Dog Dewormer (fenbendazole) on planaria - Reintroduce Nerite

[jweis]

This weekend I took the plunge and dosed my smaller tank with the dog dewormer Safeguard (fenbendazole) to kill the planaria. I think I still need another dose or two to be sure the planaria are all dead.

I had read up on it and learned that fenbendazole will kill nerites, so I pulled them before I treated thet tank.

What do I need to do and how long should I wait before I reintroduce the nerites to the tank? I have aquasoil and lots of plants. I have read that in a heavily planted tank the medicine can adhere to the plants even after lots of water changes.

Any first hand advice would be appreciated.

[londonloco]

I work for a cairn terrier rescue, we use panacur (which is fenbendazole also) with every dog we bring in (and we bring in over 300 a year). We dose three days in a row, wait 2 weeks, then dose again for three days. Personally, I think we get all the worms with the first three days dose.

[jweis]

I work for a cairn terrier rescue, we use panacur (which is fenbendazole also) with every dog we bring in (and we bring in over 300 a year). We dose three days in a row, wait 2 weeks, then dose again for three days. Personally, I think we get all the worms with the first three days dose.

Thanks, but what I mainly want to know how or what do I need to do before I can safely put the nerite snails back in the tank.

[FrannyB]

read this: http://www.planetinverts.com/killing_pl ... hydra.html

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/foru ... tanks.html

[jweis]

Thanks for the references Francine. I had also found similar postings. My shrimp are doing fine, which is what I had also read when I did research before dosing the tank. I think I need one or two more doses before the planaria are gone for good.

However, what I am trying to figure out is my nerite situation. For now they are in my second tank, but I would like to reintroduce them into the tank I just treated. The nerites do a great job of keeping my Anubias clean. Everything I have read online indicates if I add the nerites back into the tank, even after water changes, the nerites will die a slow death. Some posting suggest the chemical remains on the substrate and plants.

Does anyone have experience with treating a tank for planaria with dewormer and then successfully adding nerites back into the tank?

[FrannyB]

Well...I would rather be safe than sorry. Do it and have to buy more or not. Or wait a couple of months after many water changes and see.

[krisw]

Julie, are you willing to add one nerite back in for a week as a test? I would think that your shrimp would be impacted along with the nerites, as they graze leaves and substrate all the same...

[seiji64]

I asked a member of an invert forum who wrote a short article on treating with fenbendazole, who also had nerites in his tank. His advice was to use water changes and carbon to clear the medication out.

http://arizonainverts.com/forums/index. ... entry25066

I also found this paper on the fda site: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AnimalVete ... 078335.pdf

It looks like fenbendazole breaks down readily under light, but that it can adsorb/bind to substrate pretty tightly. Make of that what you will!

Doug

[jweis]

I asked a member of an invert forum who wrote a short article on treating with fenbendazole, who also had nerites in his tank. His advice was to use water changes and carbon to clear the medication out.

http://arizonainverts.com/forums/index. ... entry25066

I also found this paper on the fda site: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AnimalVete ... 078335.pdf

It looks like fenbendazole breaks down readily under light, but that it can adsorb/bind to substrate pretty tightly. Make of that what you will!

Doug

Thank you!