. White/stringy, isn't good healthy poo.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
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