Levamisole Treatment

[JamieLu]

So I ordered the levamisole and obviously am gonna treat both my tanks but I have 1 fish that is actually showing signs of internal parasites. If he survives til treatment, in addition to treating the tank can I treat his food also or would that be too much for him to handle? Thanks everyone

 

[A201]

As long as the infected fish is eating, definitely mix the med into the food. If only one fish is showing symptoms don't treat the entire tank, just the food.

 

[loner556]

What signs of parasite is the fish showing?

 

[JamieLu]

As long as the infected fish is eating, definitely mix the med into the food. If only one fish is showing symptoms don't treat the entire tank, just the food.

Well ive had to euthanize 2 fish in the last 1-2weeks and now my male isn't looking good so I'm sure there's some kind of parasite being spread so I'm gonna treat both tanks since theyve all been in both at some point and I don't want others sick. Do u think I should just feed it to him and only treat the tank if any others show signs?

 

[JamieLu]

What signs of parasite is the fish showing?

2 female mollies ive had wasted away (sunken belly) to the point they were to weak to swim and were really struggling, not being able to swim at all. They would try to eat but couldnt very well at the end. So now I'm on fish #3 (these were the 3 originals I started with) and all were in the same tank together til I moved 2 of them. My male now is gettin a sunken belly and seems not as active.

 

[Jellibeen]

I would treat the whole tank, even if not all fish are showing symptoms.

 

[A201]

I know in some cases its very difficult to diagnois fish diseases. Regarding intestinal parasites it's usually Heximita
or more rarely, parasitic worms. Heximita is almost always present in the gut of healthy fish, kept in check by a strong immune system. If the immune system is suppressed, the Hex bug population explodes causing sickness & eventual death. Heximita is more an individual fish problem not usually contagious. If the problem were worms, you would likely see them dangling from the anal area at some point.
If the Levamisole doesn't work, you might be dealing with a bacterial infection.
I'd mix the med into the food and feed it to all the fish.

 

[JamieLu]

I know in some cases its very difficult to diagnois fish diseases. Regarding intestinal parasites it's usually Heximita
or more rarely, parasitic worms. Heximita is almost always present in the gut of healthy fish, kept in check by a strong immune system. If the immune system is suppressed, the Hex bug population explodes causing sickness & eventual death. Heximita is more an individual fish problem not usually contagious. If the problem were worms, you would likely see them dangling from the anal area at some point.
If the Levamisole doesn't work, you might be dealing with a bacterial infection.
I'd mix the med into the food and feed it to all the fish.

So ive been thinking a lot about what u said, if it were hexamita, how come 3 of the fish got it? I read its not contagious, right? I do 50% pwc every week, keep my nitrates around 20-30 and my tanks are understocked, especially my 75gal. Ive never noticed white poo either. I'm just a bit confused and sad that I may have bought the wrong meds. Is there any other signs I should look for?

 

[angelcraze]

Did you treat them with general cure ever? It contains Metronidazole which treats Hex.

Since Levamisole is readily absorbed thru skin, there's no reason to lace food. In a situation where callamanus is likely and already infested, I'd use Levamisole in the water.

I use Fenbendazole in food for QT,d fish since they are all actively eating. I also laced food with fenben and fed it to my fish who were infested after 3 treatments of Levamisole for good measure. I left two weeks between treatments.

If you didn't get this link, it's the best I can find for Levamisole dosage and the one I followed to a tee.

 

[JamieLu]

Did you treat them with general cure ever? It contains Metronidazole which treats Hex.

Since Levamisole is readily absorbed thru skin, there's no reason to lace food. In a situation where callamanus is likely and already infested, I'd use Levamisole in the water.

I use Fenbendazole in food for QT,d fish since they are all actively eating. I also laced food with fenben and fed it to my fish who were infested after 3 treatments of Levamisole for good measure. I left two weeks between treatments.

If you didn't get this link, it's the best I can find for Levamisole dosage and the one I followed to a tee.

I haven't tried general cure but I think ill get some next time I go to the store. I never saw worms coming out of the fish and was too upset to disect the fish I euthanized. Should I try general cure first and if that doesn't help levamisole? How long should I wait in between? Ive never dealt with fish disease except swim bladder issues in bettas which is good and bad cuz I have no experience with it. I just figured it was worms from the symptoms, now I'm not so sure.

 

[A201]

How old are your Mollies? You mentioned that they are the originals.

 

[JamieLu]

How old are your Mollies? You mentioned that they are the originals.

Well, my dalmation I'm not sure but I only got her about 6months ago and she was almost full grown. My 2 black ones were a little smaller but grew since ive had them, which was longer then the dalmation, about 7-8months

 

[A201]

If only the three originals are showing symptoms, and the tank mates are fine, maybe the situation really isn't a disease problem, but instead a genetic problem.
Generations of inbreeding have adversely affected the quality of livebearers, especially Guppies, but certainly not limited to them. If you've been following the forums, you might have noticed the numerous postings regarding Guppies with deformities, shortened lives, unexplained death, ect.
It sounds like you keep a good tank, practicing a good water management routine. I'm thinking your Mollies decline is more likely related to genetic weakness, leaving them open to whatever pathagen that naturally lives in the aquatic environment.
I don't believe that Levamisole really does that much harm to the benificial bacteria, so treating the tank is not a bad thing.
If you decide to replace the Mollies, try anotber vendor or a commercial breeder. I think things will get better soon.

 

[JamieLu]

If only the three originals are showing symptoms, and the tank mates are fine, maybe the situation really isn't a disease problem, but instead a genetic problem.
Generations of inbreeding have adversely affected the quality of livebearers, especially Guppies, but certainly not limited to them. If you've been following the forums, you might have noticed the numerous postings regarding Guppies with deformities, shortened lives, unexplained death, ect.
It sounds like you keep a good tank, practicing a good water management routine. I'm thinking your Mollies decline is more likely related to genetic weakness, leaving them open to whatever pathagen that naturally lives in the aquatic environment.
I don't believe that Levamisole really does that much harm to the benificial bacteria, so treating the tank is not a bad thing.
If you decide to replace the Mollies, try anotber vendor or a commercial breeder. I think things will get better soon.

Yes, the male has taken a turn for the worst today. Everyone else seems fine tho, but ive only had them for a few months and got them (platy juvies and babies) from someone (not a store) the mollies on the other hand I got from petsmart and walmart (stupid I know) so I'm sure they were not the healthiest fish. In the future I'm going to be taking most the platies to a good lfs and get my fish frm there now on. My males scales are starting to stick out a bit on his back so he may be coming down with dropsy I think. Hes laying on the ground, but still alive and upright. It makes me very sad. I'm going to try and get general cure today or tomorrow for sure just in case he makes it thro the next 24hrs. I am missing 2 baby black mollies I think, tho theyre tiny and in a 75gal so could b around possibly. Sorry for the long post, my mind is racing, I don't like seeing my guys suffer. And I don't drive so can't just go get the meds right away which is frustrating. since I already have the levamisole coming (friday) and am planning to take the platies to the lfs I will prob treat the tanks to b safe and make sure I don't spread potential parasites to the lfs. I REALLY appreciate ur help cuz u gave me another possibility I wasn't aware of and could def b the issue. Trial and error I guess.

 

[angelcraze]

I understand how you are feeling. I went thru this too. If this was my tank, I'd treat with Levamisole first. I'd do GC if I didn't see any worms after deworming. I just feel it's worms based on the symptoms. For the record, I only saw worms upon 2nd Levamisole treatment and they were coming out the vent of only one fish. Also the worms were in my tank for 2.5 before I noticed something was up. Almost all my original older fish died from the worm damage while the newer younger fish made it thru. Just to explain how I had no idea, I added new fish in May 2017 and noticed a problem in June. I treated them all by November when I had a pretty good idea it was callamanus and received Levamisole. I wait 2 weeks between Levamisole treatments and finished treatment in January the next year.

 

[JamieLu]

I understand how you are feeling. I went thru this too. If this was my tank, I'd treat with Levamisole first. I'd do GC if I didn't see any worms after deworming. I just feel it's worms based on the symptoms. For the record, I only saw worms upon 2nd Levamisole treatment and they were coming out the vent of only one fish. Also the worms were in my tank for 2.5 before I noticed something was up. Almost all my original older fish died from the worm damage while the newer younger fish made it thru. Just to explain how I had no idea, I added new fish in May 2017 and noticed a problem in June. I treated them all by November when I had a pretty good idea it was callamanus and received Levamisole. I wait 2 weeks between Levamisole treatments and finished treatment in January the next year.

Should I euthanize? My husband got lifeguard cuz they didnt have general cure and hes not doing good at all, can't swim, just laying there and his fins are losing color. Hes breathing heavily too..