Exotic Animal Formulary5

other monogeneans, leeches
0.5 mg/L tank water
q10d×3
treatments 87
0.5-1 mg/L tank
water 100
Crustacean ectoparasites; change
20%-30% of water 24-48 hr
following each treatment
Marine fish/treat q3d×2 treatments for
oviparous monogeneans; use
1 mg/L q48h×3 treatments for
turbellarians; single treatment will
usually suffice for copepods (except
sea lice), other monogeneans,
leeches
a
Not to be used in fish for human consumption.
b
Preferable to treat single fish of a species to determine toxicity.
c
Tank treatment: when treating the fishes’ resident aquarium, disconnect activated carbon filtration to
prevent drug removal; many drugs adversely affect the nitrifying bacteria, so water quality should be
monitored closely (especially ammonia and nitrite concentrations); always keep water well aerated and
monitor fish closely; perform water changes and reconnect filtration to remove residual drug following
treatment; discard carbon following drug removal. 89
d
Bath (immersion) treatment: remove fish from resident aquarium and place in container with known
volume of water and concentration of therapeutic agent; watch closely for signs of toxicity, e.g., listing
and dyspnea; always keep water well aerated.
Table 2-3
Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic/Analgesic Agents Used in Fish. a-d
Agent Dosage Comments
Alfaxalone (Alfaxan,
Jurox)
5 mg/L
induction 18
10 mg/L
induction; 1-
2.5 mg/L
maintenance 96
Oscar (cichlid)/sedation and anesthesia
Koi/sedation and anesthesia; not recommended as
an injectable agent for koi carp; 13 may have
opercular cessation at 2.5 mg/L
Atipamezole
(Antisedan,
Zoetis)
0.2 mg/kg IM 43 Reversal agent (α 2 antagonist) for medetomidine
Benzocaine — Not sold as fish anesthetic in United States;
available from chemical supply companies; do
not use topical anesthetic products marketed
for mammals; prepare stock solution in
ethanol (benzocaine is poorly soluble in
water); store in dark bottle at room
temperature
15-40 mg/L Transport sedation
61