Do you treat if you suspect something is wrong?

guppygal

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Jun 30, 2006
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OK - I think I see white poo in the tank and I saw the gourami with a white poo. Do I wait, do I treat for internal parasites?

Thanks

10g
3 gupps
1 dwarf gourami
 
Usally you want more info before treating. Other things play into if a fish is ill or not. This is only one sign that something may be wrong. You need to also consider...

Is the fish acting different?
Are the colors not right?
How are the other fish in the tank?
What are you feeding them?
What are the water prams (pH, Ammonia, NitrIte, NitrAte)?
How long has the fish been doing this?

After you think about these kinds of questions then you can decide if treatment is needed or not.
 
Needeles said:
Usally you want more info before treating. Other things play into if a fish is ill or not. This is only one sign that something may be wrong. You need to also consider...

Is the fish acting different?
Are the colors not right?
How are the other fish in the tank?
What are you feeding them?
What are the water prams (pH, Ammonia, NitrIte, NitrAte)?
How long has the fish been doing this?

After you think about these kinds of questions then you can decide if treatment is needed or not.

Everything else and everybody else is fine and happy and water conditions are fine (I just changed the water twice yesterday).

How long has the fish been doing this? Just noticed it yesterday.
Feeding them flake food and every now and then frozen baby brine shrimp
 
White poo is one sign of internal parasites, but internal parasites aren't the only cause of White poo. I agree with needles on this, Watch for other symptoms, and wait it out. I often see white poo in fish that simply had a diet change.

As a general rule unless a fish is ovbiously very sick, I never treat until I can positively identify what is wrong. Panic/impatience will almost always cause more damage than taking your time and investigating. In too many cases fish are medicated to death when they would have probably been otherwise fine.
 
alas, you are facing the quandry that many of us face.

to treat or not to treat.


I agree..watch for more signs. white poo can be either internal parasites, bacterial infection or food they eat.

typically the poo is dark .

"Feeding them flake food and every now and then frozen baby brine shrimp"

I feed my fish flake everyday , usually twice per day.. I feed bloodworms and brine shrimp a few times per week unless the fish are spawning(I increase protien then)

what species of fish?
try feeding flake daily if not twice daily.

I'm guessing the tank is cycled

I'd watch for other Sx(symptoms) one noticeable Sx if it's internal parasites..they may begin to spit food out and not eat it or stop eating all together.

also some parasites are visible on the fish.(worms may protrude from the anus) I found them on one of my fish at night when the fish was sleeping .(I used a flashlight)

something to consider.

many importers treat new fish with anti biotics and anit parasite meds when they get them as std protocol.


I know that many of the parasite meds are mild and really not too invasive to the fish.

it might not be a bad idea if you suspect.

I know I have treated tanks several times with parasite clear and have never lost a fish to the treatement Tho I did lose a prized angel to parasites)
 
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