Possible internal parasite?

[TikiBird]

I acquired two adorable captive-bred clownfish this weekend. Yesterday I noticed one of the clowns had a whitish-clear poop dangling. I've only seen it once but it made me nervous about internal parasites.

I just got some Seachem Metroplex to soak food in and also Focus. (Was trying to stalk advice given by @Humblefish in other posts and thought this would be the way to go...)

Even though I have only seen the weird poop once, do you all think I should go ahead with the metroplex/focus treatment, or should I wait and see? If it IS internal parasites I don't want to wait, but I don't want to unnecessarily treat either.... [emoji848]

 

[gashunk]

I would get them in qt and start treatment rather me safe then sorry you know

 

[TikiBird]

Thanks @gashunk!

They are the only fish in the tank (other critters are a cleaner shrimp and two snails). Is it ok to leave them in there and treat in the main tank, since there aren't other fish?

 

[gashunk]

No I wouldn't treat them in the main tank because what ever meds you put in the tank will be absorbed into the rock and sand

 

[TikiBird]

Thanks, @gashunk!

If I feed it via food soaked in it and use Focus, will it still get absorbed into the rock and sand? The Seachem site says it "is easily removed with carbon." Is that wrong?

 

[gashunk]

Give me a min to hop on a pc to give you some links and a possible Id on what it could be n how to treat it

 

[TikiBird]

Give me a min to hop on a pc to give you some links and a possible Id on what it could be n how to treat it

Thanks so much!! I've been reading old posts by @Humblefish but of course more info is always much appreciated!

 

[gashunk]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-quarantine.189815/ for qting

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-diseases-101.189284/

Internal/intestinal parasites:

Symptoms - Internal parasites are also “worms,” but these target a fish’s intestines. As a result, the main symptom is white stringy poop. It has to be white; brown stringy poop, for example, can just mean intestinal irritation which requires no treatment.

Treatment options - API General Cure (a medication containing both praziquantel and metronidazole). Some species of internal worms are resistant to prazi, while others are resistant to metro, but usually not both. :wink:Seachem MetroPlex can be dosed directly in QT, or soaking fish food with it provides an alternative (and reef safe) treatment option. Two other available options are: Paracide-X (mixed in food) and Paracide-D (in-tank treatment).

 

[gashunk]

yeah i always get everything from @Humblefish hes a fish disease genius so yeah it looks like you can soak the food in the metroplex and shouldnt have any problems with it in the tank

 

[TikiBird]

Awesome, thanks so much for the info and for looking into it, @gashunk!!

 

[gashunk]

anytime i try and help n if i cant always gotta call the experts in from the #reefsquad always have the answers to all of our reefing needs

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm not good with this fish medicine stuff, but let me add @melypr1985 and @4FordFamily into the mix.

 

[jsker]

Just a side note, I have feed metroplex with focus with no problem to the system. I would feed now to make sure. I also feed vitamin m to help with their immune system.

 

[melypr1985]

I acquired two adorable captive-bred clownfish this weekend. Yesterday I noticed one of the clowns had a whitish-clear poop dangling. I've only seen it once but it made me nervous about internal parasites.

I just got some Seachem Metroplex to soak food in and also Focus. (Was trying to stalk advice given by @Humblefish in other posts and thought this would be the way to go...)

Even though I have only seen the weird poop once, do you all think I should go ahead with the metroplex/focus treatment, or should I wait and see? If it IS internal parasites I don't want to wait, but I don't want to unnecessarily treat either.... [emoji848]

Yes, Go ahead and start the treatment. Be sure that both clowns eat the medicated food since they can catch it by eating an infected fish's poop. Yup, that happens quite a bit Feeding the med gets it straight to the gut where the parasites have set up shop.

1 scoop focus, 1 scoop metroplex with one cube of food will do it. Feed that once a day for a minimum of 10 days. Be sure to watch their poops. After ten days, if you see normal poops, you can stop treatment. Good luck!

 

[TikiBird]

Yes, Go ahead and start the treatment. Be sure that both clowns eat the medicated food since they can catch it by eating an infected fish's poop. Yup, that happens quite a bit Feeding the med gets it straight to the gut where the parasites have set up shop.

1 scoop focus, 1 scoop metroplex with one cube of food will do it. Feed that once a day for a minimum of 10 days. Be sure to watch their poops. After ten days, if you see normal poops, you can stop treatment. Good luck!

Thanks so much for your help, all!! [emoji16]

Ok, a new twist: I fed the food with the metroplex and focus, but they aren't eating! [emoji53] Should I medicate the water? If I should do that, does that mean they need to go into a QT so the rocks and sand don't absorb the medicine? Or is that ok with metroplex?

 

[melypr1985]

Thanks so much for your help, all!! [emoji16]

Ok, a new twist: I fed the food with the metroplex and focus, but they aren't eating! [emoji53] Should I medicate the water? If I should do that, does that mean they need to go into a QT so the rocks and sand don't absorb the medicine? Or is that ok with metroplex?

You can add a little garlic to the mixture to mask the taste and smell of the meds. Sometimes it takes a little push to get them eating it. Don't put the meds in the display. It's much better to feed the meds to the fish, but if you have to medicate the water, then do it in a QT. Some will say it's ok to put metro in the display, but I like to err on the side of caution.

 

[TikiBird]

You can add a little garlic to the mixture to mask the taste and smell of the meds. Sometimes it takes a little push to get them eating it. Don't put the meds in the display. It's much better to feed the meds to the fish, but if you have to medicate the water, then do it in a QT. Some will say it's ok to put metro in the display, but I like to err on the side of caution.

Will do!! Thank you @melpyr1985!!

 

[TikiBird]

Update: I mashed up some crushed garlic and garlic juice into the med/food mix and they went for it a little bit--they each took a small nibble of frozen worms. They're pretty small clownfish, about an inch long--do you think a nibble is enough to get the meds in them?

Another update: I managed to get mashed-up frozen worm juice on me while I was making this concoction. [emoji33] BRB gonna take a shower [emoji23]

 

[4FordFamily]

Yes, Go ahead and start the treatment. Be sure that both clowns eat the medicated food since they can catch it by eating an infected fish's poop. Yup, that happens quite a bit Feeding the med gets it straight to the gut where the parasites have set up shop.

1 scoop focus, 1 scoop metroplex with one cube of food will do it. Feed that once a day for a minimum of 10 days. Be sure to watch their poops. After ten days, if you see normal poops, you can stop treatment. Good luck!

I agree entirely, it's better to be safe than sorry. Sounds like metro will take care of this as white stringy poop is a tell tale sign of internal parasites.

 

[RJinPV]

Just a side note, I have feed metroplex with focus with no problem to the system. I would feed now to make sure. I also feed vitamin m to help with their immune system.

I too have used metroplex soaked food with no ill effects. My Clowns ate it just fine