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Please somebody help me save my guppies! We have a 28 gallon tank with about 18 guppies(not counting the many fry), 2 yoyo loaches, and a pleco. We have been losing quite a few guppies over the past 2 months or so with no apparent cause of death. 1 minute they're swimming around playing and the next they're floating or laying lifeless at the bottom. After examing each of them and testing our water regularly we began to wonder if we were just getting "old" guppies. Finally we noticed it looked as though a few of the guppies anus area appeared to have red worms coming from it. There was more then one and I swear I saw them wiggle. I went online and I believe they have Camallanus Nematodes. When I read what it can do to your fish it made me feel awful. I read that the way to treat it was with levamisole(levacide). I've searched online and can't find this; my local pet store hasn't heard of it. Does any one know of an alternative treatment. Please tell me what I can do. I need to be careful of the other fish in there as well. They don't appear to have the same problem. All the fish eat very well every time they are fed. They don't even act any more sluggish then usual.



My water parameters: ph 7.5
amonia 0
nitrite 0
b hardness 11

Last edited by jr8sr3 at 20-Jan-2005 16:40

Last edited by jr8sr3 at 20-Jan-2005 16:47

Levacide is bascially a trade mark name here in the UK of Levamisole Hydrochloride. It is not very likely that you will find it in a fish store as it is a dewormer for cattle... I was able to find it after a lot of research, and now I'm stuck with a bottle of two litres lying around.

You might want to try asking a vet if they can get it, but I don't think any pet vet would have this, you are more likely to find it if you find someone who treats cattle.

I also remember that someone asked a similar question a while ago. Cory_Di recommended the following product. She says that it contains Levamisole Hydrochloride (the page itself doesn't say so...)

When you do treat the fish, treat all fish. Although not all of them show actual signs of having them, it's very likely that they all do.

If you do find Levamisole, write back if you need information about dosing, how and what.

Hope it helps in any way...

Last edited by untitled at 20-Jan-2005 17:59

Thank-you so much. I will go by petsmart tomorrow morning and see if they have it in stock. If not at least I now know where to order it. I hope I can save them, it really is heart wrenching!

Last edited by jr8sr3 at 20-Jan-2005 18:23

Camallanus ... mm, TFH has an article on these in my infamous 1790s back numbers.

They suggested back then using Trichorfon (an organophosphorus insecticide), but needless to say, with something this toxic, you have to be pretty careful not only about dosage, but about handling the stuff yourself ...



Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I've just noticed a new med called Pimafix...and I believe it might be of some use...closely related to Melafix that we all love so well...I've seen it at PetSmart, and when used with Melafix is even more effective.

Here's a website...[link=pimafix]http://www.aquariumpharm.com/pimafix.html" style="COLOR: #C0FFC0[/link]

I sure hope you can stop this...I realized to late that I had fin rot, and lost quite a few guppies...I'm still disheartened by it...Heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

untitled was right on: Levamisol is the numbero uno in effectiveness for camallanus and it is easily available now in the US. Pick that med up at Petsmart that untitled provided the link for above. That is one of the best new things on the market because it contains a one-two-three punch.

Jungle Anti-Parasite Medicated Food contains Metronazidole (hexamita), Praziquantel (tapeworms/roundworms), and Levamisol (camalanus nematode). You don't have to worry which intestinal parasite is affecting your fish, this med has it all.

You may crush it to size for the guppies according to the package insert.

You may only find it at Petsmart at this time. Jungle emailed me back not long ago and stated that it would be more widely available the end of the month, and I believe that Canada too will be seeing this med, along with the Anti-Bacteria Medicated Food they also came out with.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 21-Jan-2005 23:30

When's it likely to come to the UK Cory_Di? Only I think a few of us UK aquarists would like some of that food if it works!

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Cal, I really think it would be wise for inquiries to go directly to Jungle from folks in the UK. Companies respond to the masses and when the masses request things, they try to make it happen. I know there are "issues" in the UK with delivering meds to fish and that in most cases, a Vet ordered script is necessary. This probably complicates it. However, why not email Jungle and ask the question. Just choose "Contact the Lab" at the link below.

http://www.junglelabs.com

I find they are very responsive with a 24-48 hour turnaround (business days).

They are very helpful in helping with sick fish too, so really anyone using their products may want to send an email with symptoms, parameters, tank specs and so on and they will definitely help out.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 24-Jan-2005 10:21

The medicated food Cory Di mentioned should work. I bought that, and am trying it on an angel in my 100g tank (well, have to treat the whole tank anyways). They have to be fed the food (and NO OTHER FOOD) 3 times a week for 4 weeks!
I have learned from some friends who have wild-caught angels (wild-caught fish are usually the carriers of camallanus) that levamisol in powdered form is better (especially because fish severly infected with worms usually don't want to eat). It can be found at www.foyspigeonsupplies.com. Look under "wormers". It's about $30 with shipping.
The only problem with the powdered levamisol is supposedly, it's only effective when the water has a pH of less than 7.0.
Good luck!