The Puffer Forum

Hi all.
I've read a lot of information on using levamisole hcl to treat internal parasites. It says it is effective when the aquarium water is treated. But I also read that medications for parasites are best used when soaked with food. So, can anyone tell me if I can soak bloodworms in levamisole hcl?

I have a figure 8 puffer that has a sunken in belly. He has quite the appetite but he looks very skinny several hours after eating. I have been feeding frozen bloodworms soaked in API's general cure for parasites and I've also tried Tetra's parasite guard with no results. I've done this daily for at least two weeks now.

I ordered and received levamisole hcl from ebay. I dosed the tank according to directions twice, but there's been no change. his stomach is definitely sunken in though, no just flat. Wondering if I should try soaking bloodworms in levamisole hcl?

Any other ideas what could be wrong? Behaviorally he is active, has decent coloring, white belly, has a good appetite. Water parameters are ok, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 20 nitrate. pH is a little over 8 I think. I keep him in salinity of about 1.006. I watch him every day, but have only seen his feces once, and it was not white or stringy. I'm stumped.

Treating the water will not help as fresh water fish do not drink water. What are the active ingredients in this med? I see you are from the us, tetra parasite fizzy tabs get good results and are available there. Is he eating well? If so are you feeding until a slightly rounded tummy or just a bit of food? On a side note your salinity is a little higher than the optimum for these guys, once you get him better drop to 1.004 so you got a little margin to compensate for evaporation as the max recommended sg is 1.005.

+1 to what bertie said, but just wanted to add that it takes a full month of feeding quality, appropriate foods before an emaciated puffer starters to look normal.

below is a post from this forum by pufferpunk that discusses how levamisole can be successfully used by treating the water. it is actually listed just above my thread. I have read other articles that say the drug is absorbed and will be effective when fish aren't eating. My puffer IS eating well. I do feed him until his belly is rounded. I will soak some food with levamisole and give it a try I guess.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7

and here is another. This one disputes the notion that the medication isn't effective in pH levels above 7.

http://www.loaches.com/Members/shari2/l ... chloride-1

I'm unsure about that particular medicine would affect ips of a puffer if only the water is treated.

But if he is eating, then go for it.

But you have treated already, it's really up to you.

If he is eating now, and I had already treated I would just feed to chunk him up. 2-3 small feedings a day and some live earth worms. It does take time for them to bulk up. It took more than a month for them to get that skinny.

Does he have any other signs of ips? White poop?

I had a similar problem, not seeing improvement after treatment of different meds multiple times. The fix? I fed daily and often until he fattened up, then resumed normal feeding.

Thanks for all the input! I will continue to feed a couple times a day, and see how he does. I will soak food in levamisole and see if that makes a difference. For those who feed live earth worms, do you buy them or just use ones from your yard? Are ones from the yard safe?
I've not seen stringy poo, but the weird thing is I really never seem to see him poo at all. Only once in the almost two months I've had him and it seemed normal. He just goes from sunken in to rounded belly, to sunken in again but usually within a day.

atress wrote:Thanks for all the input! I will continue to feed a couple times a day, and see how he does. I will soak food in levamisole and see if that makes a difference. For those who feed live earth worms, do you buy them or just use ones from your yard? Are ones from the yard safe?
I've not seen stringy poo, but the weird thing is I really never seem to see him poo at all. Only once in the almost two months I've had him and it seemed normal. He just goes from sunken in to rounded belly, to sunken in again but usually within a day.

You can buy the worms or get them from your yard as ling as there are no pesticides present.