How To Treat Internal Parasites With Metronidazole: Full Tutorial 

As I am a complete newbie to fish keeping hobby so was just wondering how to treat for intestinal parasites etc. for small tropical freshwater fish which are around only 2cm- 4cm being the largest size in my 18.5-20 US Gallon fish tank or 70 litre which I have. As I had my firsh tank/ aquarium set up for over 1 year or around 1.5 years doing fishless cycling method and having growing out some live plants using Fritz Zyme 7 live nitrifying bacteria and for natural ammonia using Fritz zyme fishless fuel. According to my local pet store/ fish store they said my fish tank water was very well cycled and very good consistent water parameters except that my water PH being slightly high at 7.6 and also quite high water hardness but other than that completely good. I have quite a lot of live beginner aquarium plants covering nearly my whole aquarium and the fish I have are 5 small red cherry barbs, 2 bright and wonderful Yellow Honey Gourami and 2 beautiful black/ greyish colour Dwarf Suckermouth Catfish/ Otto which are very much like plecos (Latin name: Otocinclus. sp.) As they only tend to stick to the sides of my glass fish tank or on top of ornaments or my live plants. As for regarding health generally majority of the fish look very nice, vibrant colour and swimming around well however one of the red Cherry barb is looking quite sluggish or at least down at the bottom of the fish tank by himself and not eating much mostly unlike the other community fish or possibly something red sticking out of it's underside belly lile bloat possibly??? I have also one of catfish I noticed strangely just started yesterday white stringy poop coming out as it was swimming around which if correct according to my research/ knowledge is obvious sign of intestinal parasites etc. Other than that all my other fish such as my 2 Yellow Honey Gourami are completely fine and seem to be very healthy and doing very well, looking fine and eating well etc. Any useful information/ tips and advice would be very helpful and greatly appreciated. As obviously unlike in this wonderful RU-vid video I obviously can't treat fish individually by taking them out of the fish tank and lying them flat on a towel etc. as my fish are way too small. Also unfortunately as I don't have enough money I only have 1 fish tank so no other separate fish tank to use as a hospital tank to treat the fish that maybe looking sick in my opinion individually. As recommended by Kaveman Aquatics RU-vid channel I have been using since I bought my fish (not bought all at once obviously) using Seachem stability and Seachem Prime and Seachem Flouish Advance for my live plants. Thank you, Kind regards, Tom from UK.

Where can I buy metronidazole please

Can u tell me where to buy metronidazole or a link

you can get pure metronidazole from Jack Wattley Discus in Miami Florida. If you are looking for something with an antibacterial in it, you can buy metroplex by Seachem if you live in the United States only. metronidazole is not allowed in Canada or other countries, if you buy it from Wattley Discus, it can only be sold in the United States.

Make sure you have this exact problem. You can tell if your fish appear to eat a lot but remain thin. This tells you the Parasite is eating all the nutrients. 10 days is the key or 3 days if you can get them to eat it. Thank you and I hope you will both like and Subscribe. Thanks again.

Yes it really is less expensive and treats that problem only. Sorry I will get the link in the comment section shortly. Gabe at Jack Watley is a great guy and let him know I sent you. Thanks Mike

Thank you. The link to get these meds. is both in the Description as well in the comment's. Tell Gabe George sent you! Thanks.

That works great with food. Hard to do the complete tank but if your fish are eating mix it in.

Thank you!

Lets see what we can do to solve the problem. Can you get Seachem Paraguard? If so try that for three days as instructed on the bottle. Add about a tablespoon and a half of Aquarium Salt for a 100 gallon tank and maybe a little less on anything smaller. turn your heat up to 88 degrees and add an air stone so that your fish are getting adequate Oxygen levels. Leave it there for a few weeks and then gradually drop it a degree a day until you achieve the desired Temp. After three days do a 40% water change to clean the tank water of the salt content and see how your fish are doing. Also add occasional Aquarium salt as this will help with Parasites. I know it can be frustrating in Canada where you can't get these medications. I hope you will like and Subscribe as well. Trying to grow the channel. Thank you and I hope this helps. Let me know in a follow up message if you get any break through and things start to look better. KEEP THAT WATER CLEAN ! So Important! You can always call mee at 800-566-1647 ask for George

@@aquaticconceptsbringingwaterto I am sub'ed, been so for a while, I do water changes weekly and test water regularly, and monthly filter maintenance. No go on the paraguard. I have done the salt and temp with air stone. After about 2 weeks I got him to take some Fluval bug bites, but he spits out anything else. I have started to drop the temp. I am going to order something like metroplex from the states and see if customs misses it. Pay my money and take my chances I guess.

@@wellbuster4979 It is so hard when they are not eating to get the medication into their system. Good luck! I am surprised they don't allow Seachem Metroplex into Canada.

Thank you Vinny! I have a few Canadian viewers who are trying to get this Med. In Canada but say it is not legal. Any ideas about where they can get the equivalent? Again thanks and zi hope you liked and have already subscribed!

I really Can not tell you why I just know that it has been banned! Maybe abuse? Try Paraguard for 3 days with about a teaspoon and a half of Aquarium Salt. Then do a 40% water change. Let me know how that works!? I have Canadians ask me about this a great deal! Please like and subscribe! Thank you…😎❤️

That or if you can go to Jack Wattley Discus and get pure Metronidazole then that is the best. Make sure you have no carbon in your filters or UV sterilizer on.

Also treat for ten days and turn temp up to 88 or 89 gradually. Make sure all your other community fish can handle those temperatures. Most can, but do your homework!

@@andikasgk7 use as instructed for the best result

Thank you for that Info. Good to know.

Is there any way I can buy this ordered to the uk

I use Metroplex in their food

If you can every 8 hours then of course, but I wait until the next day and the results are the same. Please give me a like and subscribe. Thanks.

I don’t know the answer to that. Go to Seachem website and ask! Sorry!

I can't see how? Have you tried Seachem Metroplex? This may be your only option? Good luck.

@@aquaticconceptsbringingwaterto metroplex is costly

Sorry for the confusion. 1 gram every 20 Gallons. I think I was talking about the tank I was showing took three full grams in the 75 gallon if you take in account the water displacement from HARDSCAPE etc. I hope this clears that up. Go to Jack Wattley www.wattleydiscus.com/

Twice a day as you need to make sure hey are eating what you put in or your water will get foul very quicky. See which ones are eating and which ones not. Thank you and please subscribe.

Wattley Discus Miami, FL

Just charcoal or carbon and turn off UV

@@aquaticconceptsbringingwaterto thanks a lot for the answer 🤩

@@aquaticconceptsbringingwaterto sorry to disturbe you but one quick question do I have to change water daily after 8 hrs of metronidazole application or as per my regular water change schedule

@@biswajitpanda-5559 er regular

@@aquaticconceptsbringingwaterto thanks a lot once again 😄

Jack Wattley Discusses

I’m not sure what you have there? Mine is pure metronidazole that I got from wattleydiscus. I would take your medication and make sure you know what it is before you go shoe tank at all sounds like a combination drug of some kind.

It really does not matter. My rule is soft food you can roll a powder into the size of a quarter. That works for me.

​@@aquaticconceptsbringingwaterto, Thanks for your help!! I can't see jack has it for sell. I do have it already but wanted back up. Do you need to do water change every day? Also my 2 fish could not eat a quarter worth. One isn't eating anything but brine shrimp.

You will need to slowly remove them from all current foods, and raise the temp in your tank to 89 degrees. You can offer only good quality flake with garlic and maybe some beef heart pellets or Frozen bloodworms. They will not starve unless they are already sick. They will eat in a matter of weeks. They will hold out but you must offer only the foods I just mentioned. It can be hard thinking your fish will starve. They will not unless they are very ill from Gastrointestinal issues such as Parasites etc. You have to stand firm and they will come around. Also up your water changes to 25% each day or 25% twice a day if you can. Good luck and let me know.

​@aquaticconceptsbringingwaterto my female is eating now. She was twice as big prior to my getting the pair. I have been giving her frozen brine shrimp since she began eating because she had been seen by a veterinarian previous infection, and she recommended feeding her well. But I'VE done everything you said to do. Today I had to clean aquarium early. Should I treat with metronidazole early? I do a 25% water change. It's 2 and half hours early. ? I'm afraid to overdose. You are the greatest for helping me. Thank you 😊

Should I dose metronidazole early or wait please.

How long have you them? What species of Fish?

@@aquaticconceptsbringingwaterto it’s a cichla occelaris with a little cloudy eyes and it didnt eat about 3 weeks…I followed Melafix 2 weeks but no result….I have in tank ray and other cichla

It is 70 cm and I can’t loose him…😢

I puted in the begin aquarium salt but nothing …then i put Epsom salt but nothing too..and Melafix didn’t work…wtf can I do????in in aquarium I have a arowana ,alligator gar ,Florida gar ,3 cichla ,black diamond and a catfish

Sometimes you need to treat for up to 10 days and do water changes in between. Remember that metro is only active about 12 hours and then it starts to go down in strength.

@@aquaticconceptsbringingwaterto it has something of a red mark above his lips and it isn’t eating. I can see tiny bugs beneath the stones, and white stringy poop

@@ananyachoudhury9241 You should try using Absolute Wormer + by Cloverleaf. You can buy on Amazon. It is not cheap but does the job.

Not sure what the bugs are. Hmmmm....

That is fine in a tank with no plants. Also you need an air stone in their as well. I don't medicate unless it is my last resort.

The scales I use in the video were only 20 dollars. I agree using this method to much builds up tolerance over time. That is why I try to avoid live foods.

Put the medication in the food if your fish is eating instead of treating the whole tank. Yes they can keep eating.

I would not!

That should work but keep some metroplex on hand and treat in a quarantine/ Hospital if you can. Best if they are eating to mix in the food. Good luck Please subscribe.

Any water changes should be done 24 hours after treatment. Paraguard for example is really only good up until 12 hours then it starts to lose its effect. 30-40% water changes 2 times a week unless you can find time to do more.

I would not use this medication in that small of tank. Way to easy to have something go wrong! Try Metroplex by Seachem or consult a vet that deals with Fish Keepers.

Yes but in very different concentrations.

@@aquaticconceptsbringingwaterto Thank you for such a quick response. My betta has dropsy and i'm treating him with nitrofurazone, i dont have kanaplex available. he's getting a salt bath in a bowl away from the main tank with 1/4th tsp of epsome salt. I know it's a lot to ask, but do you have any advice maybe to help him along? he's early stage and is still eating when i feed him dried bloodworm.

Be careful how much you feed. The problem with bloat or dropsy is that feeding to much is what can start the problem to begin with. Is he pooping regular or are you seeing a lot of bloat? If so, try feeding a small amount of shelled frozen peas and only the inner portion. This along with the Epson salt may help@@Somenoobdood

@@aquaticconceptsbringingwaterto Thank you, definitely gonna be careful how I'm feeding him. I'm certain the dropsy began from a cycle crash. I've never seen him poop over the course of a year i've had him but will keep on doing epsom salt like you said. Luckily managed to get kanaplex and am feeding him medicated food, not sure if he'll take to peas.

Metro can be ordered from Jack Wattley Discus I Miami, FL. He sells it by the grams.