Over the last two weeks or so, my guppy breeding tank has had several casualties. After the first one or two deaths, I did a 20% water change, and that seemed to help. Then, about five days ago, I had more problems and added aquarium salt to see if that would do the trick. For the next few days, everyone seemed fine. But today I woke up to see three dead fish, one covered in what turned out to be fish lice. So I bought some General Cure capsules by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and started the recommended treatment. My main question is: these lice are swarming ALL OVER the tank, mainly in slow-moving waters and toward the bottom. Should I do a massive water change now, or simply wait until after doing the four-day treatment according to the medicine box? Furthermore, since this treatment is harmful to invertebrates, I've moved my snail into a sick tank, but he's also infested with lice. Once I'm done with treating the breeding tank, how should I move the snail back in without creating a new epidemic?
Treating Fish Lice
- Thread starter Porcelina
- Start date
Argulus adhere to the flesh by means of sucker type discs. Once attached, the parasite pierces the flesh using stinger type mouthparts and procedes to feed on the blood of the fish. While piercing the skin the parasite injects a toxin which can kill smaller fish and leaves larger fish with reddened, inflamed and swollen lesions.
The puncture site often becomes secondarily infected. The intense irritation brought on by the Argulus parasite often causes fish to rub or scrape against objects in the aquarium, in some cases even leaping from the aquarium, in an attempt to rid themselves of the parasites. Once the parasite has finished feeding it will swim freely in search of a new host. Argulus can survive for up to 3 weeks without a host.
Visible Lice attached to fish can be killed by dabbing with Potassium Permanganate or an antiparasitic medication before being carefully removed from the fish using forceps or tweezers.
Considering how strongly these parasites adhere to the body of the fish, it is not advisable to attempt to remove them while still live. Doing so may cause significant pain to the fish as well as physical damage. The wounds caused by the parasites should be treated to prevent secondary infection and aid in healing. Carefully dabbing wounds with Methylene Blue is recommended. Feeding a medicated antibacterial food may also be warranted if secondary infection is suspected.
All fish as well as the aquarium they inhabit should be treated to prevent recurrences caused by unseen free swimming juvenile parasites. "In water" medications such as Fluke Tabs, Clout, Paragon or Trifon 'may' be helpful, but the best meds include:
potassium permanganate. Or treat the whole tank with 2 mg per liter, but this method is messy and dyes the water.
Kordon TM - Aquarium Trifon
Oxolinic acid. This chemical is available in 200 gm bottles
The puncture site often becomes secondarily infected. The intense irritation brought on by the Argulus parasite often causes fish to rub or scrape against objects in the aquarium, in some cases even leaping from the aquarium, in an attempt to rid themselves of the parasites. Once the parasite has finished feeding it will swim freely in search of a new host. Argulus can survive for up to 3 weeks without a host.
Visible Lice attached to fish can be killed by dabbing with Potassium Permanganate or an antiparasitic medication before being carefully removed from the fish using forceps or tweezers.
Considering how strongly these parasites adhere to the body of the fish, it is not advisable to attempt to remove them while still live. Doing so may cause significant pain to the fish as well as physical damage. The wounds caused by the parasites should be treated to prevent secondary infection and aid in healing. Carefully dabbing wounds with Methylene Blue is recommended. Feeding a medicated antibacterial food may also be warranted if secondary infection is suspected.
All fish as well as the aquarium they inhabit should be treated to prevent recurrences caused by unseen free swimming juvenile parasites. "In water" medications such as Fluke Tabs, Clout, Paragon or Trifon 'may' be helpful, but the best meds include:
potassium permanganate. Or treat the whole tank with 2 mg per liter, but this method is messy and dyes the water.
Kordon TM - Aquarium Trifon
Oxolinic acid. This chemical is available in 200 gm bottles