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FAQs on Goldfish Medications: Anthelminthics (de-wormers)

FAQs on Goldfish Medicines: Antibiotics (e.g. Maracyn, Tetracycline), Organophosphates (e.g. Fluke Tabs, Dylox), Salts, eSHa, Copper Compounds, Formalin, Malachite Green, Mela & Pima(not)Fix, Metronidazole (Flagyl), Sulfa Drugs, All Others...

Related Articles: Goldfish Systems, Goldfish Disease, GoldfishGoldfish Varieties Koi/Pond Fish Disease, Livestock Treatment System Bloaty, Floaty Goldfish, Gas Bubble Disease/Emphysematosis, Pond Parasite Control with DTHPHole in the Side Disease/Furunculosis,

Related Goldfish Disease FAQs:  Environmental 1, Environmental 2, Environmental 3Environmental 4, & Goldfish Disease 2, Goldfish Disease 3, Goldfish Disease 4, Goldfish Disease 6, Goldfish Disease 7, Goldfish Disease 8, Goldfish Disease 9, Goldfish Disease 10, Goldfish Disease 11, Goldfish Disease 12, Goldfish Disease 13, Goldfish Disease 14, Goldfish Disease 15, Goldfish Disease 16, Goldfish Disease 17, Goldfish Disease 18, Goldfish Disease 19, Goldfish Disease 20, Goldfish Disease 21, Goldfish Disease 22, Goldfish Health 23, Goldfish Disease 24, Goldfish Health 25, Goldfish Disease 26, Goldfish Disease 27, Goldfish Disease 28, Goldfish Disease 29, Goldfish Disease 30, Goldfish Disease 31, Goldfish Disease 33, Goldfish Disease 34, Goldfish Disease 35, Goldfish Health 36, Goldfish Health 37, Goldfish Health 38, Goldfish Disease 39 & Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Nitrogen Cycling, Koi/Pondfish Disease Goldfish in General, Goldfish Behavior, Goldfish Compatibility, Goldfish Systems, Goldfish FeedingBloaty, Floaty Goldfish, Goldfish Breeding/Reproduction 

 

Fluke Tabs: Mebendazole (a dewormer, also used in humans to treat pinworms) and Trichlorfon (an organophosphate)

Goldfish Disease by "Types", Causes:
Environmental 1, Environmental 2, Environmental 3, Environmental 4Environmental 5,  Environmental ,  (Absolutely the Biggest Category)
Floaty Bloaty Goldfish
Nutritional (Second Largest)
Genetic/Developmental
Eye Troubles
Lumps/Bumps/Growths (including idiopathic tumors)
Behavioral/Social
Viral and Bacterial, Fungal Infectious
Parasitic: (Ich, Protozoans, Flukes, Worms, Crustacean/ Anchorworms/Lernaeids, ) Fish Lice (Argulus),
Goldfish Swim Bladder Problems
Anomalous (Misc., Injuries, etc.)

New Print and eBook on Amazon

Goldfish Success
What it takes to keep goldfish healthy long-term

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Goldfish with internal parasites -- 1/22/10
Good morning:
<Hello,>
I am currently treating my fancy goldfish for intestinal parasites using Jungle anti-parasite medicated food (which contains both Metronidazole and Praziquantel). I have just completed the first three-day course of the medication but my fish is still extremely constipated, with very thin, clear, trailing feces.
<If the faeces are essentially brown, this is more likely constipation. If the faeces are transparent, then that tends to imply irritation of the gut wall, typically by internal protozoan parasites.>
Initially, the feces looked to contain tiny white dots (perhaps eggs?) but I do not currently have access to a microscope to confirm this observation.
<I see. Well, at least some parasites do produce white infective stages that emerge in the faeces to be then taken in by another animal elsewhere.>
He had a mashed pea and a small amount of broccoli this evening but it has not helped his condition. I am wondering if I should be using a stronger concentration of Metronidazole. The Jungle products do not list ingredients on the container so I am not certain what strength I am currently feeding but I believe it is quite mild.
<Do read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/metranidazole.htm
Recommended doses are listed.>
This problem has persisted since I purchased the fish in December. The peas occasionally assist his condition but it always returns. I have an API product that contains both Metronidazole and Prazi in powder form (to be added directly to the water) but I am not sure if this form of delivery is as effective as the medicated food.
<Medicated food better.>
I do have another three courses to go with the Jungle product, but would like to resolve this problem in the fastest and safest way possible. My water parameters are currently reading ammonia: 0 nitrites 0 and nitrates 10. The fish has a tank-mate who has not exhibited any unusual symptoms.
Both fish are eating well. Would you advise continuing with the Jungle treatment (I have another three weeks remaining to complete the recommended dosage) or is there a more effective product I might try?
Thank you for your advice!
Gina
<Cheers, Neale.>

Help with a worm issue please   8/22/09
My Husband went home today and found our Goldfish dead. There was a worm that was working it's way out from inside of the gill. It was as wide as a pencil eraser, It was white with reddish orange, maybe an inch long but it was coming out of the gill and then going back into the fish through his side. VERY nasty!!! What is this? I have 3 other fish in the tank. A catfish and 2 black goldfish. Do you think they are infected???
<Possibly. You will need to use a proprietary anti-Helminth medication since there's a chance the other fish are carrying worms as well.
Medications that contain Levamisole, Piperazine and Praziquantel are often recommended, but they don't work reliably, so if you can, use medications with Fenbendazole or Flubendazole instead. Do also be aware that some crustacean parasites, such as Anchor Worms and Gill Lice can look worm-like at first glance, and nothing you have said here helps me identify the problem either way, so you should use a search engine of your choice to find photos of these, and then act accordingly, since different medications will be required. Do be aware that some medications can be toxic to catfish, and do also remember that parasites often become problematic only when the fish are stressed, so review environmental conditions. Three Goldfish would need 40 gallons or more, and big catfish, such as "Plecs" (usually Pterygoplichthys species) can't be kept safely in tanks less than 55 gallons in size. So if you have a small tank, less than 55 gallons, poor
environmental conditions could easily be part of the problem. Cheers, Neale.>

What is best treatment for flukes in goldfish?  3/26/08 Hello, I was wondering what your recommendations are for treating body flukes in goldfish at least I think that's what they are. I have noticed from time to time that my goldfish will quickly rub themselves on aquarium decorations. <This could be a variety of things, not just flukes. Whitespot/Ick often manifests itself as scratching behaviour. Rapid changes in pH will also cause this behaviour. So you need to be a bit more open minded, or at least look for other symptoms that might pin down the problem> At one time I put in Live Bearer by Aquarium Products and that seemed to stop their behavior, but unfortunately I can't find it anymore in the local pet stores. <Do see here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/gldfshdisease.htm > I mainly want something that I can use as a preventative and not have to take out the carbon in my filter, etc. <Treating with a "preventative" is counter productive, and says more about how we sometimes view healthcare than what is actually useful. Most medications cause some degree of stress or harm to fish, and in some cases some fish simply get killed by them (loaches and copper-based medication is the classic example). So you need to use medications only when absolutely necessary. Instead focus on REAL preventative medicine, i.e., quarantining new livestock, providing a balanced diet, and ensuring good water quality. As for removing carbon, you need to replace carbon every month for it to do any good, so removing it for treatment purposes shouldn't be a chore. I don't feel that carbon serves ANY useful purpose in a freshwater tank; 50% weekly water changes will do a much better job of removing those pesky dissolved organics, and will also keep the nitrate down and prevent pH swings! Just say NO to carbon!> Thanks Sharon <Cheers, Neale.>

Goldfish Help Please, She's "The Bee's Knees" (With "Graphics") Hi, I have a rather large goldfish in a 39 gallon bow front tank, double filters, flow type, hang on side. As well as bubble maker. Fresh water. No Fresh plants. Goldie used to eat them or dislodge them. She likes her tank her way.. {:-) First, She is a rescue from an outside pond that puppy discovered and made holes. {:-) She is a common feeder goldfish. I guess a comet. She is listless, Sitting in one spot in bottom. Fins tucked in. She isn't eating very much. Was fine two days ago. She looks to the naked eye, ok.  However, I found these worms things clinging to the filter material in one of the filters. One of the worm things is segmented and black or dark brown about this long > --- < It was alive and moving. The other is like a bug looking thing. It has a head and a body about the same dark color. It is about this long > _ <  I Feed pond pellets and flakes with dried shrimp pieces. No heater. Clean filters weekly and there is no top (do have multi spectrum light) on this tank so water evaporates and is added to almost daily. Use Tap water after sitting out for 24 hours. No odors coming from tank.  She also poops, huge poops that are the length of tank, but in the last few days small thin poops. I don't know what else to add. She is about 6 years old maybe 7 years old. No problems till now. What are these filter animals? < Pond fish pick up all kinds of things from being outdoors. I would guess a plant leech and maybe a fish louse.> Do I need to and how do I get rid of them? < Fluke-tabs will get rid of both of them.> They don't cling to her. I don't see any injuries or strange marks on her. NO Ich or velvet.. Is tank too small ? < As long as the filter is moving at least three times the tank volume per hour and the nitrates don't exceed 25 ppm then it should be fine.> Should I put her back in pond.? < Sure if you want to but not while she is ill.> It has been refilled and more fish added and been healthy for several months. I am afraid to spread these worm - bug thingies and her problem.. I would be most grateful for any advice you could give. Please help me rescue Goldie one more time. She is the bee's knees in goldfish world. Bright and inquisitive and funny. She is alone in tank.  I have a 65 gallon tank with 13 inch black shark (Blackie) 6 catfish and a Pleco and 2 silver dollars. No problems there. Thanks in advance and God bless, Jan < The bug things are easy to cure. I would only feed her enough food so that all of it is gone in two minutes once each day. If she has an internal bacterial infection and she begins to bloat then I would recommend a 30% water change while vacuuming the gravel. Clean the filter and treat with Metronidazole.-Chuck> 

There is a very safe treatment for flukes <Ananda here today...> Flukes are easily and safely treated with the dog worming medication: Droncit.   <With a bit of research, I found that Droncit is also known as Praziquantel. It is prescribed as a tapeworm medication for both dogs and cats.> Treatment on day 1 and day three or four, successfully kills flukes in Goldfish.  See Dr. Erik Johnson's book, Fancy Goldfish for precise dosages. Best wishes, Goldfish geek <Thank you for the heads-up on this book. I took a look at the book previews and it appears to be a very good book to have, even if you don't keep goldfish. --Ananda>

New Print and eBook on Amazon

Goldfish Success
What it takes to keep goldfish healthy long-term

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

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