bacterial infection??

[AquaBarb]

Not sure if im worrying for nothing but i had a problem with a zebra danio a while back. It had its fin nipped off so i put the danio in quarantine for a month and treated with pimafix and kept water clean etc.

The fin grew back so i re-introduced her to the main tank a few days ago. She looked pale (almost like albino form) but was swimming around eating fine.

Her colour seems to be nearly back now but i noticed tonight just before the tank light turned of that she had a white stringy poo come from her and read on a form page somewhere before this could be a bacterial infection..

Could this just be stress from being alone for so long? or should i be treating the tank with some meds just incase it is a infection?

Thanks

 

[FishGuest5123]

White poo usually indicates internal parasites or or Worms. You can treat with API General Cure. Good luck!

 

[Colin_T]

Fish do a stringy white poop for several reasons.

1) internal bacterial infection causes the fish to stop eating, swell up like a balloon, breath heavily at surface or near a filter outlet, do stringy white poop, and die within 24-48 hours of showing these symptoms. This cannot normally be cured because massive internal organ failure has already occurred.


2) internal protozoan infection cause the fish to lose weight rapidly (over a week or two), fish continues to eat and swim around but not as much as normal, does stringy white poop. If not treated the fish dies a week or so after these symptoms appear. Metronidazole normally works well for this.

It's interesting that API and the Californian government have listed Metronidazole as a carcinogen. That's a concern considering it was widely used to treat intestinal infections in people.
Anyway, handle with care, don't inhale the medication, and wash hands with soapy water after treating the fish or working in the tank.


3) intestinal worms like tapeworm and threadworms cause the fish to lose weight, continue eating and swimming normally, do a stringy white poop. Fish can do this for months and not be too badly affected. In some cases, fish with bad worm infestation will actually gain weight and get fat and look like a pregnant guppy. This is due to the huge number of worms inside the fish.

If the fish are still eating well, then worms is the most likely cause.

You can use Praziquantel to treat tapeworm and gill flukes. And Levamisole to treat thread/ round worms.

Remove carbon from filters before treatment and increase aeration/ surface turbulence to maximise oxygen levels in the water.

You treat the fish once a week for 3-4 weeks. The first treatment will kill any worms in the fish. The second and third treatments kill any baby worms that hatch from eggs inside the fish's digestive tract.

You do a 75% water change and complete gravel clean 24-48 hours after treatment. Clean the filter 24 hours after treatment too.

Treat every fish tank in the house at the same time.

Do not use the 2 medications together. If you want to treat both medications in a short space of time, use Praziquantel on day one. Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate on day 2 & 3. Treat the tank with Levamisole on day 4 and do a 75% water change and gravel clean on day 5, 6 & 7 and then start with Praziquantel again on day 8.

The water changes will remove most of the medication so you don't overdose the fish. The gravel cleaning will suck out any worms and eggs that have been expelled by the fish. Repeating the treatment for 3-4 doses at weekly intervals will kill any worms that hatch from eggs. At the end of the treatment you will have healthier fish.

 

[AquaBarb]

Wished i noticed this before re-introduced her back to her tank now

Checked on her this morning and shes very active and feeding fine. So looks like she might have worms.

Ive got a internal filter and sponge filter running in this tank. The internal filter as a 3 in 1 media pad so not sure how i can take carbon out of that. Might have to see if i can purchase some filter sponge to put in it while i treat the meds.

Thank you both

 

[AquaBarb]

Wished i noticed this before re-introduced her back to her tank now

Checked on her this morning and shes very active and feeding fine. So looks like she might have worms.

Ive got a internal filter and sponge filter running in this tank. The internal filter as a 3 in 1 media pad so not sure how i can take carbon out of that. Might have to see if i can purchase some filter sponge to put in it while i treat the meds.

Thank you both

Looked into filter pad. Dont think it does have carbon in

 

[Colin_T]

If one fish has worms, every fish in the tank will have worms. If you think the fish has intestinal worms, just treat them all at the same time.

 

[AquaBarb]

If one fish has worms, every fish in the tank will have worms. If you think the fish has intestinal worms, just treat them all at the same time.

Ok Colin thank you

 

[AquaBarb]

Got a problem.

Been to 4 lfs and none stock this general cure. Only anti-bacterial meds

Going to have order online. Is there anything i can do in the mean time while i wait to slow the process down any?

 

[FishGuest5123]

Do they have Prazipro? It will work. I prefer General Cure though if you think you can wait for it to arrive.

 

[Colin_T]

do you want general cure or a fish dewormer?

API General Cure has Metronidazole that is an anti-biotic and should only be used on known bacterial infections that haven't responded to other fish medications.

Improper use or misuse of anti-biotics can lead to drug resistant bacteria that kill people, animals, birds, fish and reptiles.

---------------------
If you want a fish dewormer and can't find Praziquantel or Levamisole, look for Flubendazole. It does the same thing

 

[FishGuest5123]

Another matter of preference,I guess. I prefer General Cure as Prazipro is more limited. General Cure has Praziquantel in it also so does deworm fish. If not sure what the issue is, I feel better going with the General Cure. It’s all a matter of opinion and what you feel best in using. I do use antibiotics more than Colin does and I understand his concerns. Good luck!

 

[AquaBarb]

Im not 100% sure what the issue is tbh. Going off what you both have said and what ive read online it leads me to try a dewormer.

Ill try again tomorrow to locate some Praziquantel

Keeping a close eye on tank and so far it only seems the 1 danio with the problem but ill treat the whole tank to make sure i get rid of the problem.

Just annoyed with myself, not sure where i went wrong. Maybe shouldnt of took her out the tank into QT in the first place.

Just a learning curve i suppose. Just hope i can sort it

Thank you both for your help

 

[AquaBarb]

do you want general cure or a fish dewormer?

API General Cure has Metronidazole that is an anti-biotic and should only be used on known bacterial infections that haven't responded to other fish medications.

Improper use or misuse of anti-biotics can lead to drug resistant bacteria that kill people, animals, birds, fish and reptiles.

---------------------
If you want a fish dewormer and can't find Praziquantel or Levamisole, look for Flubendazole. It does the same thing

Just found the following online and can get hold of it tomorrow : description says Anti-Fluke & Wormer is an easy to use, ready mixed liquid formula containing Flubendazole, effective for treating intestinal worms, skin and gill fluke infestations.

Ill give this a try

Thanks Colin

 

[AquaBarb]

Fish do a stringy white poop for several reasons.

1) internal bacterial infection causes the fish to stop eating, swell up like a balloon, breath heavily at surface or near a filter outlet, do stringy white poop, and die within 24-48 hours of showing these symptoms. This cannot normally be cured because massive internal organ failure has already occurred.


2) internal protozoan infection cause the fish to lose weight rapidly (over a week or two), fish continues to eat and swim around but not as much as normal, does stringy white poop. If not treated the fish dies a week or so after these symptoms appear. Metronidazole normally works well for this.

It's interesting that API and the Californian government have listed Metronidazole as a carcinogen. That's a concern considering it was widely used to treat intestinal infections in people.
Anyway, handle with care, don't inhale the medication, and wash hands with soapy water after treating the fish or working in the tank.


3) intestinal worms like tapeworm and threadworms cause the fish to lose weight, continue eating and swimming normally, do a stringy white poop. Fish can do this for months and not be too badly affected. In some cases, fish with bad worm infestation will actually gain weight and get fat and look like a pregnant guppy. This is due to the huge number of worms inside the fish.

If the fish are still eating well, then worms is the most likely cause.

You can use Praziquantel to treat tapeworm and gill flukes. And Levamisole to treat thread/ round worms.

Remove carbon from filters before treatment and increase aeration/ surface turbulence to maximise oxygen levels in the water.

You treat the fish once a week for 3-4 weeks. The first treatment will kill any worms in the fish. The second and third treatments kill any baby worms that hatch from eggs inside the fish's digestive tract.

You do a 75% water change and complete gravel clean 24-48 hours after treatment. Clean the filter 24 hours after treatment too.

Treat every fish tank in the house at the same time.

Do not use the 2 medications together. If you want to treat both medications in a short space of time, use Praziquantel on day one. Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate on day 2 & 3. Treat the tank with Levamisole on day 4 and do a 75% water change and gravel clean on day 5, 6 & 7 and then start with Praziquantel again on day 8.

The water changes will remove most of the medication so you don't overdose the fish. The gravel cleaning will suck out any worms and eggs that have been expelled by the fish. Repeating the treatment for 3-4 doses at weekly intervals will kill any worms that hatch from eggs. At the end of the treatment you will have healthier fish.

Hi Colin,

Coming upto to do my second week of treatment with the Flubendazole.

Just wondered if its better to put the treatment straight in water or maybe mix it with some live food first?

 

[Colin_T]

Follow the directions on the packet. Normally you just add it to the tank because the fish drink the medicated water and the chemicals get drawn through the skin and into the body.