Parasite med for synos AND African Cichlid

Robin · Post by **Robin** » 05 Mar 2004, 20:21

I know very little about my syno petricolas, other than that they can't handle the same harsh meds as the cichlids can.

I've got three of them along with two juvenile cichlids, (rusty and a lab). I've had them for just over a month, got them all at the same place and they've been in a 55 gallon which I'm temporarily using as a quarantine tank.

The synos and the cichlids appear in excellant health, however I've noticed that the cichlids occasionally have long white feces. (not particurly stringy, but definitely long and white),
SO, I figure to be on the safe side I should treat them and I'm wondering
if there's one med that will work and be safe for the catfish and cichlids so I can treat them in the 55

(Both my other hospital/quarantine tanks are occupied).

What sort of symtoms do catfish have with parasites?

Thanks for any help.

Robin
Oh and there is one more thing I know about my synos: they are great fish! Can't believe I've only just discovered them.

DeepFriedIctalurus · Post by **DeepFriedIctalurus** » 05 Mar 2004, 22:45

Robin, if the strings are clear at all it sounds like your Africans have a touch of Hexamita. This isn't unusual for them but stress can cause it to overrun the gut of the fish and eat the fish's food for it. Metronidazole (aquatronics' Hex-A-Mit) usually takes care of this w/o problems, just follow the directions explicitly. If there's no clear parts, it may just be the food they're eating. I've had fish that ate alot of hikari's cich lid staple have nearly white strings just from the food being pale.

I've yet to see a catfish have serious trouble from Hexamita but I've used metronidazole on the tank my 4 dwarf petricolas are in w/ no ill affects. Let us know how it turns out.

Tyler

Robin · Post by **Robin** » 06 Mar 2004, 19:36

Thanks Tyler.

No the strings are not clear--and where the long white strings are intermittant and where I do feed my fish a variety of food I think it's possible that they don't have parasites.

I've ordered some Met. and may treat them anyways as a precaution before adding them to my main tank.

Thanks for the info, it was helpful and I'm sure I'll be back as I get to know more about these great little fish.

Robin