I'm dosing with Praziquantel and levamisole now. concidently the ingredients in a pig and poultry wormer that has been recommended to me by many people.
a little info
"Metronidazole or "Flagyl" inhibits most FLAGELLATE infestations, eg. Hexamita & Spironucleus, not worms, & is used the same way in small animals. Worms are not the same; Nematodes such as Capillaria, Camallanus, the discus maggot worm & Cestodes or tapeworms are the most often seen. Pipzine is used for the nemotodes as is fenbendazole "Panacur", & Praziquantal or "Droncit" is used for tapeworms. Gill flukes are Trematodes & can be treated with Flubendazol (Flubenol 5%) formalin, (my favorite) & Praziquantal. There are many others & many different combinations of meds for treatment. Some meds are better in food, Panacur should only be used in food, others can be used in the water. I find the meds in the water to be so much easier for me, but the "in food" method may be much more effective depending on what you're using.......there's lots written on these problems & their treatments in the health & meds section......
Three weeks sure is the norm for "cleaning" out the fish! Seems like a long time, but dosing correctly & being patient, following the exact instructions for each med will work best... & many hobbyists do prophylacticly worm the fish on a routine schedule..."
http://www.aquaforums.com/forums/index.php?s=3a...0&#entry34532
and
Metro or Flagyl is an antibiotic. It is of no use against internal worms. What you need is a product containing Levamisole for nematodal infestations (thread worms and round worms) or Praziquantel to control tapeworm and gill and body flukes. It is used at the rate of 100mg per 20 litres of tank water, with a 25% water change after 2 days and a cleaning of the filters. The dose needs to be repeated in 7 days to prevent reinfestation."
http://www.petfrd.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-18246.html
Is it's belly starting to concave in shape? Apparently there is also some sort of "wasting disease" with similar symptoms..which the cure is not available for downunder
If I can find the thread again i'll note down the trace ingredients of it..