Caudata.org: Newts and Salamanders Portal

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Did you know that registered users see fewer ads? Register today!

How to treat camallanus worms

Biev

New member
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Messages
165
Reaction score
6
Location
Canada
Since there is very little info about this online, I thought I'd share my method for treating camallanus in axolotls (and fish, scaleless fish and inverts). I decided to use levamisole HCl after finding an academic paper in which they used it to treat camallanus in frogs. Using this method, I was able to treat a severe camallanus infestation without losing a single animal.

The problem with levamisole HCl is that people tend to massively overdose since it takes such a small amount. I went with the dose that is reportedly safe for loaches and inverts: 9 mg/gal. Since that's too small to measure even with a spoon scale, we need to convert it to a volume to be able to administer it precisely. Here's the method I used:

1) Dissolve 1/4 tsp in 100 mL of dechlorinated water. Mix well.

2) Add 0.9 mL of the solution per gallon of tank water to be treated. (I measure it with a 1 mL syringe, which I got at the pharmacy.)
Note: the solution needs to be used immediately as it is very unstable. Lights and UV filtration need to be turned off for the duration of the treatment (and carbon removed obviously).
3) After 24h, do a big water change, siphoning up any fallen worms.

4) Repeat in 2 weeks, and again 2 weeks after that.

Here is the logic behind the numbers:

  • 9 mg of powder treats 1 gallon of water
  • 1/4 tsp weighs approximately 1 g (according to several websites)
  • Hence, 1/4 tsp treats 111.111... gallons
  • Dissolving it in 100 mL (99.999... mL) gives the easier to measure 0.9 mL/gallon ratio
Hope this helps!
 

Cloppy

New member
Joined
Jan 7, 2017
Messages
306
Reaction score
7
Location
Georgia
Thank you for sharing, I think we need more of the instructional type threads in the appropriate forum. Anyone sticky this?
 
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
    There are no messages in the chat. Be the first one to say Hi!
    Top