Exotic Animal Formulary5

e
Species of fish, temperature, and water quality parameters can influence the pharmacodynamics of
many drugs, especially antimicrobials.
f
For more information, refer to the Web site by Reimschuessel et al. 118 This is a comprehensive and
informative resource for many drugs and other compounds used with aquatic animals.
Table 2-2
Antiparasitic Agents Used in Fish. a-d
Agent Dosage Comments
Acetic acid, glacial
1-2 mL/L×30-45 sec
bath 100,152
Monogeneans, crustacean
ectoparasites; safe for goldfish; may
be toxic to smaller tropical fish
Albendazole 5 mg/kg PO once 99 Atlantic salmon/PK
10 mg/kg PO once 135 Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout,
tilapia/PK
10-50 mg/L×2-6 hr 132 Sticklebacks/treating Glugea anomala
infection
Chloramine-T — See Table 2-1
Chloroquine diphosphate 50 mg/kg PO once 93
10 mg/L tank
water, once 100
Red drum
Amyloodinium ocellatum; monitor for
21 days, repeat prn; use activated
carbon to remove drug if no relapse
Closantel
(50 mg/mL)/mebendazole
(75 mg/mL) (Supaverm,
Janssen-Cilag)
1 mL/400 L once; may
repeat in 3-7 days
following a water
change if
necessary 152
Koi/very safe and effective for external
monogeneans; reported to be
highly toxic to goldfish and
medaka; used in the United
Kingdom to kill digenean
trematodes of sheep
Copper sulfate — Marine fish/protozoan, monogenean
ectoparasites; copper levels must be
assessed with a commercial kit, and
adjusted as needed; blue copper
sulfate is copper sulfate (II)
pentahydrate (= CuSO 4·5H 2 O);
when calculating free copper 2 + ion
levels, copper sulfate pentahydrate
is approximately 25% free copper; in
marine systems, concentration
should be increased gradually to
target concentration over the
course of 3-4 days; toxic to gill
tissue; immunosuppressive;
extremely toxic to invertebrates and
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