Post
by Diana » Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:48 pm
Hi Aeonz, welcome to Loaches.
Yes, these fish can get a combinations of problems that can result in this sort of problem. The best treatment seems to be a two-part approach.
These fish can get internal parasites AND have a bacterial issue going on at the same time.
Treatment is to alternate wormers and antibiotics.
If you can find Levamisol this is a great first medication. It boosts the immune system as well as helping against certain internal parasites. It is often sold as a sheep or pig wormer.
When one course of that is done, use an antibiotic. Not Maracyn (Erythromycin) by itself, though. This treats mostly Gram positive bacteria, and most fish diseases are Gram negative.
Maracyn combined with Maracyn II is a good way to go.
Kanamycin
Maracyn Plus
Tetracycline or one of its variations
Whichever you can find, use according to the directions.
Then clear the tank of that med, and repeat the wormer.
Some anti-parasite meds treat certain types of worms and not others. Prazi-pro is a good one, and some of the wormers sold for dogs and cats are good medicine for this problem in fish.
Then repeat the antibiotic
Then back to a wormer.
This alternating treatment takes a while. The specific directions vary with each medicine but your schedule will look something like this:
Few Days: Wormer
One Day: Clear it from the tank, and vacuum the substrate really well, some wormers do not kill the worms, and the fallen worms are not dead, and can re-indfest the fish.
A Week: antibiotics
One Day: clear it from the tank
Repeat.
Use the search feature here at Loaches using the terms
Skinny Disease
Levamisol
38 tanks, 2 ponds over 4000 liters of water to keep clean and fresh.
Happy fish keeping!