PlanetCatfish.com

Hi,
I have some platys in my tank which I think have some parasite problems cos they are pooing white/almost transparent poo, and i read somewhere that could be due to parasites. I'm treating them with methylene blue, but I just wanted to check to make sure that is safe to use with plecos.

I think it's fine, though for parasites, I would reccomend using 1tsp of aquarium salt per gallon, or treating the whole tank with potassium permangenate at a concetraion 2mg/l. ALternativley, give the fish in question a 15 minute long bath in a solution of Potassium permangenate at a concetration of 10mg/l.

-dunc

Thank you for replying. ill try one of the methods for killing parasites you mentioned.

Sounds like your fish have internal parasites (Spironucleus, Hexamita, or Cryptobia).
I have treated African cichlids with Clout (Aquarium Products). Various Loricariidae were also treated and survived.
Some people prefer to use Metronidazole and I'm not sure how that affects plecos but I don't
feel the Mythlene Blue will do the trick.

Clout Treatment

Metronidazole

Meth Blue is OK with scaleless fishes (like cats) in low doses. That said, I am with Jackster in thinking that it will have little to no affect on internal parasites. Salt will not affect internal parasites either. In addition to Jacksters suggestions above, I have had good luck with Pepso Food and Internal Parasite Guard from Jungle.
-Shane

http://www.clubjungle.com/uploads/pdf/fish_chart.pdf

I have the same experience as Shane, Jungle's products for internal parasites works very well and loricariid's dont show any stress symptoms on their medicine.
In your case with platy I would suggest Pepso food, Jungle Internal Parasite Guard contains mostly salt and the active ingredients are Metronidazole and the salt are used as the carrier for the medicine.

Janne

Thanks for your replies. I managed to solve the internal parasite problem. I got hold of some anti-parasite treatment and all my fish seem happy and back to normal.

Hi,
In all the instalation's in brazil they keep the pleco's and stingray's in Meth Blue, as soon as they come out of the river.


Kev

Dark Lady wrote:Hi,
I have some platys in my tank which I think have some parasite problems cos they are pooing white/almost transparent poo, and i read somewhere that could be due to parasites. I'm treating them with methylene blue, but I just wanted to check to make sure that is safe to use with pl*cos.

Methylene Blue causes severe disruption of nitrification, and should only ever be used in quarantine/treatment aquaria. Filter media etc. will adsorb the dye, and will subsequently be of little use as a substrate for bacterial colonies.
Meth Blue is also carcinogenic, and should be used very carefully