Is my fish sick?

[cyberCoder]

Hi

Please help me look at the video and I am really worried.

I was away for nearly two weeks and other family members have been taking care of the feeding for my 50 gallon cube. After I came back , I noticed that one of the fishes is swimming without as ease as she was before. She seems to struggle. I also noticed that she hides in rocks much more and typically only came out during feeding now. I have noticed these for two days now after I came back. I also noticed from last night that there is a "white string" hanging from her tummy area and the "string" is quite long. You can see from the videos .

We feed mysis frozen shrimp.

Is she sick? Should I start feeding the food with medication directly mixing the medication (API General Cure ?) and feed the fishes all? Should I move her to a quarantine tank ( I worry about shocking her further )....

Please help look at the video , really appreciate.

 

[RevMH]

Hi

Please help me look at the video and I am really worried.

I was away for nearly two weeks and other family members have been taking care of the feeding for my 50 gallon cube. After I came back , I noticed that one of the fishes is swimming without as ease as she was before. She seems to struggle. I also noticed that she hides in rocks much more and typically only came out during feeding now. I have noticed these for two days now after I came back. I also noticed from last night that there is a "white string" hanging from her tummy area and the "string" is quite long. You can see from the videos .

We feed mysis frozen shrimp.

Is she sick? Should I start feeding the food with medication directly mixing the medication (API General Cure ?) and feed the fishes all? Should I move her to a quarantine tank ( I worry about shocking her further )....

Please help look at the video , really appreciate.

What other fish are in the tank?

 

[4FordFamily]

The first thing I notice from the photo is that the firefish has white, stringy poo. This is often indicative of an internal parasite. I'd add medication and a binding agent (seachem focus) with general cure or metroplex in strained, drained frozen foods for 10-14 days.

Unfortunately, by the time they feel this way it may be too late but you'll want to try and treat any other fish in the tank as they spread.

 

[cyberCoder]

What other fish are in the tank?

There are two more fishes : one clowngish and one demselfish.

Both of them are kind of aggressive and I have previous post that talked about bullying too. So far I observed the firefish is not afraid of going to areas with those two to eat together. But in general, the firefish avoids the other.

 

[cyberCoder]

The first thing I notice from the photo is that the firefish has white, stringy poo. This is often indicative of an internal parasite. I'd add medication and a binding agent (seachem focus) with general cure or metroplex in strained, drained frozen foods for 10-14 days.

Unfortunately, by the time they feel this way it may be too late but you'll want to try and treat any other fish in the tank as they spread.

Thank you and that's very concerning. Is it better to try catch her and put her to the quarantine tank? I have a 15 gallon quarantine tank that I run. I typically mix one of the external medication with the water ( I forgot the name of it ), and then feed as you suggested.

I wonder if it's better to start separating the fishes and feed both tanks with general cure.

 

[BeejReef]

I def defer to whatever 4FordFamily advises, but you can feed general cure bound with focus (as she says) in the display tank. It may be a benefit, bc u can't know if the other fish have caught it as well. Feed just enough for the fish to eat in a few minutes time. Try not to let a lot lay around in the tank.

 

[4FordFamily]

Thank you and that's very concerning. Is it better to try catch her and put her to the quarantine tank? I have a 15 gallon quarantine tank that I run. I typically mix one of the external medication with the water ( I forgot the name of it ), and then feed as you suggested.

I wonder if it's better to start separating the fishes and feed both tanks with general cure.

You can feed it in the DT and in fact I'd recommend this course of action as it will hopefully clear any internal parasites of other fish before they become as badly afflicted.

The "focus" product binds the medication to the food. But if it spills in to the water column it won't be enough concentration to marginally harm anything, most likely.