Internal parasite end game

Pbh-reef · Jun 24, 2019

I have a question about fish poop! Specifically- how can you tell if a poop
Is disease free? I have a gramma who I’ve treated for 2 weeks with GC/focus soaked frozen mysis. His poops have gone from stringy and white to white/grey with dark clumps. The shape is no longer stringy and is lumpy and kind of large seeming (although I’m overfeeding him now to fatten him up before I go on vacation).

@HotRocks @ngoodermuth @4FordFamily - what’s your experience with the final stages of internal parasites? Should I continue to medicated food or is it safe to stop?

Pbh-reef · Jun 24, 2019

I’ll also add that the gramma has put on lots of weight (lost its concave stomach) but is still skinny behind gills. It’s behavior has totally changed - from spending most of the day hiding and perching on the sand to swimming all day and being generally much more outgoing.

Here’s a mid poop photo showing some of the white and some dark coloration. The fish has no problem passing the stool, and I’m only worried because it still has white in it.

HotRocks · Jun 24, 2019

The only way to be 100% certain is to put a fecal sample under a microscope.

I'd say if the white stringy poop has diminished, the fish is putting on weight you are probably pretty safe.

Sometimes poop can be brown and stringy as well, which would indicate constipation not internal parasites.

If a fish is eating well, has white stringy poop, and not gaining weight I'd say it's a pretty safe bet intestinal parasites and/or worms exist without a scope ID.