Camallanus worms infect tank?

[sunflower430]

Highly upset right now. Got a new betta yesterday and 24hrs later she's dead. I noticed in her last few minutes some red string coming out if her anal vent. Ugh. Looking back at pics of her yesterday still in transport cup they were present then and I didn't notice due to her koi pattern also containing red. She was very tiny (why I picked her as I figured she didn't have much chance if left in the store too long). I thought she was super young, probably just stunted from the worms. At least she had a comfy home to die in and she got a tasty meal of mosquito larvae last night. She seemed so lively last night but I guess she was putting on a show, she declined more and more throughout the day today. I have spent literal hours observing and checking all the things to make sure it wasn't something with the tank. What a bummer.

Now my question is... is my tank infected? How do I resolve that? I obviously am going to try to get my $ back but if they only will replace it for some dumb reason I don't want to throw another betta in there to eventually succumb to the same fate. Oye.

 

[Fishfur]

Highly upset right now. Got a new betta yesterday and 24hrs later she's dead. I noticed in her last few minutes some red string coming out if her anal vent. Ugh. Looking back at pics of her yesterday still in transport cup they were present then and I didn't notice due to her koi pattern also containing red. She was very tiny (why I picked her as I figured she didn't have much chance if left in the store too long). I thought she was super young, probably just stunted. At least she had a comfy home to die in and she got a tasty meal of mosquito larvae last night. My question is... is my tank now infected? How do I resolve that?

Very sorry to hear that.

If they are camallanus worms, when they hang out the vent of the fish they’re sending live larvae out into the water. They brood their eggs internally and only show at the vent when they’re ready to release larvae.

So there are probably larvae in the tank, unfortunately. If there are other fish, they may well become infected though perhaps not instantly. The larvae can live for at least 3 weeks without an intermediate or end host - and are reported to live as long as 3 months.

If there are no other fish then you just need to treat the tank’s water column - fenbendazole should do the trick to paralyze the larvae and then you’d want to do a few 100% water changes back to back to remove them all, with very thorough vacuuming of the substrate where paralyzed larvae may end up as well.

If there are other fish, they should ingest the deworming medication with their food and you’ll probably have to treat more than once to be sure you get them all.

 

[sunflower430]

Very sorry to hear that.

If they are camallanus worms, when they hang out the vent of the fish they’re sending live larvae out into the water. They brood their eggs internally and only show at the vent when they’re ready to release larvae.

So there are probably larvae in the tank, unfortunately. If there are other fish, they may well become infected though perhaps not instantly. be doing a few back to back 50% water changes at least but the larvae can live for at least 3 weeks without an intermediate or end host - and are reported to live as long as 3 months.

So I don’t think water changes alone can be relied upon alone - you’d need to treat the tank as well but if there are no other fish, you‘d only have to treat the water column - Fenben or levamisole should do the trick. They’ll paralyze the larvae and then you’d want to do a few 100% water changes to remove them all.

There's no other fish in there which is why she went right in the tank. I'll try to find one of those meds to treat the water and get things cleaned up. I do have ramshorn snails... guess I will try my best to round them up. Ugh. Thank you for the help!

 

[Fishfur]

There's no other fish in there which is why she went right in the tank. I'll try to find one if those meds to treat the water and get things cleaned up. Thank you for the help!

Fenben Is the best one if it’s just the water you need to treat. I believe you can get it on amazon. Or Fritz Expel P is levamisole.