Pleco with stringy, clear poo
- Thread starter elpmet
- Start date
I cant picture fish coming down with internal infestations right after moving from one tnak to another unless fish displayed same/similar symptoms before the transfer.
If fish's eating behavior is changed right after moving, not before, I would give it more time to adjust to new setting.
It is only obvious that fish will produce white poo when stomach is empty.
Does belly of pleco really sunken in (Pic of fish stuck to front glass would be perfect)?
ALthough you may not notice the impact on pathogens building resistance to improperly dosed med, it is mostly likely to happen soon or later when pathogens are contantly exposed to lowered than required dosage.
As far as pH, Ive had pleco with Af Cichlids, and also lost some as well.
If pleco was in pretty similar pH as your tank's pH for long time, pH may not be the problem. Do not try to adjust pH or any others at this moment.
Rather I would just monitor.
If wants to prep your own food, please by all mean as I ve done for few decades.
I would think it would be easier to soak wafers in tiny amt of med solution just prior feeding.
I know it isnt easy just to watch for further and/or more definitive clues, but sometimes it is best way to approach any odd behavioral changes.
Final call is yours.
btw, whenever I brouhgt in boxes of fancy plecos, I would make sure to leave few romaine lettuce in the tank ovenight. Although not much nutritions in lettuce, at least I know that they began feeduing after long trip. From my experiences, wafers took bit of time before new fish recognized them as food than letuce. Although zucchini/spinach/cucumber work as well, not as fast as Romaine.
Make sure to remove all unnatural vegiie matters after one night.
If fish's eating behavior is changed right after moving, not before, I would give it more time to adjust to new setting.
It is only obvious that fish will produce white poo when stomach is empty.
Does belly of pleco really sunken in (Pic of fish stuck to front glass would be perfect)?
ALthough you may not notice the impact on pathogens building resistance to improperly dosed med, it is mostly likely to happen soon or later when pathogens are contantly exposed to lowered than required dosage.
As far as pH, Ive had pleco with Af Cichlids, and also lost some as well.
If pleco was in pretty similar pH as your tank's pH for long time, pH may not be the problem. Do not try to adjust pH or any others at this moment.
Rather I would just monitor.
If wants to prep your own food, please by all mean as I ve done for few decades.
I would think it would be easier to soak wafers in tiny amt of med solution just prior feeding.
I know it isnt easy just to watch for further and/or more definitive clues, but sometimes it is best way to approach any odd behavioral changes.
Final call is yours.
btw, whenever I brouhgt in boxes of fancy plecos, I would make sure to leave few romaine lettuce in the tank ovenight. Although not much nutritions in lettuce, at least I know that they began feeduing after long trip. From my experiences, wafers took bit of time before new fish recognized them as food than letuce. Although zucchini/spinach/cucumber work as well, not as fast as Romaine.
Make sure to remove all unnatural vegiie matters after one night.
I've been watching closely today, and he has become more active.
I was able to get a couple of pics of his belly when he came to the front of the tank.
His stomach still looks quite rounded.
The color in the pic above is not true to life. The red and blue are from the camera flash.
I got the jungle anti-parasite food today, and I am soaking some of it with his wafer in garlic juice.
I do recognize the problems that can arise due to medicating without cause, however in this instance I do not believe that my concern is entirely unwarranted.
My concerns about his symptoms are not only that he is producing clear/white feces, but that he is producing it constantly. This, as well as his reluctance to eat, while retaining a large, rounded belly, is what has led me to believe that there is something more to be worried about than the effects of stress.
I was able to get a couple of pics of his belly when he came to the front of the tank.
His stomach still looks quite rounded.
The color in the pic above is not true to life. The red and blue are from the camera flash.
I got the jungle anti-parasite food today, and I am soaking some of it with his wafer in garlic juice.
I do recognize the problems that can arise due to medicating without cause, however in this instance I do not believe that my concern is entirely unwarranted.
My concerns about his symptoms are not only that he is producing clear/white feces, but that he is producing it constantly. This, as well as his reluctance to eat, while retaining a large, rounded belly, is what has led me to believe that there is something more to be worried about than the effects of stress.
Have you been putting anything different in the tank for any of the fish to eat? I'm kind of doubting it's internal parasites....more like an internal malady to cause the bloat and he's not eating so he's pooping clear and stringly because there is no food inside him to poop out.....It's probably stomach lining from the iritation. I would really like to know every kind of food you've been putting in the tank.
Pic is worth thousand words! His/her belly seems quite full.
Fully understand where you are coming from. Believe me Ive been there.
If he/she is not eating normally as per your description, I dont know if med wafer would be eaten.
Has this fish been with other plecos before being moved?
For argument sake, let's say he's been eating other food, for example zuchini even if you dont/didnt see eating, he may have taken some. Then white poo/lighter color poo is possible. Try romaine overnight and see what color is the poo? Hopefully and probably thick, dark green poo. You will know if romaine was eaten as you will see many many holes on romaine leaf.
Pay close attention to so called white poo. Is it really white but thick (full) long strands of poo?
In case of parasitic infestations, it may look white but upon close examination (magnifying glass helps), you may realize it may be somewhat transparent and not thick/full strand of poo with no rigidity. Then, only then, I would suspect internal parasitic infestation. Worms being parasitic would have utilized most nutrients therby fish will release pretty much nothing but opaque/semi transparent and empty/loosened strands of poo.
Go back to when this pleco produced healthy poo. I bet it was thick poo with some rigidity as we old timers used to joke that they are more of waste producer than cleaner.
I do recall from vacuuming substrate from pleco breeding tanks, the water were pitch black from strands of dark/full poo breaking up in the current.
Do you have driftwood in the tank? DW was must in my pleco tanks to help them with digestion.
Maybe simple indigestion or other internal problems, if any.
You can make the best determination as you are the only one who can perform close examination of fish/poo. I am just trying to supplement what I learned from my fish keeping years in hope that it can serve in your fish's best interest.
Whatever you try, hope all goes well!
Fully understand where you are coming from. Believe me Ive been there.
If he/she is not eating normally as per your description, I dont know if med wafer would be eaten.
Has this fish been with other plecos before being moved?
For argument sake, let's say he's been eating other food, for example zuchini even if you dont/didnt see eating, he may have taken some. Then white poo/lighter color poo is possible. Try romaine overnight and see what color is the poo? Hopefully and probably thick, dark green poo. You will know if romaine was eaten as you will see many many holes on romaine leaf.
Pay close attention to so called white poo. Is it really white but thick (full) long strands of poo?
In case of parasitic infestations, it may look white but upon close examination (magnifying glass helps), you may realize it may be somewhat transparent and not thick/full strand of poo with no rigidity. Then, only then, I would suspect internal parasitic infestation. Worms being parasitic would have utilized most nutrients therby fish will release pretty much nothing but opaque/semi transparent and empty/loosened strands of poo.
Go back to when this pleco produced healthy poo. I bet it was thick poo with some rigidity as we old timers used to joke that they are more of waste producer than cleaner.
I do recall from vacuuming substrate from pleco breeding tanks, the water were pitch black from strands of dark/full poo breaking up in the current.
Do you have driftwood in the tank? DW was must in my pleco tanks to help them with digestion.
Maybe simple indigestion or other internal problems, if any.
You can make the best determination as you are the only one who can perform close examination of fish/poo. I am just trying to supplement what I learned from my fish keeping years in hope that it can serve in your fish's best interest.
Whatever you try, hope all goes well!
The other fish eat Ken's premium tropical fish flake. I've been feeding it since October. I give the pleco hikari algae wafers, and once or twice a week I supplement with zucchini. I haven't altered anything in their diet, however last month I did replace the flake food that I'd had out for 6 months with flake that I had stored in my freezer.
The pet store from which I purchased him had him housed with a few other bristlenose plecos and if memory serves me, there were also some anglefish in the tank. I did not quarantine him before adding him to my tank (bad, I know) but up until now, as I've said, he's never shown any signs of malady.
His feces is transparent and threadlike. I managed to get a picture of it. My apologies for the lack of focus, but as you can see, it's very loose.
I've always had driftwood in the tank for him to chew on, but since coming home, I don't think he's touched it.
I've microwaved a bit of dark green romaine in some tank water to soften it a little. I'll check in the morning to see if he's eaten any at all.
Your advice is extremely helpful. I very much appreciate your willingness to share your experiences in these matters, and thank you for taking the time to help.
The pet store from which I purchased him had him housed with a few other bristlenose plecos and if memory serves me, there were also some anglefish in the tank. I did not quarantine him before adding him to my tank (bad, I know) but up until now, as I've said, he's never shown any signs of malady.
His feces is transparent and threadlike. I managed to get a picture of it. My apologies for the lack of focus, but as you can see, it's very loose.
I've always had driftwood in the tank for him to chew on, but since coming home, I don't think he's touched it.
I've microwaved a bit of dark green romaine in some tank water to soften it a little. I'll check in the morning to see if he's eaten any at all.
Your advice is extremely helpful. I very much appreciate your willingness to share your experiences in these matters, and thank you for taking the time to help.
He didn't eat any lettuce last night. I pulled it out this morning and it was untouched.
I did a partial water change and added activated charcoal to the filter to remove the meds, and I just gave him a 10 minute epsom salt soak to help with the bloating.
Is there anything else I can do for him?
I did a partial water change and added activated charcoal to the filter to remove the meds, and I just gave him a 10 minute epsom salt soak to help with the bloating.
Is there anything else I can do for him?
It's curling and loose stool. Could be insternal worm infestation or simple indigestion which can lead to bacterial infections. My educated guess would be the latter.
The reason I asked about other plecos prior moving was the a remote possibility of eggs as well with an assumption that this was very recent transfer.
For bloats, Only med I do know which has worked well for me were either naladixic acid (Nalagram by API: dont know if still avail) or oxolinic acid, provided treated early and it is internal viral/bacterial infections, not parasitic infestations. google for more info on these meds if you wish.
If bloating is caused by indigestion, could not help you there as I never found remedies mentioned on forums worth while. That does not mean you should not try.
Results of your actions taken maybe totally the opposite of mine since results can vary diversely as each tank water conditions are never the same. Thus it is impotant to record all the possible variants/factors when trying different remedies.
Hoping fish recovers on its own.
The reason I asked about other plecos prior moving was the a remote possibility of eggs as well with an assumption that this was very recent transfer.
For bloats, Only med I do know which has worked well for me were either naladixic acid (Nalagram by API: dont know if still avail) or oxolinic acid, provided treated early and it is internal viral/bacterial infections, not parasitic infestations. google for more info on these meds if you wish.
If bloating is caused by indigestion, could not help you there as I never found remedies mentioned on forums worth while. That does not mean you should not try.
Results of your actions taken maybe totally the opposite of mine since results can vary diversely as each tank water conditions are never the same. Thus it is impotant to record all the possible variants/factors when trying different remedies.
Hoping fish recovers on its own.
btw, I never nuke the veggies for fish. If you nuke it, it may not have that rigidity/freshness. I would just rinse romaine well.
Did you try Metronidazole medicated food yet? I'm still leaning towards a parasitic, or else possibly a bacterial infection of the intestines. Anaerobic bacteria can cause infection in the gut, liver abcesses, infection of the peritoneum, etc, and can cause swelling of the abdomen and poo that looks like that.
The good thing about Metro is that it in addition to working on many intestinal parasites it also works on anaerobic bacteria, so either way at this point I would think it's worth a try.
His abdomen does look bloated, which would be consistent with parasitic or bacterial infection, but I don't see signs of dropsy yet so hopefully a course of treatment with Metro can hit this before he does sustain internal organ damage.
He's pretty sick, and I'm so sorry, elpmet, that he is. He's a handsome guy.
In the final analysis... there's no way of knowing for sure what's going on and there's no way to be certain that Metro will cure him, but I can't think of another option.
I sure do hope that he recovers from this, whatever it is.
The good thing about Metro is that it in addition to working on many intestinal parasites it also works on anaerobic bacteria, so either way at this point I would think it's worth a try.
His abdomen does look bloated, which would be consistent with parasitic or bacterial infection, but I don't see signs of dropsy yet so hopefully a course of treatment with Metro can hit this before he does sustain internal organ damage.
He's pretty sick, and I'm so sorry, elpmet, that he is. He's a handsome guy.
In the final analysis... there's no way of knowing for sure what's going on and there's no way to be certain that Metro will cure him, but I can't think of another option.
I sure do hope that he recovers from this, whatever it is.
