Clownfish with possible internal parasites

[Scott Tuttle]

Is it normal for a clownfish to have long stringy poop? (Sorry bad pic) I put him in the basket because he started just hanging out at just one rock, he was all over the tank with the other Clownfish but not for the past few days. I haven't seen him eat the past few days either. How could I treat this with out a QT?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Is it white stringy poo? If it is an internal parasite Prazipro would be your best bet.

 

[looneywun]

yes mine has some stringy poop lol

 

[blkhwkz]

Soak the food in metro and bind it with Seachem Focus for white stringy poop.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/metronidazole.298762/

 

[Scott Tuttle]

Will the Prazipro or metro hurt my snails or shrimp?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Will the Prazipro or metro hurt my snails or shrimp?

not snails or shrimp, but any worms (fan worms, bristleworms ect)will be effected.

 

[Big G]

The important point is the poop would need to be “white” not brown. Brown stringy can be from lots of less drastic causes, like diet.

 

[Scott Tuttle]

It is white stringy poop and he appears to be getting skinny.

 

[Big G]

Ok, so you can try mixing food. Recommend you use good quality frozen food (cubes). Let them "slump" in the fridge. Mix food + Metroplex + Focus in a tupperware. It will store in the fridge for a few days.

If the fish continues not to eat, best to treat a QT with API General Cure. It's a powder than contains both praziquantel for external parasites like flukes and Metro for internal parasites like worms. One packet treats 10 gallons. Dose once and wait 5-7 days. Do a 25% water change. Dose again and wait 5-7 days. Observe for 7-10 days.

 

[Big G]

^^^ make sure to add an air stone or powerhead aimed at the surface of the tank when using General Cure.

 

[OnyxPerc]

Wondering what happened to the little clown - did he make it?

I got two Onyx Picasso's a few weeks ago and unfortunately they came with internal parasites - long white stringy poo. I also suspect they might have had flukes or some other gill parasite, as I noticed them breathing heavily a few days ago. I have them both in QT and dosed PraziPro 4 days ago - nothing else has been dosed aside from Prazi.

Before Prazi they were both eating voraciously. First day after Prazi, one of them didn't eat at all and the other ate like normal. Second day the one was still not eating, so I soaked some frozen brine in Selcon and tried again but he still wouldn't eat. Third day I tried selcon/brine again and he finally took a few small pieces. Yesterday was the 4th day, I did the same soaking the frozen brine in Selcon and he ate a lot more - still not as much as he used to but we're making progress.

Today i'm planning on doing a 30% water change. I'll wait two more days and then dose another round of Prazi, or I might try soaking some food in metro.

 

[Big G]

You might want to add Metro to the dosing. Prazi generally takes care of the external flukes the best; where as Metro generally treats internal parasites the best. If they are still eating: Metro + Focus + food works pretty well.

 

[OnyxPerc]

Thanks for the reply - that was my thought as well. I'm gonna hold off for 2 more days before trying anything else, I want to give the smaller clown a chance to recover and get back to eating normal. I'm also in no rush, my DT needs to remain fallow for another 6-8 weeks anyway.

By any chance do you know if CP and Metro can be used together? I was holding off on the CP because I read that it shouldn't be used with PraziPro, and also the CP treatment is just preventative.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Thanks for the reply - that was my thought as well. I'm gonna hold off for 2 more days before trying anything else, I want to give the smaller clown a chance to recover and get back to eating normal. I'm also in no rush, my DT needs to remain fallow for another 6-8 weeks anyway.

By any chance do you know if CP and Metro can be used together? I was holding off on the CP because I read that it shouldn't be used with PraziPro, and also the CP treatment is just preventative.

Thanks again for your help!

Also just FYI Prazipro will suppress apetite.