Skinny Disease (I think)

[Holdstrong]

Hi all,

A few months back I read, and re-read, the articles and posts on this site about skinny disease when one of my loaches appeared to have it.

He/she was lethargic, not growing, showing signs of body mass loss... etc etc. Basically looked like the sick loaches in these pictures

I isolated the loach, concentrated on individual feeding, and began treatment with two products recommended by the LFS. 1 was an anti-parasite food containing Praziquantel. The other was called Aquazole, which is a powder that contains metronidazole.

After a week or so, we noticed the loach increase actiovity and eating and moved it back to the main tank.

Well, it is a few months later now... and the loach is active and eating. But is still very skinny.

As we are getting ready to upgrade this tank, I figured now might be a good chance to take another run at helping this loach. My LFS do not have access to the Levamisole I read about on this site, and I have no idea how to acquire it otherwise. So I am looking for any other advise that some of you might have.

thanks in advance.

[Emma Turner]

Hi Holdstrong,

Where abouts are you located? This will help with treatment recommendations and where to purchase. When you treated your fish before, how many treatments did you carry out? I have found the best results are obtained when 4 or 5 treatments are carried out spaced several days apart (with substrate siphoning in between). The products we use at our shop are Levamisole hydrochloride (from the vets) and Flubendazole (sold as Flubenol or Kusuri Wormer Plus). The latter is available on eBay, but I am not sure if it can be shipped worldwide.

Emma

[Holdstrong]

Hi Emma,

I am in Boston, Massachusetts.

I tried to track down Levamisole and Flubendazole (as per other posts) but struck out. I didn't think to check ebay though.

The two meds I found were the closest recommended by the local fish stores. I dosed every other day for a total of about 5 or 6 times - but the loach didnt touch (when I was looking) the medicated food that contained the Praziquantel. The Aquazole was mixed in with blood worms and brine shrimp which were eaten.

The quarantine tank had no substrate.

I did not try Maracyn as I just read suggested in another post.

[plaalye]

Hi Holdstrong,
You may have to get out of the city to the nearest farming area and check the local farm supply. They are sold as pig and sheep wormers. Also could try a local vet that deals with farm animals.

[shari2]

inkmaker -(charles) can supply you with flubendazole. see the link here:
http://inkmkr.com/Fish/#anchor1234

it will kill snails, however.

Just went looking around for my usual suppliers of levamisole and can't seem to find the product.

I'll have a better look later. Would hate to think it's not available!

[Diana]

Maracyn is an antibiotic that treats Gram positive bacteria. It slows the growth of these bacteria. If you want to include a round of antibiotics in the treatment you could use a combination of Maracyn and MaracynII (Which slows the growth of Gram negative bacteria).
There are other antibiotics to choose from, too.

[Holdstrong]

Well, I am a few days away from transferring my fish to a larger home. When I do so I will be trying to treat mr skinny again. I believe I have found some Fluben, but no luck on the Leva. Going to leave it behind in the old tank after I move the rest and dose it along with some antibiotics. Was thinking of feeding the heck out it too just to see if it needed to go on a bulk up diet for a bit.

This loach is still doing fine. Active as ever. First to the food, fights and grays out with the other loach closet to its size. Very personable and otherwise healthy. Just emaciated.