Aquatic Gardens Ponds, Streams, Waterfalls & Fountains: Volume 1. Design & Construction Volume 2. Maintenance, Stocking, Examples V. 1 Print and eBook on Amazon V. 2 Print and eBook on Amazon   by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Argulus medication in Fresh Water Ponds of Catla Catla & Labeo Rohita     11/15/16
Dear Robert and Wet Web Media,
<Krishna; hey; one of our dive guides shares your name here in Mauritius>
I am a Chemical Engineer and working in Aquaculture Industry in India. Our Fish farmers raise Major Carps (Catla catla, Labeo rohita etc.,) .
<Ah yes; many important food Cyprinids>
The is too much of Argulus (sea lice) here. We found existing medications cease to work due to raised resistance of Argulus.
<Mmm; I take it you mean organophosphates... acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors>
Would you enlighten us with some new formulas which we can try out?
<What have you tried/used thus far? Common/generic and IUPAC names please>
Thank you, I look forward
<Cheers, and we'll be chatting... Am out dive-adventuring to mo.s end; so no access to chem. abstracts, what have you. Bob Fenner>
Re: Argulus medication in Fresh Water Ponds of Catla Catla & Labeo Rohita     11/16/16
Emamectin Benzoate used to solve the problem some extent. But it became obsolete now in our Aquaculture industry. There are few unknown costly medications used by some dealers, (some say 'Biospot') whose formula is unknown. They stop the outbreak a bit, but again they lice come severe.
<Mmm; have you tried Lufenuron along w/ the Emamectin (1:4)? Is there a possibility of formalin flushing, or bathing stock while sterilizing holding facilities? Bob Fenner>
Re: Argulus medication in Fresh Water Ponds of Catla Catla & Labeo Rohita      11/16/16
Lufenuron, I did not try it myself. I am not sure whether people would have tried Lufenuron here. My best guess is someone would have already tried it here since we have around 1 lakh acres of inland Fish culture here, (dealing with Argulus is pretty aggressive here ) and few of the fancy new compounds (unknown chemical) worked for a while like 1 month, however they cease to work as the Argulus increases its drug resistance. Its a closed secret when a new medicine comes out here. However none of them hold more than 2 months. But I am not really aware of the 1:4 combo Lufenuron with Emamectin.
<There's some recent literature in the sciences re. Do you know Ed Noga down in Florida? He's retired from teaching, but still does consulting re fish disease... and another friend I'd contact is Myron Roth; in Canada>
In my research in the literature, I found these compounds Cyromazine, Trichlorofon and Praziquantel, which might not have been tried at our side.
<Mmm; Trichlorfon and its many brand/generic names I'm quite familiar with.
You can search re on WWM. Prazi has issues w/ water solubility and is expensive in actual large scale aquaculture>
I wish to make new combinations with these and try out, with your suggestions.
Regarding the sterilization of facilities, these are very large ponds (ranging from 10acres-100acres, with avg water depth ~5ft). We use formalin just as nominal water sanitizer, but it is not effective with Argulus.
<Needs to be border high dip/bath concentrations. NOT added to ponds>
My idea here is ......considering a pond of 1 Acre with 5 ft depth (~160,000 gal, with 2500 pc.s Labeo Rohita), I want try out new compounds and combinations to checkout which works the best. I'd be more than grateful if you offer some insights in formulating. Thank you.
<It's been many years since I had first hand experience w/ Argulus, these pesticides... Hence my suggestion to contact people in the field presently.
Bob Fenner>

Argulus   5/7/14
I have Koi ponds & have Argulus. Do you know where I can buy aquatic Neguvon.
<Mmm; let me look... maybe
http://www.nationalfishpharm.com/koipond/parasitic_disorders.html
Or another product to kill the Argulus. I live in Mexico. Thanks for your help? Steve Needham
<Just search using the various names for DTHP. Bob Fenner>

Koi infected with Lernaea   4/26/10
Hi Crew:
<Luce, the "light giver">
I have a 4,000 gal Koi pond (only 6 Koi and 1 Goldfish). Water quality tests good.
My large female Koi has an Anchor Worm on her right side. We spent hours trying to catch her on Saturday, but to no avail. All we did was stress all the fish out. Question, does the Anchor Worm need to be removed ?
<Yes>
When the eggs hatch, will the female Anchor Worm fall off and die ??
<It will in time...>
I added De-Los to the pond on Saturday, but Rx very expensive for the volume of water in the pond and needs to be treated every 4 days ($70.00 each treatment).
<I'd use another brand/product...>
Is there another less expensive one time Rx for this ??
<Yes, read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/PondSubWebIndex/pdparcontfaqs.htm
and the linked article above re DTHP, Dimilin...>
Lastly one Koi has a "cloudy eye" and went opaque. Bacterial infection as a result of parasites ??
<Who can say?>
What a frustrating hobby when things go wrong. Thanks a million for any advice you can give.
Lucy
San Diego, Ca.
<Oh, BobF, back in San Diego as of 1:20 AM>
Re: Koi infected with Lernaea 4/27/10
Thanks for your into Bob... and welcome back to San Diego !
<Thanks... now who designs the seats in planes anywho? The Marquis De Sade!? Have got to fix>
I have spent the last 2 hours researching on the web - no results. Where can I find DTHP. I found on line
a product called Trichloracide for Lernaea. Would that work ??
Thanks again,
Luce
<Is likely the same... I'd call Pat Hurley/Aquatic Warehouse here in San Diego re... this organophosphate. B>
Re: Koi infected with Lernaea 4/27/10
Hi Bob,
<Luce>
Sorry for that narrow plane seat... soon we'll be flying under the belly of the aircraft along with our luggage.
<Have got to find the Advil/Ibuprofen... the Costco Naproxen isn't cutting it>
Just wanted to say thanks for your expertise. I ordered Trichloracide for the Lernaea (damn vermin).
Hope it rids me of this never-ending headache. I should have taken up archery... maybe it would be more enjoyable to shoot myself in the eye.
<Yeeikes!>
I appreciate your very prompt replies.
Luce
<Welcome. BobF>

Outside pond fish... possible Lernaeid  10/21/05 Hi, this is our first time on your web-site, and we have a question. We have an outdoor fish pond with 4th generation goldfish! Today I noticed something on one of the fish. It is gold in color, protruding ( from under his skin)? or sticking out of his skin, I can't really tell. It looks like a thick wire sticking out. He doesn't look or act different, eating as normal. I didn't see anything like this on the other five fish.   Do you think this is some sort of parasite? <Mmm, possibly... Lernaea... "Anchorworm"...> What would you suggest we do? <Mmm... place this/these terms on the WWM, general search engines... read... If this is the cause/parasite, removing the adults by tweezing, inspecting all fishes, using a organophosphate to kill intermediates is suggested. Bob Fenner> Thanks Donna

DTHP use, marine, dips 7/7/05 Hello, Crew, It's me, dum-dum, again. Okay, so I was reading about DTHP for the treatment of various and sundry parasites and other general nastiness. Recalling what I'd read already about QT, freshwater dips, Methylene blue, and so forth, I was wondering if anyone had ever established a protocol of a DTHP dip as a precautionary step prior to introducing species to the main tank. Perhaps during the last four or so days of QT? <Some wholesale outfits have used this, other organophosphates to rid fishes of "worms" and crustacean fauna (parasitic and otherwise) en-route... I would not, do not encourage home-hobbyists to do this. Too much likelihood of damage, toxicity to the livestock and themselves. Bob Fenner> Joe Kraska

Possible anchor worms and CopperSafe First, I'd like to tell you that your site is fantastic, the best fish site I've come across, and I've looked at a few. I think I'm having a problem with anchor worm.  <Sometimes difficult to eradicate once established.> I have three tanks-one 20 gallon with four (used to be six) very large ex-feeder goldfish which is always cloudy, yet the ammonia and nitrites/ates are nil and the pH is 6.5 or so. One tank is 55gallons with two big Koi, three channel cats (two big), and seven goldfish of varying size (two of which came from the 20 g tank). The other tank is 15 gallons with three very small fancy goldfish (the ones with the big bellies and the forked tail fin) and a Pleco which also came from the 20 g tank. Two days ago, I noticed a goldfish in the 55g had a bump on his skin with a white wormy thing sticking out. <Does sound like a Lernaeid...> Then I saw that a goldfish in the 20g tank had two red raised spots with white stuff on him (the scales were missing from the spots) and one with a veiltail has red near the ends of his tail fin. The Pleco in the 15g has had his fins clamped and won't eat very much, and I think I saw some white stuff on his mouth. He doesn't come out much, it's hard to see what's going on. These tanks are all well established and have the same water chem, i.e. no ammonia, no nitrates, and 6.5 or so pH. The water in the 55g is crystal clear, and a little bit cloudy in the 15g. They're well established, I do water changes every week, and I don't understand why they should all of a sudden all get sick. The transferred fish have been in their new tanks for at least 2 1/2 weeks. I started using CopperSafe, and it made all these little red worms come out in the 20g tank, and white worms in the other 2. <The copper won't "get" the intermediate stages... you'll poison the fish stock before the treatment can be completed...> No noticed improvement in the fishes' conditions. How long does this stuff take to work? What can I expect? Do I have to treat for secondary bacterial infection? <Good questions. Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/PondSubWebIndex/contrpdparasit.htm You need to seek out a source of this pesticide, follow the directions that come with it, or the ones posted here> I apologize for the length, but I really don't want my fish to die and you really seem to know what you're doing. Thanks in advance. Pati  <No worries. Do contact me if this is unclear, incomplete. This is an easy problem to fix, given the active ingredient... and cautious use. Bob Fenner>

DTHP Dear Robert,          Read your web article about DTHP. Where can I get this material <Is sold as such, by itself and in concert with other materials for pet-fish use in various products... mainly labeled as Masoten, Dylox... see a LFS re if you're looking to treat small volumes. We can chat if this is for thousands, much more volume.> and have you heard of it being used against Gyrodactylus? <Yes... you can see this through a literature search... the most recent work of Ed Noga, Nelson Herwig... Bob Fenner> Steve What's in Fluke Tabs? Hi Chuck! I bought the Fluke tabs. Do you know what are the active ingredients? It's not written on the product. Thanks! Dominique <The active ingredients are Mebendazole and Trichlorfon.-Chuck> 

Can't Get the Right Medication Hi Chuck, I really appreciate your replies on this. I get what you're saying about how nasty these things are to get rid of. I'm in the UK so Fluke tabs and 'Clout' aren't available here as far as I  know. Have you any idea what's in them? < To treat these worms the Fluke tabs have Trichlorofon and I am not sure what the ingredients are in Clout. The next step I would try would be copper. Be very careful, usually the dosage required to kill parasite is very close to the same dosage required to kill a fish. There are suppose to be some newer less toxic forms on the market here in the US but I have not personally used them.-Chuck> 

Gill & Skin Fluke Treatments in the UK Dear Robert Hi, I'm Martin from Cornwall in England. I've been keeping Koi for 8 years and have a gas heated 6000 Imp gallon pool in my back garden. For me 2001 was a terrible year, I have lost 6 nice carp because of ulcerated wounds caused by a very persistent infestation of gill and skin flukes. These flukes seem resistant to treatments like potassium permanganate and chloromin T. The only thing that seems to control them properly is organophosphates, in the form of a product called 'Metosan'. <Yes... aka many other names. My standard "pitch" on DTHP archived here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/pndparasitcont.htm and the associated FAQs... in fact, just had a query today from a pond-culture scientist in India, stored here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/dailyq&a.htm re the use of this economic poison and others for treating Argulus on cyprinids...> This type of product is difficult to get hold of in the UK. do you know of any companies in the UK or USA who would be able to supply these types of products by mail order. <Mmm, no, don't... but would ask re this compound under the various names cited in the article above... and Dimilin... of friends, associates at TMC: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/tmcpropc.htm I strongly suspect they will know where to refer you> I have been able to get my hands on enough Metosan for one treatment, the are looking better than they have looked since last May. But I now need to repeat the treatment to kill the latest juveniles to have hatched out! <Yes... three treatments three days apart likely...> Hoping you will be able to help and look forward to hearing from you. Thanks Martin Yardley <Cheers my friend. Bob Fenner>

Argulus (food, pondfish culture, disease control) Dear D. Fenner Robert, I am a veterinarian working in State Bank of India biggest Bank financing agricultural and Aquacultural schemes in India. 2.Fish farmers raise Major Indian Carps (Catla catla, Labeo rohita etc.,) in big freshwater ponds with an extent of 10 acres to 100 acres Water spread area. The culture period is 8 - 10 months -Weight 1-2 Kg each. To minimize the feed cost and cost of production, our fish farmers are using heavy doses of dried poultry droppings organic manure) to fertilize the pond waters and for production of Phyto & Zoo plankton. The demerits of this practice is too much infection with Argulus (sea lice). As a result, farmers are using pesticides Viz., Deltamethrin (Butox), Dichlorovos (Nuvon) which are retarding the growth of the fish. Please enlighten me on the following two points: a. whether any effective biological control against Argulus is available? <None that is practical as fast as I'm aware... most practices are as yours, involving economic poisons in the class of organophosphates (acetylcholinesterase inhibitors)... as these crustacean parasites metabolisms are similar to arthropod pests> b. whether Diflubenzuron/lufenuron (Dimilin) can be mixed with the above chemicals to decrease the dosage and frequency of chemical application? <Yes, once again, as far as I'm aware. Dimilin supplanted the use of DTHP (Neguvon, Dylox...): http://www.wetwebmedia.com/pndparasitcont.htm in ornamental pond use (on cyprinids like Cyprinus carpio (Koi carp, Nishikigoi) and Carassius goeblio (goldfish) in the U.S. some years ago. Should be miscible.> Please send technical information on the life cycle and control methods in big fish ponds. <I don't have ready access to such, don't even know if this is part of the literature... would have to search as you are> 3.Please help me in the upliftment of fish farmers. <I will gladly assist you in what ways I can. Understand that though my academic background is in fisheries, I have spent the last decades in ornamental aquatics... not production. Bob Fenner> Thanking you. Yours sincerely, Dr. A. Purna Chandra Rao, Chief Manager Technical),Region-4,Zonal Office, State Bank of India,VIJAYAWADA-520 010,A.P; INDIA e-Mail: ap_purna@yahoo.com ap_purna@rediffmail.com
Re: Argulus Dr. Robert Fenner, Thank you very much for your detailed reply. I will be contacting you frequently and hope you will help me. with regards, yours sincerely, Dr.A.Purna Chandra Rao <I will do my best my friend. Bob Fenner>