API General Cure
API General Cure is a budget-friendly, broad-spectrum external parasite treatment that also addresses common secondary fungal and bacterial problems in a quarantine setting. It holds its place for External Parasite Treatments by offering an affordable, multipurpose solution for hobbyists who need a single-product hospital treatment; compared with more specialized remedies on this list, it trades targeted efficacy for versatility and lower per-treatment cost.
Broad-spectrum action
Fast symptom relief
Broad-spectrum action
Fast symptom relief
Review Summary
"Generally reported as effective against a range of external and internal parasites (flukes and some worms) and often clears infections after the recommended course; some users note it's less reliable for classic ich and can stress sensitive fish or invertebrates."
Pocket powerhouse
Treats a mix of external and internal parasites in freshwater aquaria.
Pocket powerhouse
Treats a mix of external and internal parasites in freshwater aquaria.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Skill Development & Mastery
API General Cure is a budget-friendly, broad-spectrum external parasite treatment that also addresses common secondary fungal and bacterial problems in a quarantine setting. It holds its place for External Parasite Treatments by offering an affordable, multipurpose solution for hobbyists who need a single-product hospital treatment; compared with more specialized remedies on this list, it trades targeted efficacy for versatility and lower per-treatment cost.
Broad-spectrum action
Fast symptom relief
Pocket powerhouse
Treats a mix of external and internal parasites in freshwater aquaria.
Simple dosing regimen suitable for community tanks (follow label directions).
Broad-spectrum action
Fast symptom relief
Pocket powerhouse
Treats a mix of external and internal parasites in freshwater aquaria.
Simple dosing regimen suitable for community tanks (follow label directions).
$8-15 USD
Seachem ParaGuard
Seachem ParaGuard is a concentrated, hospital-grade antiparasitic and antifungal formula valued for rapid action and flexible dosing in both quarantine and display tanks. It commands a premium price but typically delivers a lower cost-per-dose and greater utility across multiple parasite and secondary-infection scenarios, making it more versatile than single-agent options like praziquantel-based products.
Dual-environment use
Powerful parasite knockdown
Dual-environment use
Powerful parasite knockdown
Review Summary
"Praised for rapid, broad‑spectrum action against external parasites and fungal issues and often clears outbreaks quickly; however it can discolor water, has a noticeable odor, and may stress or harm sensitive invertebrates and fry."
Marine-safe magic
Broad-spectrum antiparasitic and antifungal formulation for freshwater and marine use.
Marine-safe magic
Broad-spectrum antiparasitic and antifungal formulation for freshwater and marine use.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Seachem ParaGuard is a concentrated, hospital-grade antiparasitic and antifungal formula valued for rapid action and flexible dosing in both quarantine and display tanks. It commands a premium price but typically delivers a lower cost-per-dose and greater utility across multiple parasite and secondary-infection scenarios, making it more versatile than single-agent options like praziquantel-based products.
Dual-environment use
Powerful parasite knockdown
Marine-safe magic
Broad-spectrum antiparasitic and antifungal formulation for freshwater and marine use.
Effective as a whole-aquarium treatment for many external protozoans and fungal issues.
Dual-environment use
Powerful parasite knockdown
Marine-safe magic
Broad-spectrum antiparasitic and antifungal formulation for freshwater and marine use.
Effective as a whole-aquarium treatment for many external protozoans and fungal issues.
$15-30 USD
Kordon Rid-Ich Plus
Kordon Rid-Ich Plus is a fast-acting, economically priced treatment focused on ich and other external protozoan parasites, making it a practical choice for acute outbreaks. Its straightforward dosing and proven effectiveness give it a financial and operational edge for quick interventions compared with broader, sometimes more expensive hospital formulas, though it lacks the fluke-specific potency of praziquantel-based treatments.
Ich specialist
Plant-friendly option
Ich specialist
Plant-friendly option
Review Summary
"Many users find it an affordable, effective choice for ich and other external parasites when dosed properly; complaints center on the strong smell, potential toxicity to sensitive species/plants, and need for repeat treatments."
Hobbyist classic
Combination treatment (formalin + malachite green) targeted at ich, velvet and similar external protozoans.
Hobbyist classic
Combination treatment (formalin + malachite green) targeted at ich, velvet and similar external protozoans.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Kordon Rid-Ich Plus is a fast-acting, economically priced treatment focused on ich and other external protozoan parasites, making it a practical choice for acute outbreaks. Its straightforward dosing and proven effectiveness give it a financial and operational edge for quick interventions compared with broader, sometimes more expensive hospital formulas, though it lacks the fluke-specific potency of praziquantel-based treatments.
Ich specialist
Plant-friendly option
Hobbyist classic
Combination treatment (formalin + malachite green) targeted at ich, velvet and similar external protozoans.
Fast-acting therapeutic bath or aquarium treatment for acute outbreaks.
Ich specialist
Plant-friendly option
Hobbyist classic
Combination treatment (formalin + malachite green) targeted at ich, velvet and similar external protozoans.
Fast-acting therapeutic bath or aquarium treatment for acute outbreaks.
$10-25 USD
Fritz Mardel Coppersafe
Fritz Mardel Coppersafe is a chelated copper solution designed for sustained control of external parasites such as ich, where long-lasting copper residuals are advantageous. Its technical strength is persistence and efficacy against stubborn infestations, but that advantage comes with the economic and operational limitation that copper cannot be used in invertebrate-bearing systems, so hobbyists must weigh effectiveness against compatibility.
Stabilized copper
Long-lasting effect
Stabilized copper
Long-lasting effect
Review Summary
"Widely regarded as a reliable, professional copper-based treatment that effectively controls ich and many external parasites with a chelated, stable formulation; requires careful dosing and monitoring to avoid copper toxicity to invertebrates."
Copper with charm
Stabilized ionic copper formulation effective against ich, flukes and other external parasites.
Copper with charm
Stabilized ionic copper formulation effective against ich, flukes and other external parasites.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Skill Development & Mastery
Fritz Mardel Coppersafe is a chelated copper solution designed for sustained control of external parasites such as ich, where long-lasting copper residuals are advantageous. Its technical strength is persistence and efficacy against stubborn infestations, but that advantage comes with the economic and operational limitation that copper cannot be used in invertebrate-bearing systems, so hobbyists must weigh effectiveness against compatibility.
Stabilized copper
Long-lasting effect
Copper with charm
Stabilized ionic copper formulation effective against ich, flukes and other external parasites.
Designed to maintain bioavailable copper over the treatment period for consistent efficacy.
Stabilized copper
Long-lasting effect
Copper with charm
Stabilized ionic copper formulation effective against ich, flukes and other external parasites.
Designed to maintain bioavailable copper over the treatment period for consistent efficacy.
$25-60 USD
Hikari PraziPro
Hikari PraziPro is a praziquantel-based specialist formulated to target flukes and other flatworm-type external parasites, making it the market leader for confirmed trematode or monogenean infections. While often pricier per bottle than generalist remedies, its single-active-agent precision is cost-effective when fluke infestation is known and is a preferred choice when copper treatments are contraindicated by tank inhabitants.
Concentrated praziquantel
Precision dosing
Concentrated praziquantel
Precision dosing
Review Summary
"PraziPro is frequently reported as highly effective and fast-acting against flukes and many external parasites with minimal impact on most tankmates when used as directed; some hobbyists pair it with other meds for comprehensive ich control."
Aquarium pro-tool
Contains praziquantel effective against cestodes (tapeworms) and monogenean flukes.
Aquarium pro-tool
Contains praziquantel effective against cestodes (tapeworms) and monogenean flukes.
Increased Safety & Security
Time-Saving Convenience
Hikari PraziPro is a praziquantel-based specialist formulated to target flukes and other flatworm-type external parasites, making it the market leader for confirmed trematode or monogenean infections. While often pricier per bottle than generalist remedies, its single-active-agent precision is cost-effective when fluke infestation is known and is a preferred choice when copper treatments are contraindicated by tank inhabitants.
Concentrated praziquantel
Precision dosing
Aquarium pro-tool
Contains praziquantel effective against cestodes (tapeworms) and monogenean flukes.
Works systemically to treat both internal and some external fluke infestations.
Concentrated praziquantel
Precision dosing
Aquarium pro-tool
Contains praziquantel effective against cestodes (tapeworms) and monogenean flukes.
Works systemically to treat both internal and some external fluke infestations.
$20-40 USD