Levamisole Powder is an often recommended medication for treating parasites, especially camallanus worm. Unfortunately this medication must be dosed low enough to keep the fish safe as it is very hard on the liver and may not always kill the parasite. More often than not it will only paralyze the parasite. This is why it is critical to dose carefully and to do the recommended deep gravel vacs to clean up paralyzed parasites.
One added benefit of treating with Levamisole is that it gives the immune system a boost and the fish may appear to be healthy and more active shortly after dosing.
Treats: Stomach worms–Haemonchus spp; Ostertagia spp; Trichostrongylus spp; Roundworms– Nematodirus spp (which include threadworms); Cooperia spp; Nodular worms–Oesophagostomum; Chabertia spp; Hookworms–Bunostomum spp; Necator spp; and Ancylostoma spp; and Lungworms– Dictyocaulus spp.
Does NOT treat ……….Cestodes (tapeworms) or Trematodes (flatworms or flukes)
Safe for invertebrates and plants
Treatment Plan: Dose 90mg per 10 gallons or 1/4 teaspoon per 100 gallons. In 24 hours do a 75-100% water change (yes, a complete water change) with deep gravel vacs. Repeat for a second treatment.
Then repeat both doses in 3 weeks as this will take care of the larvae that hatched.
Continue with redosing in 3 week cycles until the parasite reproductive cycle has been broken. And closely monitor fish for a few months for any signs of reinfection, especially when dealing with highly resistant parasites, such as camalanus worms. I have heard from many who thought they rid their tank of camalanus worms, only to discover fish were reinfected a few months after the last treatment cycle. If attempting to treat in a tank with live plants and deep gravel vacs are not possible, it will be very difficult to completely rid a tank once infected.
Do not share equipment between tanks to avoid contaminating other tanks in your fish room.
Keep lights off during treatment as this medication is light sensitive.
Some customers have indicated that adult parasites are not killed, but only paralyzed. As resistance builds this may become more and more common.
Purchase pure Levamisole at Everything Aquatic