Who Gives A Fish Forums

I'm still a ways off from getting my discus, but the tank's all set up and I'm currently working on the fishless cycle - 75 gallons and I'm planning on sourcing them from Hans. I've also got my water aging and preheating facilities up and running, and they've been tested.

Been doing a lot of reading lately and I was wondering if anyone could help me out with dosages for Al's Quarantine? I've already got a bunch of meds on hand, including kanaplex, metroplex, expel-p, paracleanse, Ich-X, and Maracyn, as well as Focus and GarlicGuard for mixing into feed. Just want to make sure I've got enough to cover all the recommended steps.

Also, are there any meds that you guys would recommend keeping in stock for discus? I've got the basics covered, but I'm not sure what else I should have on hand. The thing is, I don't have any pet stores nearby, so if I need something, I've got to make a bit of a drive to get to the chain stores or a local fish store - and even then, I'm not sure what they'll have in stock.

I'm just trying to avoid that situation where I'm like "oh no, my discus are doing X" and then I've got to wait a few days for something to be shipped because I don't have it on hand. Within reason, of course.

Oh, and I've also got an old microscope that I picked up from a friend a couple of years ago - he used it in college and it's actually pretty good. I've never really had a chance to use it, but I'm thinking I might dust it off and start taking a closer look at some things. I'm pretty sure one of the lenses is 400x, but don't quote me on that.

Re: Quarantine Questions...

For worm treatments, I'd recommend using Levamisole at a dosage of 90 mg per 10 gallons in its pure form. Similarly, Praziquantel should be used at 110 mg per 10 gallons.

Re: Quarantine Questions...

I just dosed Prazi tonight and I'm wondering if this is a one-time 24-hour bath or if I should be doing this for a few days.
Should I be feeding my fish lighter during the treatment, or is it business as usual?

Re: Quarantine Questions...

After deworming a fish in quarantine with Praziquantel, re-infection is unlikely unless it's from another infected fish or contaminated live food. Assuming your stock has been dewormed before introducing them to the main tank, the risk of re-infection is very low. Companies suggesting monthly worming are just after repeat sales - worms don't magically appear.

Quarantine procedures are key. Week One: frequent water changes, monitor fish behavior, and treat any specific issues. Ensure all fish are eating and passing normal feces.

Week Two: Praziquantel for tapeworms, followed by a general dewormer like Levamisole as a 24-hour bath. Quarantine everything, regardless of its origin.

After six weeks, if the fish look healthy and are eating well, add a 'test fish' from your existing stock to the new fish. Monitor them for another two weeks. If all's well, it's likely safe to mix the fish. Finally, consider a prophylactic treatment for parasitic flagellates using Metronidazole.

Re: Quarantine Questions...

I'm following that procedure and it's been helpful so far. I do have a question about the Praziquantel treatment, though. Since I just dosed it tonight, I'm wondering if I should still do a water change tomorrow as planned. And if I do, should I re-dose the new water with Prazi or is it a one-time 24-hour treatment that I can let my regular water changes take care of later on?

I'm a bit unclear on this part, which is why I'm asking for clarification. I want to make sure I'm doing everything right to get these new discus juveniles as healthy as possible for grow out. They'll be the only fish in the tank, so I'm not worried about introducing them to existing stock, I just want to make sure they're clean and healthy from the start.

Re: Quarantine Questions...

Praziquantel can be left in the water for 24 hours, it's stable. You can use vodka or dimethyl sulfoxide to dissolve it, either works.

Re: Quarantine Questions...

Thanks, sonyx.

Re: Quarantine Questions...

Levamisole's in, Prazi treatment was uneventful. Package instructions advise against feeding, but is that really necessary? I've got the tank light off, given its light sensitivity. Should I also cover the tank to prevent any indirect sunlight from affecting things? The tank's about 10 feet away from a window, so it's not direct sunlight, but still.