Where to get levamisole?

[pcr4blunttopo]

Hello All, looks like three of my clown loaches are developing skinny disease right now, and two of them are pretty bad. I did some research here and found that people recommend levamisole plus antibiotics to treat the fish. However, I couldn't find levamisole in my local fish store or online. Would anybody share some information about how or where to get levamisole to treat my fish? I currently treat the three clown loaches in a separate tank with Metronidazole but not sure if that will help them or not. I also have Jungle parasite-clear and clout which I used to treat the internal parasite of my African cichlids. Will these be better than metronidazole? Also I have the Jungle anti-bacteria food and anti-parasite food. Should I feed them exclusively these medicine food? Any input would be appreciated! thanks!

[DainBramage1991]

Check with your local veterinarian offices, particularly those that deal with large animals. If I'm not mistaken, levimisole hydrochloride is used as a de-wormer for pigs and other farm animals. Obviously, dosing instructions for fish will be different...

[Loachloach]

I read additionally that skinny disease is caused by a parasite similar to hexamita and it's been treated successfully on clown loaches with JBL spirohexol. So it's worth having a look for it too if you like. I used this med on guppies once and it didn't affect the filter bacteria, but made the water yellow. It's easy though, as you just dose once and wait a week before doing a water change from what I remember as it was a good while ago.

[chefkeith]

Levamisole hasn't been on the market for years. I think it was discontinued by many pharmaceutical companies due to that it was being used in cocaine drug trafficking industry.

Most fishkeepers from what I've read are using a Fenbendazole (panacur) instead. I've never tried using it, so you'll need to Google the treatment.

[DainBramage1991]

Well that explains why I was unable to get some when I went looking for it last year. Thanks for the info, Chefkeith.

Fortunately for my loaches I was able to acquire a bottle of Jungle Anti-Parasite Medicated Fish Food, which had been discontinued some time before then. The active ingredients are:

Metronidazole 1.0%
Praziquantel 0.5%
Levimisole 0.4%

I know that Praziquantel is available, and I think Metronidazole is also. The Jungle medicated food is no longer available anywhere that I am aware of, which is unfortunate because it is quite effective, but you may be able to achieve the same effect using the medications on their own (minus the Levimisole, obviously).

[Jnitrofish]

Levamisole is still available as AgriLabs Prohibit. I ordered mine from QC Supply back in December.

http://www.qcsupply.com/540287-prohibit-agrilabs.html