Intention to buy a group of wild caught Panoquolus Abolmaculatus LDA 031. Need Advice on Deworming/parasite treatments.

[pleconut]

Hi Folks, in the next few weeks I intend to purchase a group of Panoquolus Abolmaculatus, they're obviously wild caught, as they've not been bred in captivity yet, as far as I know.These are to go with one I purchased the other day. I've been assessing his health continually, i may find he needs treating, but so far he is OK, thin, but he's eating well, including the wood I provided, he had been at the LFS for quite some time, in a tank without wood! It might be an explanation as to why he's thin. As I'm getting wild caught plecos, as specified by the stockist, I want to prepare myself now for it by knowing of a suitable deworming and parasite treatment, available in the uk, should I find I need to use one. I've checked with the supplier I plan to get them from, who's said they are not dewormed during the acclimation period after they arrive, and as far as he knows not during transit either. So this might be something I need to do myself. Obviously they will be Quarantined. I have had a couple of wild caught plecos in the past, but somehow back then, I didn't even consider it, (I'm a bit more cautious, than I once was, now). With no such problems developing. How likely is it to be an issue, and does anyone have suggestions of something available in the UK that is suitable to use. (I ran a forum search but wasn't certain medications suggested or used were available in uk). Any advice appreciated.

[Forester]

One thing that you may want to stick some BNs in with them because during transit they will have lost all of the bacteria in their stomachs that they use to breakdown wood. They can regain that bacteria from the BNs poop.

As for deworming I would recommend Fenbendazole, it is the same as what they use for dogs and other animals. I get mine from Thomas Labs but they are in the US.

Just my two cents.

[pleconut]

Thanks for the advice about adding BNs I was given a similar tip by someone else also. I keep another Panoquolus sp, also wood eaters, i donated some wood, substrate and a cave, which would have contained residues of waste from my L397 tank, for the one i got the other day, he's doing well. I can do the exact same thing with the new ones. Thanks also for the info about the deworming treatment, I've never found it to be a problem, but I'd rather be prepared.

[smitty]

I have never received wild caught plecos. But is it really a must that they be dewormed and treated for parasites. I have caught wild fish and put them in my tank and have never ever had a problem in 30 years.

[pleconut]

Thanks for the info smitty, as the one i have isn't showing signs of a problem, has been in the LFS a while but I will keep a close eye on him. I will track down a suitable treatment though.

[pleconut]

An update: I purchased already another Panoquolus Albomaculatus from the same source to add the male that I purchased, this time I think it might be a female, I need to obviously successfully get her back into a good condition, they are not far from being adults but the condition she's in makes her almost unsexable. I only supsect female because of behavioural characteristics alone. The male is doing very well, his once concave belly isn't like this now, I'm extremely pleased and surprised with the progress he has made. . Hoping I can achieve this with the female. Obviously adding to them by obtaining more isn't in the plans for now, as I think I might have a pair.

However the female is definitely showing signs of an external parasite and there's possibly an internal parasite problem, although I have seen no symptoms of worms. I'm not asking for advice here as I've already been advised by the guy who bred my L397s and have found and purchased a suitable treatment which will cover them, for both internal and external parasites, he has lots of experience treating WC plecos. All the same I'm willing to list parameters ect as a matter of course if necessary.

When the treatment is completed and they both are showing signs they are recovering from being kept without wood, I will obviously be updating on how these both of these plecos are getting on.

[bekateen]

If after treatment, you find any worms pooped out, please do show us the pictures. Although there is probably no additional treatment advice to be given after seeing such pics (assuming thusly that the meds have done their job and the fish is getting better), it would certainly be interesting to see what worms your albomaculatus were infested with, (if they can be recognized, even to general type). That may be helpful to others in the future.

Cheers, Eric

[pleconut]

I will do, when the treatment is done, a really good gravel vac is the usual protocol. If anything shows itself I will take pics -if it helps people to know how to diagnose and combat them. When the medication arrives i will know what drugs it contains this may help also. Its a dewormer parasite treatment from a supplier called Plymouth discus in the UK. I'm also thinking of really thinning out the substrate so i get them if they are a problem. I'm going to attempt to get some update pics, of the male in the next few days. I think its better to leave the female alone at present so she doesn't get stressed.

[pleconut]

I can happily confirm my male is actually eating, I just caught him with a New era pleco pellet in his mouth. Now for the female's turn.

[pleconut]

The treatment that I've been recommended to use, and have now treated them with is a flubendazole based treatment, called wormer plus, purchased from Plymouth Discus in the UK. The instructions that came are that its used on day one, and a second dose after four days if gill flukes need to be treated, or for heavy worm infestations. As there's been some flashing on the side of the cave and rapid breathing the second dose will be added in this case. Both are eating well and both their bellies are a lot less concave than they were, I'm now almost certain that they both will recover fully, I have actually gone to get them a tank they will be in for their long term future.