Internal parasite?

TheEngineer · Oct 19, 2016

When it rains it pours, right? I got 5 new fish last Thursday and then discovered on Friday that they appeared to have Velvet. I started treatment for that on Saturday and all seems to be going swimmingly (pun intended). The details of that element of my story are chronicled here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ttm-day2-i-think-theres-ich.269576/

I noticed yesterday that one of the fish looks particularly thin and its stomach seems sunken in slightly. I watched it eat yesterday, so I know it is getting food. I'm wondering if this is a matter of not enough food (I feed three times a day) or if this is an internal parasite or something else entirely.

I'm already running copper in the tank, so I'm not sure what other treatments I can actually do at the same time. I will try and get a picture when the lights come up.

TheEngineer · Oct 19, 2016

Lights are up and I snapped a pic. I also noticed it has some scales that appear out of place. I can't tell if they are protruding or what.

melypr1985 · Oct 19, 2016

Watch for white stringy poop. That's a clear indicator of intestinal parasites. It's contagious, and spreads to the others when they eat the infected fish's poop. Yuk! Yeah, that totally happens a lot. Anyway, if you see the white stringy poo (oh you'll know what it is when you see it), then you can feed metroplex in their food. I would bind it with Focus to be sure it's all getting into his gut and not leaching into the water. You'll do that for 10 days or longer.... basically until the white poop stops. It's ok to let the others eat it too since they probably ate his poop like the gross fishies they are.

No need to jump right on that though!! Wait until you see the poop first.

TheEngineer · Nov 5, 2016

Annnnnnnd I'm back

I'm a week away from getting these guys/gals out of QT. I've done one round of Prazipro and was about to do my second dose when I noticed white stringy poop. Is it the right white stringy poop? I don't know!

melypr1985 · Nov 5, 2016

Yup. That's the white stringy poop alright. You may want to switch over to General Cure since it has both Prazi and metroplex in it. Metro is better for intestinal worms. You can continue with the prazi and just feed the metroplex though. Up to you.

TheEngineer · Nov 5, 2016

Ok. Just dosed prazipro this evening. I'll order General Cure. Should I extend my QT? I'm set to transfer the fish next Saturday but maybe that needs to get pushed now?

melypr1985 · Nov 5, 2016

icecool2 said:
Ok. Just dosed prazipro this evening. I'll order General Cure. Should I extend my QT? I'm set to transfer the fish next Saturday but maybe that needs to get pushed now?

If you're going the GC route, then I would leave them in until this problem clears up. Better safe than sorry

TheEngineer · Nov 5, 2016

melypr1985 said:
If you're going the GC route, then I would leave them in until this problem clears up. Better safe than sorry

Makes sense. Is one approach more effective? I don't really have a preference either way. It looks like I can get both medications from my LFS.

melypr1985 · Nov 5, 2016

icecool2 said:
Makes sense. Is one approach more effective? I don't really have a preference either way. It looks like I can get both medications from my LFS.

It seems that feeding metroplex is the best route since it gets the meds directly to the gut where the parasites are. It can still take two weeks or so to rid the fish of them. All the fish would need to eat the medicated food since they often eat each other's poop- which is how this spreads.

TheEngineer · Nov 5, 2016

Got it. Metroplex + an extra week added to QT. Thanks!

melypr1985 · Nov 5, 2016

icecool2 said:
Got it. Metroplex + an extra week added to QT. Thanks!

Be sure to use Focus to bind the metro to the food. 1:1 scoop ratio will do. Let it soak for ~20 minutes before feeding the first time.

TheEngineer · Nov 5, 2016

Ah. Ok. Got it.

4FordFamily · Nov 5, 2016

melypr1985 said:
Yup. That's the white stringy poop alright. You may want to switch over to General Cure since it has both Prazi and metroplex in it. Metro is better for intestinal worms. You can continue with the prazi and just feed the metroplex though. Up to you.

X2 as always, Mel hit the nail on the head

TheEngineer · Nov 6, 2016

I think the answer is no, but... can I do metroplex and focus with live blackworms? I also feed frozen brine but they don't like it as much.

melypr1985 · Nov 6, 2016

icecool2 said:
I think the answer is no, but... can I do metroplex and focus with live blackworms? I also feed frozen brine but they don't like it as much.

I've never tried that but I don't think so. You could try it and let us know how it goes

TheEngineer · Nov 6, 2016

I feel like the worms would somehow metabolize the medications. I'm not a biologist by any stretch so that's just wild supposition on my part

I'll separate some worms into another container and give them a dose to see if it affects them.

melypr1985 · Nov 6, 2016

icecool2 said:
I feel like the worms would somehow metabolize the medications. I'm not a biologist by any stretch so that's just wild supposition on my part

I'll separate some worms into another container and give them a dose to see if it affects them.

Yeah. totally let us know how that goes. Be prepared to use the frozen though just in case.