Wild Shark Prophylactic Treatments

[Steve and his Animals]

I recently acquired a shark I've been looking for for over 8 years about two months ago: an Australian marbled catshark (Atelomycterus macleayi). She's been in my 5ft x 18" 90 gallon while I collect supplies to set up my 300, and so far she seems to be in perfect health. She readily eats raw shrimp and octopus; she has a great appetite and feeding response. I am a little concerned I've never seen a large bowel movement from her, but I'm not sure how solid their waste is. She is about 18" from tip-to-tip, and I've noticed very mild redness on her belly rarely, like when I first unboxed her, although it's my understanding this is somewhat common.

That being said, I'm always paranoid of long term issues, especially internal parasites. Are these sorts of afflictions common in wild sharks? What kinds of medications are safe and effective for nipping issues like this in the bud?

Attached a recent feeding vid to show her appetite. She's a bit thin still but not terribly so like other sharks I've received.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I recently acquired a shark I've been looking for for over 8 years about two months ago: an Australian marbled catshark (Atelomycterus macleayi). She's been in my 5ft x 18" 90 gallon while I collect supplies to set up my 300, and so far she seems to be in perfect health. She readily eats raw shrimp and octopus; she has a great appetite and feeding response. I am a little concerned I've never seen a large bowel movement from her, but I'm not sure how solid their waste is. She is about 18" from tip-to-tip, and I've noticed very mild redness on her belly rarely, like when I first unboxed her, although it's my understanding this is somewhat common.

That being said, I'm always paranoid of long term issues, especially internal parasites. Are these sorts of afflictions common in wild sharks? What kinds of medications are safe and effective for nipping issues like this in the bud?

Attached a recent feeding vid to show her appetite. She's a bit thin still but not terribly so like other sharks I've received.

I agree, it’s pretty thin. But, it’s eating well, so that will resolve soon enough.

Chloroquine is an option, but I’d only use that if you run into signs of Amyloodinium (velvet). The signs would be rapid breathing and not eating. I’d suggest measuring the sharks respiration rate daily to watch for impending issues. Relative changes day to day is what you watch for.

You can’t use copper or hyposalinity on these. Prazi is safe, but it only controls flukes and tapeworms.

 

[Steve and his Animals]

I agree, it’s pretty thin. But, it’s eating well, so that will resolve soon enough.

Chloroquine is an option, but I’d only use that if you run into signs of Amyloodinium (velvet). The signs would be rapid breathing and not eating. I’d suggest measuring the sharks respiration rate daily to watch for impending issues. Relative changes day to day is what you watch for.

You can’t use copper or hyposalinity on these. Prazi is safe, but it only controls flukes and tapeworms.

She seems externally healthy and her breathing appears normal to me, I was just watching her and counted 49 breaths in a minute. The rate seems consistent day-to-day. I was more concerned about internal protozoa or worms, as that's usually a slow killer for many imports.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I'm glad to see you making your dream-fish-dreams come true. Best wishes with your new pet.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

She seems externally healthy and her breathing appears normal to me, I was just watching her and counted 49 breaths in a minute. The rate seems consistent day-to-day. I was more concerned about internal protozoa or worms, as that's usually a slow killer for many imports.

You could use General Cure. It has prazi for flukes and tapeworms and metronidazole for internal flagellates. Dose this in the water, not the food. The two drugs have two different oral doses, so you can’t put it in food, despite reading to do that all over the Internet.

 

[Steve and his Animals]

You could use General Cure. It has prazi for flukes and tapeworms and metronidazole for internal flagellates. Dose this in the water, not the food. The two drugs have two different oral doses, so you can’t put it in food, despite reading to do that all over the Internet.

Seems easy enough. What kind of dosing schedule would you follow?

 

[JumboShrimp]

(I have 5 fish in QT with General Cure right now. Not one shark among them! Lol!!)

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Seems easy enough. What kind of dosing schedule would you follow?

That’s tough - the GC package dose works for livebearing gyrodactylus flukes, tapeworms and internal flagellates. The dosing is too close together for egg laying flukes though.

 

[Steve and his Animals]

That’s tough - the GC package dose works for livebearing gyrodactylus flukes, tapeworms and internal flagellates. The dosing is too close together for egg laying flukes though.

Are either of those flukes internal? I'm fairly sure she's clean externally, so I'm only really concerned about her uptake of nutrients if she's dealing with internal issues like parasites.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Are either of those flukes internal? I'm fairly sure she's clean externally, so I'm only really concerned about her uptake of nutrients if she's dealing with internal issues like parasites.

No, both of those flukes are external, but too small to see with the naked eye.