Sorry, this is a really long thread. I hope someone will take the time to read and respond. Almost a year ago, I set up a 26-gallon reef tank. I started with two frostbite clownfish, one smith’s fang blenny, one goby, and a pistol shrimp. Both the clownfish seemed to have internal parasites (white/stringy feces), so I treated them with Hikari Metro+ (mixed in their mysis and fed every twelve hours). After two weeks of treatment, I saw one of the clowns (dominant female) with normal feces and decided to stop the treatment. Little did I know that the other clown still had the parasite. After a few months, she started bullying him more than usual. I think this stressed him out a lot and caused the parasite to take over, which unfortunately lead to his death (symptoms before death were lack of appetite/activity, white/stringy feces) I treated everyone with Metro+ again for another two to three weeks. After a few months of waiting, my fang blenny began to show the same symptoms that my clown did before dying. I was extremely worried, especially because I was about to leave for vacation. I had my friend keep an eye on him, but he died by the time I got back. Once again, I treated with Metro+. After several months of waiting to see if anything else happened, I decided to get a Pygmy wrasse. She was a wonderful addition, but only lasted a few months. Before death, she stopped eating and wasn’t nearly as active before. She would sleep all day. I noticed she had white feces the day before she died, so I removed all the activated carbon in my filtration system and treated everyone with Prazipro. This is the second week of treatment and I have several questions that I hope someone will be able to answer. During this entire process (after the very first treatment of Metro+), my female clownfish and goby never showed one symptom of internal parasites. These two are the only survivors. Is it possible that they’ve grown immune or resistant to this parasite? Do you think I’m treating this correctly, and if so, would a third week of Prazipro be necessary? Thank you so much for your time. @Stella1979
Internal Parasites
- Thread starter Adriifu
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Billldg
My Gem Tang Is Watching You
Unfortunately, all meds indicated really only treat on the outside, for internal parasites I would recommend GC and Focus mixed in with their food and feed for 2 weeks. This can also be done while fish r in QT with copper.
I used Metro+ with Focus in their food, which is meant for internal parasites if I’m not mistaken. Same with Prazipro.
Edit: I know you are both busy, but I would appreciate it if you didn’t just skim through what I typed.
Billldg
My Gem Tang Is Watching You
Unless your fish drink ALOT of water, prazi really only works on the outside, its a great med, I use it, but it doesn't get inside of fish properly.
I just did a 2 week dose of GC and focus mixed in the food while fish were in copper and it worked great.
I don't even wait to see if fish show any sign, as soon as I get them I will treat for internal parasites.
Well, if Prazipro isn’t the way to go, I can purchase General Cure and mix it in with their food. I already have Focus and Metro, though. Can’t I just use these two? Anyway, this doesn’t explain why the Metro+ didn’t work in previous treatments.
Billldg
My Gem Tang Is Watching You
Remember, because we treat for parasites doesn't always mean we get them all as new strains are coming out all the time. As we buy fish from dealers and as fish are kept by dealers the parasites also adapt. Currently my QT process is 4 weeks of copper, whatever flavor you like, along with 2 weeks of GC and Focus mixed into food, and then 2 weeks of prazi. Next batch of fish I will be doing 2 weeks of coppersafe along with 2 weeks of GC and Focus mixed in with food, and then move fish to a new sterile tank and 2 weeks of prazi. All those meds r good as I also have them, but right now GC seems to be the way to go, maybe they have a newer formula to kill the newer parasites, who knows. Good Luck!!!
Okay. Thanks for the input. I did previously state that no current fish shows signs of parasites. Their feces is brown and isn’t stringy. It was always only the newcomers (fang blenny and Pygmy wrasse) Do you think they’re immune and could still be carrying it? I’m only doing Prazipro right now because Metro+ did nothing, so I’ll get General Cure when the Prazipro treatment is done.
Billldg
My Gem Tang Is Watching You
I guessing it could be a possibility as ICK can effect some fish worse then others, don't see why this couldn't be the same, maybe someone with more knowledge than myself can chime in.
#reefsquad
ScooterV
Well-Known Member
Complete layman's terms here, but my understanding has always been when used in food praziquental was for internal worms while metro was for other internal parasites. GC obviously has both.
Hello. Prazipro will be removed from the tank tomorrow morning after a water change. I’ll be adding my activated carbon back into the second filter as well to get rid of anything left over. I have the General Cure. Do you happen to know the amount of GC and Focus I need to add to each cube of mysis? I’ll feed them right after the water change and twelve hours later for two to three weeks.
