Loaches Online Forum

I have a zebra loach with skinny disease and this seems to be by far the most recommended treatment. However I cannot find it anywhere and was wondering if anyone would be willing to sell me some, or would know where to get it.

Thanks
Connor

last time I got some was from aqua research center in Tampa.
http://aquaresearchcenter.com/
actually formulated for fish!!
it was reasonably priced but it has been a while, so I am not sure if they are still selling it, or not
hope that helps.

Thanks, they do indeed have it, but for $49. I don't really know what to do.

This is where I buy flubendazole, which works better for me. Levamisole also available.

http://www.inkmkr.com/Fish/ItemsForSale.html

So you would recommend flubendazole over the Levamisole to treat skinny disease? And how much of either one will I need for the treatment?

Thanks

Where are you located?

It can still be found as Prohibit:

http://www.jefferspet.com/prohibit-solu ... /cp/A2-PI/

There may be some place cheaper/closer to you.

As a side note, it doesn't work if pH is >7. That was debunked and then undebunked. It really works only in acidic water.

I am located in Massachusetts, a little ways outside of Boston.

"Skinny disease" does not exist. If the wasting is caused by protozoa, yes, I've had better results with flubendazole. If it's something else, mycobacteria for insance, different ballgame. Read the links at the site that I inked.

This is the post that I have been referring to: http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?p=33680

New link to using Levamisole:

A dosage calculator (thanks chefkeith!) is also available http://www.geocities.ws/chefkeithallen/Levamisole.html

When I brought one of my loaches to the UC Davis veterinary hospital, mycobacteria came up so I mentioned the wasting syndrome that is relatively common amongst loaches and was told it was nematodes (though mycobacteriosis can cause the same symptoms). The wasting is probably a symptom with multiple causes which must be carefully addressed.

young, You may be able to get levamisole at Tractor Supply if there's 1 near you. & a feed store near the Framingham DMV (next door I think) had, at least several years ago, the sheep bolus pills they sold individually.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid= ... &_from=R40

A wide variety of doses, prices, and sellers from the absolutely trustworthy to that shady guy in Mexico!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Levamisole-HCl- ... 3382356c50

This guy has all of the info you need on dosing and instructions on use! It even lists how many grams per gallon you need and they sell it from 10 grams to 1000 grams not to mention the free shipping. Oh ho ho ho hooo~

I sent an email with a picture of my loach to http://www.inkmkr.com/Fish/ItemsForSale.html and received the below info from Charles Harrison.

"The fish in the picture looks more like it is suffering from intestinal Protozoa infestation rather than a Nematode. Have you seen any protruding red worms from the anus of any fishes in your tanks?

Flubendazole is the medication for Protozoa caused wasting disease. It is absorbed through the skin of the fish and does not have to be eaten. Levamisole is indicated for Nematode infestation.

They are two very different acting drugs.

If the fish have a Protozoa infestation, the whole tank need not be treated. It just needs several good deep water changes. The fish can go into an appropriate sized tank with cycled filter etc. to match the tank it has been living in. Several fish can be treated at once.

If the problem is Nematodes, then the whole tank must be treated."

If you live near a veterinary hospital their exotics departments will often see fish. These are the same veterinarians that take care of the fish at public aquariums, etc.