copperband twitching its head

[daniella3d]

Ok thanks, I will do that.

Originally Posted by Myka

If he looks good after 24 hours, start Prazi. If he looks bad, decide from there whether to give him a bit more time or whether time will only make things worse. Educated guess is about all we have for most diseases/parasites.

[daniella3d]

I treated the tank with prazipro yesterday. none of the flatworms in the tank are affected one bit. They are all over the glass as if nothing was in the tank.

Either prazipro does not affect aquarium flatworms or this prazi (brand new) is not good any longer (unlikely).

If it does kill flatworms, it takes longer than a day to do so. My bristle stars and bristle worms are not affected as well as my spagetti worms.

[Delphinus]

That's interesting about the flatworms not being affected. When I did praziquantel I bought both Prazipro and Praztastic but only used the Praztastic, which is I think more concentrated so it could be that it takes longer with Prazipro. I did not have the red flatworms or the smaller clear ones, or at least, none that I knew of, but I did notice weird flat worm looking things coming out of the rock and floating off into the current, so I figured it did have an effect.

I intended on doing a second treatment because the tang was so badly "infected" but after about a week I did start to notice improvements .. so elected to hold off on the second treatment and only do so if really necessary - but it never proved to be necessary.

I had major amounts of green slime algae form on the glass shortly after treatment that lasted until well after the treatment stopped so I was all too happy not to do that second treatment.

So my advice is to keep watching for now, it might take a few more days. Hopefully that's all it is. Good luck!

[Myka]

Prazi won't hurt flatworms or starfish ime.

[daniella3d]

Ha ok. I was wondering because I had read of some people were advised to use prazipro for flatworms instead of flatworm exit.

The fish seem to be breathing much slower now. Still eating but much less so I guess it's because of the medication. Good thing I waited until he was really fat.

[Myka]

I think scientifically flatworms aren't actually worms which is why they won't be harmed by Prazi, but don't quote me on that.

Sounds like you're taking the right steps, and they are working for you. Right on!

[fiorano]

i've had a copperband for over 2 years now. and he twitches his head frantically every time i walk by the tank. i've by now guaranteed myself its just because he wants food and is excited. mainly because he makes eye contact and twitches more when i walk from the freezer to the tank ha ha, could it maybe just be something as simple as that?

Originally Posted by Myka

Prazi won't hurt flatworms or starfish ime.

Hi just reading through this thread again but Prazi-pro and praziquantel are two different medications. praziquantel does have Prazi in it but it also contains another medication I can not think of it off the top of my head too many things running around in there right now. so yes Prazi-pro normally does not affect flat worms but it can in high doses the bottle advises it treats:"flukes, tapeworms, flatworms, turbellarians." this comes right off the bottle. You may have to use a double dose for flat worms I don't know as I have never had them and never treated for them. I had a fish come in and after QT and was in the tank the fish started showing signs of flukes. I get mine out of the USA in 4 oz bottles so I don't order often only once in 1.5 years I got extra for a couple other people. and I still say it was flukes..

Bill

[daniella3d]

No, prazipro does not contain anything else except a solvant. It is praziquantal in a liquid form, already dissolved and ready to use. I have read that some people say it containt metronidazole but I have no idea where they got this.

It's not that it will kill the flatworms in high dose, but rather that it kill certain type of flatworms and not others and the others that it does not kill are those pests in our aquarium. I would rather use flatworm exit instead if needed

The problem that remain with my copperband is that he's breathing quite fast in the morning and that changes during the day, then he start to breath slowly and normaly by mid day. Maybe there is just a lack of oxygen in my tank during the night because I shut off my skimmer to let the fish sleep? or maybe he's just spooked when the light turn on? I would imagine that if this was flukes it would be breathing fast all day, not just in the morning?

Originally Posted by bvlester

Hi just reading through this thread again but Prazi-pro and praziquantel are two different medications. praziquantel does have Prazi in it but it also contains another medication I can not think of it off the top of my head too many things running around in there right now. so yes Prazi-pro normally does not affect flat worms but it can in high doses the bottle advises it treats:"flukes, tapeworms, flatworms, turbellarians." this comes right off the bottle. You may have to use a double dose for flat worms I don't know as I have never had them and never treated for them. I had a fish come in and after QT and was in the tank the fish started showing signs of flukes. I get mine out of the USA in 4 oz bottles so I don't order often only once in 1.5 years I got extra for a couple other people. and I still say it was flukes..

Bill

[Delphinus]

Bill, did you maybe mean Praztastic has a second ingredient besides praziquantel?