Maracyn I vs. Levamisole HCL phosphate

[Viverr]

Hi LOL'ers.

I have a clown loach with all the classic signs of wasting disease (skinny enough to see the skeletal structure, spitting out food, low energy). I'm planning on treating the whole 55gal tank, mostly due to the amount of loaches in the tank and the progression of the disease in the one who has it.

I'm wavering between treating with Maracyn I or Levamisole phosphate. The tank's occupants include a selection of oddball shrimp and a black ghost knife, among other things. The BGK and its supposed low-tolerance of medications worries me with the Maracyn. But, if one's proven to work better than the other, I'd prefer it. Or would there be recommendations with hitting the tank with both?

Input would be appreciated :D

-V

[Diana]

The 2 medicines are different: one is for parasites, the other is for bacterial issues. I have seen recommendations to treat the problem with both, but not at the same time. Never mix meds unless both packages are labeled that it is safe for use with the other. Treat for the parasites, then remove the Levamisol from the tank, then treat with antibiotics.

[shari2]

What she said.
If the levamisole doesn't do the trick (you'd need to do several treatments a week or two apart) then try the antibiotic. Read the levamisole article on the main page for directions.
..............

and welcome to LOL.

[Diana]

Also, MAracyn is Erythromycin, a gram-positive bacteriostatic medicine: It slows the growth of certain bacteria.
Most bacteria that cause diseases in fish are gram negative. If you are going to use the Maracyns, use both together. Maracyn 2 is the one that slows the growth of gram negative bacteria.

[shari2]

Or Kanamycin. Hits gram negative and some gram positive.

[Diana]

My understanding is that Kanamycin is also a stronger med; it actually kills the bacteria.

[Viverr]

Resurrection, forgive me.

Thanks for all the replies. The Lavamisole's not having much of an effect. The skinny loach seems to have gone from eating and spitting it out to just not caring in perhaps a week's worth of treatment (two doses, one administered at 2ppm, then a vacuum/WC at 36 hours, followed by a second treatment at 3.5 ~ 4 ppm (mismeasured) three days later.)

Kanamycin sulfate is what you(all) are suggesting? I was pretty comfortable with the Levamisole because it's relatively "other fish" safe. Same with the Kanamycin? Is there a dosing schedule and measurement chart available for the different compounds you can find?


Thanks again,
-V

[Tinman]

I have had better luck with anti-parisite fish food from Jungle with Praziquantel in it. As the rumor is fish don't drink so the Levamisol can not get to the gut, it is only absorbed thru the gills so the med rate on the parisite is very low.It works very well and safely on external parasites but skinny seems to be from internal parasites. I am using medicated fish food on several loaches now with good results so far. I also had limited success with Levamisal, it is designed to be taken internally and that is it's weakness .

You said

The Lavamisole's not having much of an effect. The skinny loach seems to have gone from eating and spitting it out to just not caring in perhaps

How were they eating it?or did you mean its food?

[shari2]

Actually, Levamisole HCL is absorbed through the gut, can also be absorbed through the skin and is distributed throughout the body. Levamisole affects the neurotransmitters and paralyzes the worm (spastic paralysis). Levamisole HCL is rapidly absorbed into the digestive system. Less than 6% of the medication is excreted unchanged in the urine and feces.

The issue here Viverr is knowing what parasite is the problem in your declining fish. Levamisole is great for nematodes. For cestodes (tapeworms) prazi is recommended, for trematodes (flatworms or flukes), either breaking the life cycle of digenean types or formalin for monogenean types.

The reason I often recommend antibacterial treatment is that CWS is not always parasite related. One study of several deaths due to CWS found massive numbers of myxobolus spores inside the fish, as well, though no real discussion was made of why this was and what effect it may have had on the progression of the disorder.

In any case, jumping from one parasite treatment to another is hard on the fish and fruitless if the issue is not actually parasite related. The levamisole treatment may have upped your fish's immune system a bit, but if there was no parasite to remove, you'll see little effect if the infectious bacterial issue remains. That's why I say to go antibacterial if you don't see a quick turn around in the fish.

Yes, kanamycin sulfate is what I meant.

There are a variety of manufacturers who provide it, Kanaplex is Seachem's version. There's also Kanacyn, and Spectrogram which is kanamycin and nitrofuazone.
National Fish Pharmaceuticals sells a powdered form. Whatever you get follow the directions on the packaging.

Kanamycin is said to be safe for biofilters. I'd take that with a grain of salt because it is an antibiotic, though I've not yet had a biofilter crash when using it myself. I have read of others who used it in conjunction with other meds who have. (not levamisole)
If your other fish are all fine, I'd treat the sick guy in a quarantine tank, rather than treating the whole tank.