sick green terror

Question
QUESTION: hi ron,
my green terror isn't eating for about two weeks. i checked the water quality and everything is good. my fish has also been making clear poop for two weeks. the guy at the fish store told me he has internal parasites.he told me to use tetracycline so i started yesterday. i was reading on the net that tetracycline doesn't work for that. they were saying to use metronidazole. i got so many opinions i don't know what to due.i also heard garlic is good.please let me know what medicine to use.

thanks

ANSWER: Hi Steve,

First of all, your question was in the question pool today. I know it's probably been quite awhile since you asked it, so I want to ask you not to hold it against me for the other expert's tardiness in responding.  It was just given to the rest of us today, so I picked your question as soon as it arrived. :)  Rate me appropriately, please, as I strive to give professional answers, in a timely fashion...and please don't blame me for the late response.  It wasn't asked of me, but of another expert, initially.

Your Green Terror probably does have a parasite, however I wonder why a petstore employee would recommend Tetracycline to treat it.  Tetracycline is an antibiotic, and it is not for Protozoans or parasites.

You need to get a product containing Prazquantel.  Prazipro is a good product to treat internal parasites with.  It will work, where the Tetracycline did not.

Metronidazole may also help.  But, the prazipro is a far-better parasite killer.

Garlic will treat bacteria and helps eating disorders, and has minimal anti-parasitic qualities.  It is not a parasite remover.  It would take months to rid parasites in a fish.

I hope my answers have been both helpful and professional.  Steve, if you have any additional questions, please feel free to ask a followup, or two.

Happy fish-keeping!

Renee

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Renee,
Thank you for answering my question.I bought a product called internal parasite guard by Jungle it contains praziquantel,metronidazole,and sodium chloride.It says it clears internal parasites.I am on my third dose of treatment.After the first dose the fish started to eat but since then it has not ate anything.During the treatment I noticed the fishes poo looking kind of like a tapeworm.How will I know when the parasite has passed?Also once I finish the third treatment should i put back the carbon and continue my regular maintnance or should I keep treating it until the fish starts to eat on a regular basis?Once again thank you.You have been very helpful.

Answer
Hi Steve,

This last treatment, change out 30% of the water prior to treatment.

Make sure heat is apprioriate - 80 degrees Farenheit.

Treat the aquarium and remove all charcoal filtration.

When the treatment has run its course, return the charcoal filtration, and begin changing water at the rate of 25% every 3 days for 2 weeks.  By then, the Praz water will have cycled out and your fish's parasites should indeed have passed.

The combination of memdications given are very effective.  The parasites will indeed be gone. :) To know, watch the fish closely.  If he does not begin putting weight on, then this is not a parasitic issue, although it certainly sounds that way to me.

Happy fish-keeping!

Renee