Help! Hole in Longfin Panda Cory belly

Hi,

I need some help with Longfin Panda Cory juvenile with a hole on it stomach. sorry about the super long post.

I recently bought 5 longfin pandas to add to my existing 2. I bought 7 cories 6 months ago but 5 passed around 5-7 weeks mark. Now I bought 5 more to increase the group. New guys were in QT for a week but I had issue with nitrite even with reduced feeding and daily 50% WC so I took the risk and put them in the main tank.

The tank is 75g planted with fluval 406 and sponge filter.
Inhabitants: 50+ neocardinia, 2x Borneo suckers, 15x longfin White cloud minnows and 7 longfin panda corydoras
Temp 21.6(71F)
pH 6.8
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10-20 (I can’t tell the difference between them API master test kit)
KH 4.8
TDS in the 150s

I moved the thin, lethargic, hole in the stomach Cory in the 2L external breeder box with an almond leaf. I’m currently just monitoring.
I’m suspecting one in the main tank also may have a hole in the stomach but unable to catch/observe closely. The suspected Cory is acting normal.

Please help me with any suggestions as to what I should do.

 

Bring it back to the LFS

 

Bring it back to the LFS

Unfortunately not an option as I these guys are shipped interstate.

I’ve now contacted the store though! Totally forgot about that option. Thanks!

This particular Cory arrived really really skinny.

 

Unfortunately not an option as I these guys are shipped interstate.

I’ve now contacted the store though! Totally forgot about that option. Thanks!

This particular Cory arrived really really skinny.

I expect it to have had worms / internal parasites.

 

I expect it to have had worms / internal parasites.

Thanks. That’s what I suspected. I have some Praziquantel. Could this help?

 

Internal parasites live in the intestines and other organs of the fish. They start consuming body parts as food. If the worms have eaten their way through from the inside to the point they have eaten a hole through the skin, the internal organs a likely to be damaged to the point the fish will die.

You can try Praziquantel. It might help, but do not be surprised if it does not. Internal parasites are sometimes hard to detect until it is too late. The main benefit of using the antiparasitic is that you might prevent other fish from becoming infected.

 

Internal parasites live in the intestines and other organs of the fish. They start consuming body parts as food. If the worms have eaten their way through from the inside to the point they have eaten a hole through the skin, the internal organs a likely to be damaged to the point the fish will die.

You can try Praziquantel. It might help, but do not be surprised if it does not. Internal parasites are sometimes hard to detect until it is too late. The main benefit of using the antiparasitic is that you might prevent other fish from becoming infected.

Thanks for a clear explanation on the extent of damage. Yes. I’m not expecting a miracle healing for this poor little guy but I will try Praziquantel to possibly save/help other cories. Is it correct for me to assume others maybe affected?

Can you please help me with the dosage? I also have Borneo sucker and neocardinia in this tank.

 

Depending upon the exact nature of the infection, I suspect other fish may be infected. It is common for such infections to get established in breeding populations. Some LFS assume that the stock they purchase is infected and treat all incoming fish for internal parasites as a precaution. Others probably see this as an expense to be avoided.

You might want to read some of the posts by Aquarium Coop on how they treat their incoming stock. They sell plants online, but not fish.

I do not know enough about Praziqantel to know exactly how it affects various species such as shrimp.

 

Thank you so much! I have used it in the tank with neocardinia shrimp&Gastromyzen sp so I’ll try and look back at the concentration. I assume Coryies are not as sensitive to Praziquantel as neocardinia sp.

 

I found my previously dosage of my tank with Neocardinia shrimp and Gastromyzen so. + Bristlenose pleco I used to have. I used it to treat planaria and hydra. Worked brilliantly for hydra but not so much for planaria.

Combo
Levamisole at 2ppm (2mg/L)
Effective dose 2-4ppm

Praziquantel at 5ppm (5mg/L)
Effective dose 5ppm


I’m leaning towards Levamisole 2ppm and Praziquantel 0.4ppm combo for 2 weeks (given normal parameters). Large 50%WC a week then 2 more weeks.

Reasoning behind is Levamisole at 2ppm will paralyzed the parasite and even at low concentration Praziquantel will kill it given, 90days active life in water and tank exposure for 14 days instead of normal 24hrs.

I have a combo Levamisole + Praziquantel meds and pure Praziquantel on hand. I’m think of not adding Praziquantel separately to match the previous “Effective dosage” for both medications as I’m worried about frail, skinny, hole in the stomach Cory. Just to give a little “weaker” dosage possible.

Any thoughts on medication dosage or WC method will be greatly appreciated.
Sorry just to add on RayClam’ mention of aquarium co-op QT/ sick fish medication recommendation.

If I read it correctly, if you suspect Parasite, use ParaCleanse (contains metronidazole and praziquantel) at dosage for Praziquantel coming to around 2ppm (1.97mg/L) and soak without feeding for a week followed by 25% WC.