Levamisole dosage, confused.

[lf11casey]

I need to treat one of my yoyos and I can't figure out the doasge. I have 2 options. The loach is only a little over an inch. I could treat in a 2 gl tank (don't really want to do) at .004 teaspoon. Or in the 20 gl qt at .038 teaspoon. According to the dosage calculator. The wormer is powder by the way. I was thinking about treating the other 2 loaches also but they are not skinny and came from a different shipment at an ealier date.
So basically I'm thinking I should just use the 20 gl qt to treat and the water quality will be more stable and the fish would have more room. So how the heck do I measure .038 of a teaspoon. Should I just go ahead and treat the other loaches or not?

Blah, I suck at math was always my worse class in school. Help my poor fishy.

[loachmom]

I recently treated with the levamisole powder. I also was unsure how to measure these small amounts. I ended up using Keith Wolcott's formula.

Here is thread where the formula was stated:
Click Here

Here is a quote of that formula:

I recommend ChefKeith's levamisole calculator at http://www.geocities.com/chefkeithallen/Levamisole.html. I used it to figure out that a 20 oz plastic soda bottle of water with 3/4 tsp of levamisole powder is a good mix that then requires 1 tablespoon of this liquid mix for every 10 gallons of tank water in order to get 2 ppm.

It was very simple, and my fish are fine.

[lf11casey]

Ah, thanks loachmom. That should help alot.

[chefkeith]

That's why there is a stock solution calculator.

If you put .25 teaspoon of Levamisole HCL powder in a 500 ml water bottle, then each Tablespoon of the solution will treat 4 gallons of water at a concentration of 2ppm.

[lf11casey]

That's why there is a stock solution calculator.

If you put .25 teaspoon of Levamisole HCL powder in a 500 ml water bottle, then each Tablespoon of the solution will treat 4 gallons of water at a concentration of 2ppm.

Thanks, I saw that but if my mind hadn't been so fuzzy from just waking up I would have understood it better. Mind was only working enough for the single dose part. Not as many numbers to figure out and fill in, lol.

So 5 tablespoons of stock solution will work in the 20 gl qt.

[chefkeith]

for one I listed, Yes, 5 tablespoons would treat 20 gallons.

[lf11casey]

Cool, glad that's been figured out. My fish and I thank you.

[clownloachfan]

any chance of a pic of the sic fish? it doesnt happen to have a bubble in its body does it?

[lf11casey]

any chance of a pic of the sic fish? it doesnt happen to have a bubble in its body does it?

No, there is no bubble that I can see anyway. I can try to get a pic of the loach, she/he hides alot in the mass of java moss I have.

[Blue]

Thanks as well, Chefkeith and Casey. I was confused with the dosage as well while attempting to treat my clown loach with Levamisole.

[loachmom]

Yes, chefkeith, I do believe you must be a genius.

I went back and looked at the stock solution calculator, and it was actually much easier to use than I first assumed. It must have been a hectic day when I first looked at it.

Thanks

[chefkeith]

Thankyou loachmom. I'm not very smart though. I'm currently unemployeed and back in college for the 3rd time in my life. Welding, then Culinary Arts, and now IT. Hopefully soon I'll know enough about computers to get my foot in the door somewhere.

[lf11casey]

I got the Levamisole in the mail yesturday, so I did the first treatment last night. Couple more questions for everyone. When should I do the first water change and how much should I change? How long should I wait to do another dose?
Here are a couple pics of the loach. They are not great as he/she kept moving around and when it did stop for a moment it was never at the right angle.
For size comparison the cory is 1 1/2'' and the food they are eating is a Hikari Sinking Carnivore pellet. As you can see the loach is really small and skinny.

[shari2]

Here's the regimen Casey. At least he/she's still eating. That's a good sign.

Dr. Roy Yanong, V.M.D. recommends the following for treating fish with internal parasites susceptible to Levamisole HCl:

"In answer to your question, the dosage rate for levamisole in a bath is 2 mg/L (2 ppm) for 24 hours (followed by 70-100% water change, and siphon the bottoms of the tanks), with repeat treatments necessary--retreat in 2-3 weeks, and probably one more time after that. This is regardless of size of fish."

The 2 mg/L dosage rate (of the active ingredient Levamisole) is currently (2007) the level being used by the scientific community. It effectively paralyzes Levamisole susceptible parasites at that concentration. Increasing the dosage level does not seem to have any greater effect. (Another good reason to avoid overdosing.) Paralysis of the worms takes place when that level of Levamisole is present in the host--your fish. Dr. Yanong recommends, whenever possible, trying to diagnose what parasite your fish are harboring prior to treatment. Work with an 'exotic pet' veterinarian, or a fish health specialist to insure you are treating with the right medication.

I don't do that large a water change, myself. 50% max, here. Always causes problems in my tank. You can add some carbon to your filtration if you are worried about leaving that small concentration of levamisole behind.
You do what you feel is best for your fish in their environment.

[lf11casey]

Thanks Shari. I figured it was 24 hrs for the water change, wanted to make sure though.