Help with diagnosis...

[JasonC]

Okay as mentioned in a previous thread http://www.apistogramma.com/forum/showthread.php?12337-Beckfordi-pencilfish-sensitive ,
I had quickly lost a group of Beckfordi pencils that I had placed into quarantine. Along with that, I have also lost 3 A. baenschi females that were hanging out in there waiting to be re-homed. The only symptom that I can see as common, is that on all the Apistos, they had some red blotches on their sides about in line with the start of their dorsals.

What can I do? I have been doing very well with these Apistos up until now, and would like to not loose the rest. Any ideas on what this might be???

Anything I can look for on the corpses to help diagnose?

 

[tjudy]

Sounds like a 'septicemia'-like bacterial infection of the skin. I would treat with a broad-spectrum antibiotic and lots of water changes.

 

[JasonC]

Noticed another Apisto struggling *really* bad this morning, and saw that it seemed to have a swollen/red anus. I'm guessing callumanus worms on that... hit the tank with a 90% PWC, and a dose of Levimazole at 23mg/L. Will probably do the same tomorrow or the next day depending if you all think this is the right thing... or will maybe move to Flubendazole if you all think that may be more effective.

Re the skin infection... broad spectrum antibiotic.. would metronidazole work for this? other suggestions of some commonly available meds?

thanks again... really hoping the 2 ladies left survive. I'm a bit annoyed by all this.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Could well be Camallanus, they are very difficult to quarantine for, as the nematodes can remain at low levels in starved fish for extended periods, before the population explodes as the fish is better fed. If it is Camallanus, the death of your Pencils is coincidental, as it takes a long time to build up to the levels where the nematodes protrude. A lot of SE Asian bred Apistogramma carry Camallanus infections, and the nematodes are often resistant to flubendazole, so it may not work.

If you can get levamisole it is more effective, details via the excellent Loaches Online article. <http://www.loaches.com/Members/shari2/levamisole-hydrochloride-1>

If you split the abdomen from the anus of the dead fish open you will be able to see the nematode mass in the lower intestine.

I've only experienced it once, and it isn't very nice. As far as I know once the worms are visible, death is imminent.

cheers Darrel