Clown with white stringy poop

[Aliu]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to get advice and a second opinion on what you guys might think about white stringy poop. I researched Dr. Fish's thread and by the symptoms in what my clown is showing, it definitely isn't brooklynella, fluke. Therefore I'm guessing internal parasite.

My tank was cycled about 5 weeks after set up. I added my first Ocellaris Clownfish last Saturday, exactly 7 days ago. He has been very active swimming around and eating regularly twice a day: 10am and 7pm. He doesn't seem to have any discoloration on the body and the only symptom as of now is the white stringy poop.

My water parameters are:
SG: 1.024
Temp: 79.6F
PH: 8.0
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: 5.0ppm
Magnesium: 1300ppm
Alkalinity: 8.4/3.0
Calcium: 450ppm

In anyones' experience would you guys agree that this may be internal parasites? If so, what medication would you guys recommend? API General Cure; Sachem MetroPlex; ParacideX; ParricideD?

Thanks for all the help!

Alex

 

[Aliu]

Sorry for the unclear picture. I tried. But he keeps swimming around.

 

[Humblefish]

Sachem MetroPlex; ParacideX; ParricideD?

I personally use metronidazole for treating internal parasites; Seachem Metroplex and Fishvet Metro-MS are both good products.

No personal experience with Paracide-D or Paracide-X, but I know people (whom I trust) that use those products to deworm and they report success.

No matter which product you choose, I suggest also picking up "Seachem Focus" if you are planning to treat in the DT and thus, bind the medication to food.

 

[melypr1985]

+1 ^^^

 

[Aliu]

I personally use metronidazole for treating internal parasites; Seachem Metroplex and Fishvet Metro-MS are both good products.

No personal experience with Paracide-D or Paracide-X, but I know people (whom I trust) that use those products to deworm and they report success.

No matter which product you choose, I suggest also picking up "Seachem Focus" if you are planning to treat in the DT and thus, bind the medication to food.

Hi Humble. Thanks for the tips. I looked online and saw that focus and metroplex is different. Regarding DT, do you mean display tank? I'm just taking a wild guess. I do not have a QT system because I live in a studio apartment in NY and have no space for an extra tank.

If I plan on treating in the tank, that would mean Seachem Focus would be the better choice right? I'll just mix it with the food everyday and how long would you recommend doing that? Their website said at least 3 weeks to make sure?

 

[Humblefish]

Hi Humble. Thanks for the tips. I looked online and saw that focus and metroplex is different. Regarding DT, do you mean display tank? I'm just taking a wild guess. I do not have a QT system because I live in a studio apartment in NY and have no space for an extra tank.

If I plan on treating in the tank, that would mean Seachem Focus would be the better choice right? I'll just mix it with the food everyday and how long would you recommend doing that? Their website said at least 3 weeks to make sure?

You need both - Metroplex (or Metro-MS) AND Focus. Metro is the medication you need to clear the fish of internal parasites, and Focus is what you use to bind the medication to fish food. You don't want the medication to leach out into the water column and get on your corals. Treat for at least 2-3 weeks (feed every single meal with metro) or until symptoms disappear, whichever comes last.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

You need both - Metroplex (or Metro-MS) AND Focus. Metro is the medication you need to clear the fish of internal parasites, and Focus is what you use to bind the medication to fish food. You don't want the medication to leach out into the water column and get on your corals. Treat for at least 2-3 weeks (feed every single meal with metro) or until symptoms disappear, whichever comes last.

How do you know how much to add to the food?

 

[Humblefish]

How do you know how much to add to the food?

Use the little measure spoon that comes with Metroplex (this also applies to Kanaplex.) Add 1 measure spoon of Metroplex to 1 tablespoon of food. Then add in 5 measure spoons of Focus and mix. This will produce a gel or paste that the fish will eat. Freeze whatever you don't use for later use.

Frozen food works best because it's already "wet" once melted; but you can also use flake/pellets if you just add a little SW to it.

 

[Luka]

I read that white stringy poo is fairly common in new fish that have been added. It's probly just a diet issue or something maybe constipation. If it was internal parasites I don't think he would be eating and definitely wouldn't be that active. Do you vary his diet? Or do you just feed him the same thing all the time? If so try feeding him different stuff. I feed my fish hikari pellets which are made from vegis then I feed them omega flakes made from fish like samon and occasionally I will feed them brine shrimp. This gives them a good varied diet. Try changing it up if he starts acting abnormal or stops eating medicate him. Or if changing his diet doesn't stop the white poop then medicate. I am not the most experienced reefer but that's what I have researched, you can Medicate him now as it won't hurt but that stuff taste bad for the fish.

 

[Humblefish]

Stringy poop = digestive issues aka upset tummy... no treatment needed

White stringy poop = internal parasites/intestinal worms or possibly Hexamita aka Hole in the Head disease

 

[Luka]

Ooh thanks for clearing that up

 

[Aliu]

Thank you for all the clarifications. Just to update-

I went to my lfs to get both metroplex and focus. He was able to teach me how to use it and the ratio of focus to metroplex. I also bought frozen mysis to mix the meds with.

The clown at first rejected eating mysis and still wanted to eat the pellets. But now it is getting better. It sometimes spits the mysis back out, but sometimes takes it in. (Guess it depends on its mood)

Thanks humble again for all the info.