Treatment Protocol for Camallanus Worms (Red Worms)
Treat with levamisole or fenbendazole. Levamisole: dissolve 13mg per gallon, leave 24 hours, 75% water change, repeat in 2 weeks. Fenbendazole: 0.1g per 10 gallons in food for 3 days. Treat ALL fish in the tank — worms spread through larvae in substrate.
How to Identify This Condition
Look for these symptoms in your fish:
- Red/brown worms protruding from anus
- Weight loss
- Bloating
- White stringy feces
- Lethargy
Early detection is critical — the sooner you begin treatment, the better the prognosis. Observe your fish daily during routine feeding for any behavioral or physical changes.
Root Causes
Understanding what caused the problem helps you prevent recurrence:
- Camallanus cotti nematode parasite
- Introduced via infected fish or cyclops
- Common in livebearers and guppies
Recommended Medications
The following medications are effective against Camallanus Worms (Red Worms):
- Levamisole — follow manufacturer dosing instructions. Treat in a hospital/quarantine tank when possible to avoid disrupting your main tank's biological filtration.
- Fenbendazole — follow manufacturer dosing instructions. Treat in a hospital/quarantine tank when possible to avoid disrupting your main tank's biological filtration.
- Fritz Expel-P — follow manufacturer dosing instructions. Treat in a hospital/quarantine tank when possible to avoid disrupting your main tank's biological filtration.
Always have these medications on hand before you need them. See our quarantine tank guide for proper treatment setup.
Water Quality During Treatment
Maintain pristine water conditions during treatment. Perform 25% daily water changes using Seachem Prime as your water conditioner. Remove activated carbon from your filter during medication (carbon absorbs medications). Increase aeration with an air stone — sick fish need extra oxygen. Monitor ammonia and nitrite daily with your test kit.
Recovery & Quarantine
With proper treatment, most fish recover within 21 days. Continue treatment for the full course even if symptoms resolve early. Reintroduce treated fish to the main tank gradually, and observe for 7 additional days.
Prevention
The best treatment is prevention. Follow these practices to reduce the risk:
- Quarantine new livebearers especially
- Deworm new fish prophylactically
- Vacuum substrate regularly
- Avoid wild cyclops as live food
For a complete prevention strategy, read our quarantine tank guide and maintenance schedule.