Deworming protocol

Oh no! Sick fish?! Come here and see if someone can help!
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.
User avatar
CarmenH
Fahaka Puffer
Posts: 539
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 2:01 pm
My Puffers: Doug, Takifugu Ocellatus RIP :-(
Frankie, Monotrete Turgidus
Zephyr, ???Tetraodon nigroviridis???
Location (country): Ontario, Canada

Deworming protocol

Post by CarmenH »

I started treating the new little guy (F8) with food soaked in Jungle fizz tabs. He's a good little eater but his tummy is gone too fast... Anyhow, I can't find a "treatment protocol" anywhere. How long do I feed him treated food for? All meals (I'm trying to feed him 2-3 times a day) or 1 dose per day?
Carmen
Frankie, Monotrete Turgidus
Zephyr, Giant mutant Tetraodon Nigroviridis???
Odie, Tetraodon biocellatus RIP :-(
Doug, Takifugu Ocellatus RIP :-(
User avatar
xrayjeeper83
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 4167
Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 9:31 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Fahaka named Bloat
Abei named Huey
GSP named Bacon
Location (country): USA
Location: Orange Park, FL

Re: Deworming protocol

Post by xrayjeeper83 »

most say to do it for a couple of days straight. I only feed my puffer once a day, but i dont see the harm in dosin all your food. I treated mine until his belly stayed fat for a couple of days
RTR wrote:Fahakas do not have tank mates, they may have swimming food reserves.
User avatar
Lil' Swimz$
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1686
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:26 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Lorteti - Peaches
Location (country): USA
Location: Wisconsin
Contact:

Re: Deworming protocol

Post by Lil' Swimz$ »

Atleast 3 - 5 times, you wanna make sure you get all the hatching worms. :)
Ha ha, he he! DAncE whEn yoU're HAPpppy! He he he! DAnce, danCE, DANCe!
User avatar
CarmenH
Fahaka Puffer
Posts: 539
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 2:01 pm
My Puffers: Doug, Takifugu Ocellatus RIP :-(
Frankie, Monotrete Turgidus
Zephyr, ???Tetraodon nigroviridis???
Location (country): Ontario, Canada

Re: Deworming protocol

Post by CarmenH »

So dose for 3-4 days, then stop for for ??, then dose again, then stop, then 1 or 2 more times through that cycle?
Carmen
Frankie, Monotrete Turgidus
Zephyr, Giant mutant Tetraodon Nigroviridis???
Odie, Tetraodon biocellatus RIP :-(
Doug, Takifugu Ocellatus RIP :-(
User avatar
Lil' Swimz$
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1686
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:26 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Lorteti - Peaches
Location (country): USA
Location: Wisconsin
Contact:

Re: Deworming protocol

Post by Lil' Swimz$ »

More like every other day.
Ha ha, he he! DAncE whEn yoU're HAPpppy! He he he! DAnce, danCE, DANCe!
User avatar
Flutter
Former Staff Member
Posts: 2938
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2009 5:43 pm
Location (country): Canada

Re: Deworming protocol

Post by Flutter »

Dose once or twice daily for approximately 4 days. I would medicate all food the fish is eating (i.e. for every single meal). For all of mine that was enough but if he's going thin quickly and not building up some weight then I would do the same treatment regime again.

I used 1/4 tablet per meal in about 1/4 cup of water (with nutritional supplement) and soaked food for several hours.
It is absurd to talk of one animal being higher than another. We consider those, when the cerebral structure/intellectual faculties most developed, as highest. A bee doubtless would when the instincts were.
Charles Darwin
User avatar
CarmenH
Fahaka Puffer
Posts: 539
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 2:01 pm
My Puffers: Doug, Takifugu Ocellatus RIP :-(
Frankie, Monotrete Turgidus
Zephyr, ???Tetraodon nigroviridis???
Location (country): Ontario, Canada

Re: Deworming protocol

Post by CarmenH »

Thanks everyone! Will do! The only instruction I'm NOT following is that I'm using RO water instead of tank water. This is because I'm giving all the puffs treated food. I've often worried that Frankies beer-belly might be parasitic... And obviously I don't want to feed Zephyr and Frankie food with water from the tank of an un-Q'd newcomer... RO is ok for this, yes?
Carmen
Frankie, Monotrete Turgidus
Zephyr, Giant mutant Tetraodon Nigroviridis???
Odie, Tetraodon biocellatus RIP :-(
Doug, Takifugu Ocellatus RIP :-(
SammyDee
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1073
Joined: Thu Sep 10, 2009 1:50 am
Gender: Male
My Puffers: 55g (2) GSP, (2) Maroon Clownfish, (1) blue damsel, And some soft corals and 1 Nem
45g FW community
20g snail and shrimp breeding tank for puffers
Location (country): USA USA USA USA
Location: Detroit, Michigan

Re: Deworming protocol

Post by SammyDee »

yes
"DREAM AS IF YOU'LL LIVE FOREVER, LIVE AS IF YOU'L DIE TODAY' -JAMES DEAN
User avatar
CarmenH
Fahaka Puffer
Posts: 539
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 2:01 pm
My Puffers: Doug, Takifugu Ocellatus RIP :-(
Frankie, Monotrete Turgidus
Zephyr, ???Tetraodon nigroviridis???
Location (country): Ontario, Canada

Re: Deworming protocol

Post by CarmenH »

Ok, so we've done 4 full days of Jungle fizz tabs now. His tummy still goes down fast but he's also having an INSANE growth spurt, I swear he's 1/2" longer than he was when I got him...on SATURDAY. :shock:
So should I break, then restart? Or continue? Or try and find a different med?
He had an un-medicated shrimp tail for breakfast and quite liked it :-)
Carmen
Frankie, Monotrete Turgidus
Zephyr, Giant mutant Tetraodon Nigroviridis???
Odie, Tetraodon biocellatus RIP :-(
Doug, Takifugu Ocellatus RIP :-(
User avatar
Flutter
Former Staff Member
Posts: 2938
Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2009 5:43 pm
Location (country): Canada

Re: Deworming protocol

Post by Flutter »

When we got our irrubescos they were about an inch long. I think that in the first three weeks(ish) they grew another inch. It was insane. They were tiny and then in a very short amount of time they were adult size. The two smaller ones (submissive ones as well) are still noticeably growing though.

As for the meds, if you think he needs it you could do another couple days. I don't believe there's much harm in deworming medications, they're generally pretty benign. Give him time to fatten up too ;)
It is absurd to talk of one animal being higher than another. We consider those, when the cerebral structure/intellectual faculties most developed, as highest. A bee doubtless would when the instincts were.
Charles Darwin
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32987
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 protocol

Post by Pufferpunk »

When I used to be able to buy Discomed (best wormer ever!), it said to feed 2x/day for 5 days, then take 2 days off & retreat, if necessary.
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!"
User avatar
Lil' Swimz$
Mbu Puffer
Posts: 1686
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:26 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Lorteti - Peaches
Location (country): USA
Location: Wisconsin
Contact:

Re: Deworming protocol

Post by Lil' Swimz$ »

Wait, so even after you treat for IP's, he may still be skinny? Details please.
Ha ha, he he! DAncE whEn yoU're HAPpppy! He he he! DAnce, danCE, DANCe!
User avatar
CarmenH
Fahaka Puffer
Posts: 539
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 2:01 pm
My Puffers: Doug, Takifugu Ocellatus RIP :-(
Frankie, Monotrete Turgidus
Zephyr, ???Tetraodon nigroviridis???
Location (country): Ontario, Canada

Re: Deworming protocol

Post by CarmenH »

I figure maybe he`s like my friends`kid...he eats like a horse and gets chubby and then grows an inch almost overnight, then eats like a horse and gets chubby...
Maybe the puff`s ìn the streched out phase...
But maybe I`ll treat for a couple more days to be sure...
Carmen
Frankie, Monotrete Turgidus
Zephyr, Giant mutant Tetraodon Nigroviridis???
Odie, Tetraodon biocellatus RIP :-(
Doug, Takifugu Ocellatus RIP :-(
las
Figure 8 Puffer
Posts: 109
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2011 1:40 pm
Gender: Male
Location (country): usa
Location: Chicago

Re: Deworming protocol

Post by las »

how can you tell if your puffer needs deworming?
User avatar
bertie 83
Moderator
Posts: 5298
Joined: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:28 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: lineatus R.I.P, South American puffer. Valentini puffer, porcupine puffer.
Non puffer
Danios, Tetras, Redtail Rasporas,
Harlequins, CAE's, Yoyo
Loaches, Clown loaches ,Eels, various shrimp, tangs,wrasses, damsels, chromis
Location (country): Brighton, England
Location: brighton , england

Re: Deworming protocol

Post by bertie 83 »

They get skinny real quick
It's amazing how easy maintenance is. If done regularly and thoroughly
Post Reply