Loaches Online Forum

I got seven yo yos about three months ago, 3 are fat and are growing 3 are fat and not growing but 1 is skinny and not growing at all. If I have parasites should I treat my whole tank? It also has clowns, skunks and khulies...

CHEERS

ROD

IMHO, you should treat for internal parasites even if you have no signs that you have them: the rate of worm infections in loaches is just too high to hope that yours are "clean". Often it takes time for the problem to show up.

In your case, I'd consider your yoyo's showing obvious signs. (I assume you are feeding them adequately -- giving them at least one full meal a day?). Treating the entire tank is a good idea, since your clowns and skunks *may* have parasites too---deal with them before you have problem on your hands.

Your options are levimisole or medicated food, like UltraCarePX --- you may want to search this forum for my older post on this med. levimisole is the better choice, but if you are afraid of using an "unofficial" drug or cannot get it, UltraCarePX will handle *some* types of worms and *may* solve your problem.

In the cases I've had/seen, you'd know about your success very soon after the treatment -- watch for an appetite increase from non-growing/skinny fish.

hth

CHEERS
I have Sterazin by waterlife, this says it is good for internal worms....?

This one is not obvious, but appears TO ME to be a bad choice.

It appears that the company does not disclose the ingredients they use. Not knowing the components you don't know how efficient or dangerous this thing is.

If you read this thread:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... hp?p=37855
you will see that the speculation is that it is based on fenbendazole, but ASAIK while effective fenbendazole is either not soluble or dangerous in soluble form--don't recall which one right now.
Look at the last link on this thread too, for some warnings.

And, from here:
http://forums.waterwolves.com/index.php?showtopic=61349

"Do not use when crustaceans, echinoderms, rays, seawater sharks, pirahna, sturgeon or sterlets and related species are present. In these instances use Waterlife PARAGON."

These are fish that are all pretty sensitive to meds

This warning comes from Waterlife, it seems. So the drug is dangerous to some fish, and you have to figure out -- I have no idea how -- if it incudes yours.

It is generally a good idea to identify and research the components of a drug a bit before putting it into tank (or touching it...).

hth

Sterazin has little or no effect in the treatment of internal parasites in loaches, despite it's claims on the packaging. A good knowledgeable fish-friendly vet should be able to order you in some Levamisole hydrochloride (usually used as a cattle wormer under the name 'Levacide') if you explain what you need to use it for.

Emma

WOW!!!
You guys have all the answers. I wont use my meds I will shoot down to the vets and see if I can get hold of this other gear.

CHEERS.