Camallanus worms: any local source for Levamisole?

MattArmstrong

MattArmstrong

Member
I suspect my tank has Camallanus worms. A 1" cory is thinner than the others and has a brush/worm-head like thing protruding from its vent. Though, it isn't red like the pictures I see on the web, rather it is white, so it may be something else. These cories are skittish and small so I have a hard time getting a real good look.

I've lost 5 other cories to "mysterious" wasting over the past month. I suspect that they all had this worm but, being young, perhaps succumbed before the worm grew large enough to be visible. Is this plausible?

Is there any local source for Levamisole? It is not packaged in any off-shelf aquarium product.

I have found it on aquabid. There is also http://www.selectaquatics.com/Levamisole.htm and http://www.inkmkr.com/Fish/ItemsForSale.html. A google search for "Prohibit AgriLabs" suggests I can get it mail-order from farm and vet supply companies (which is probably where the aquarium related sources get it). I'd rather not wait for ground shipping from the midwest.
 
F

fishloverRon

Member
Where do you live. I have some I'll share with you, Matt. I bought it in the past year and have way more than needed. I live in federal way.
 
MattArmstrong

MattArmstrong

Member
Thanks Ron. I'm in Kirkland, so it would be the weekend before I could get down that way. If I don't find a closer source, I'll try to arrange it with you (perhaps at the swap meet).
 
MattArmstrong

MattArmstrong

Member
I may have spoken too soon. Today I noticed that, as far as I can tell, the fish in question is missing its anal fin. That, or it is doing a great job of hiding it. The protrusion I see may be what remains of the fin, which explains why it isn't red as is typical for Camallanus.

It may have been this way for a long time, perhaps the entire time I've had it. I'll keep a close look at it, but at the moment there appears to be no reason for panic.
 
Killybeys

Killybeys

New Member
I dont believe it. I looked at this thread about an hour ago, got off and went to look at my geo tank and just found that my Geophagus Crassilabris has red worms coming out of the vent..... The vent is also a bright red color. Are these worms infectious? I already took the liberty and moved him into a quarantine tank.
 
MorganEA

MorganEA

Member
I think it's becoming more prevalent in aquariums my sister and I had to treat both our tanks awhile ago because most of our platies had it bad. I can tell you treating it is not a fun process! Lots of water changes and you need to totally black out your tanks because the meds are light sensitive.
 
Killybeys

Killybeys

New Member
MorganEA said:
I think it's becoming more prevalent in aquariums my sister and I had to treat both our tanks awhile ago because most of our platies had it bad. I can tell you treating it is not a fun process! Lots of water changes and you need to totally black out your tanks because the meds are light sensitive.
Click to expand...

ughhhhhh. What medicine did you use??
 
MattArmstrong

MattArmstrong

Member
The best Camallanus worm writeups I found were:

http://www.loaches.com/disease-treatment/levamisole-hydrochloride-1 (very well written)

http://www.zebrapleco.com/articles/4_treatment_camallanus_worms.php (links to many other articles, too)

http://www.inkmkr.com/Fish/CamallanusTreatment/ (this guy is serious about his Levimasole)

http://www.selectaquatics.com/Levamisole.htm (the one place I saw that transparently revealed their Levimasole is just AgriLabs Prohibit sold for cattle and sheep)

The thread MorganEA linked to is also good. It looks like Peylix followed recipies similar to what is written above. Again: viewtopic.php?f=21&p=88304#p88304
 
MattArmstrong

MattArmstrong

Member
MorganEA said:
Do you guys have bettas in any of your tanks by chance?
Click to expand...
I've got a "PetCo" betta, but he went through a 15 month quarantine where he was my only fish. Multiple references I found said Camallanus is most commonly seen in cichlids and livebearers, but can spread to any fish.

(I also don't think I have Camallanus worms, since the fish I suspected is actually missing an anal fin. What I saw as white "worms" might actually be a vestigial stump of a malformed or damaged fin. The fish is only 1" so it is difficult to tell.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top