Clownfish got internal parasites no fishmed in my country

[abdullazizamr]

Please help me I am newbie and I need urgent help. I bought a pair of Ocellaris one was eating and healthy the other later died in 2 days by which he wasn’t eating and later I understood he had internal parasites. Now the healthy one stopped eating and I think he also got internal parasites. Why I say ? Very frequent white stringy poop. He stopped eating. Now I am from Egypt and we don’t have any fish med. I have human metronidazole. I used garlic now in the tank and mixed it with pellets he didn’t get near them. My question
1)what are the possibilities my clown will survive this infection without treatment ?
2) what is the best thing I can do ?
3) any alternatives? Lowering salinity , raising temperature etc.?
My tank 25 gallon only one clownfish some mushrooms and GSP.
no3 2-4 ppm
Po4 0.05
Salinity 1.024
Temperature 28 Celsius

 

[vetteguy53081]

Please help me I am newbie and I need urgent help. I bought a pair of Ocellaris one was eating and healthy the other later died in 2 days by which he wasn’t eating and later I understood he had internal parasites. Now the healthy one stopped eating and I think he also got internal parasites. Why I say ? Very frequent white stringy poop. He stopped eating. Now I am from Egypt and we don’t have any fish med. I have human metronidazole. I used garlic now in the tank and mixed it with pellets he didn’t get near them. My question
1)what are the possibilities my clown will survive this infection without treatment ?
2) what is the best thing I can do ?
3) any alternatives? Lowering salinity , raising temperature etc.?
My tank 25 gallon only one clownfish some mushrooms and GSP.
no3 2-4 ppm
Po4 0.05
Salinity 1.024
Temperature 28 Celsius

Firstly, pics , especially a you tube version video under white bright lighting will help with assessment. White stringy feces can be internal but also can be excess mucus in the stomach lining from foods especially if fed mysis shrimp and even brine shrimp frequently. Chances of recovery will depend on what pics/video shown and symptoms such as loss of weight, elevated breathing, lethargic behavior, no appetite as examples. A good universal medication is ruby rally pro for clowns but seeing you are in Egypt, try to obtain Waterlife Myxazin

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Please help me I am newbie and I need urgent help. I bought a pair of Ocellaris one was eating and healthy the other later died in 2 days by which he wasn’t eating and later I understood he had internal parasites. Now the healthy one stopped eating and I think he also got internal parasites. Why I say ? Very frequent white stringy poop. He stopped eating. Now I am from Egypt and we don’t have any fish med. I have human metronidazole. I used garlic now in the tank and mixed it with pellets he didn’t get near them. My question
1)what are the possibilities my clown will survive this infection without treatment ?
2) what is the best thing I can do ?
3) any alternatives? Lowering salinity , raising temperature etc.?
My tank 25 gallon only one clownfish some mushrooms and GSP.
no3 2-4 ppm
Po4 0.05
Salinity 1.024
Temperature 28 Celsius

Sorry, there isn't a lot that you can do. Only some causes of mucus feces are from internal parasites. Once they stop eating, there is no way to get the medication inside them.

Here is some text about the reasons that fish can develop mucus feces: The ones with an * next to them are the ones that are likely to be the issue in this case.

Excess mucus in fish feces: this will present as white or light colored, stringy fecal material that often hangs from the fish’s anus for a longer than normal period. There are a number of different causes for this, some benign, others very serious. Without access to a microscope, there is little that can be done to diagnose this issue effectively.

Idiopathic mucus feces: this fancy term is just to describe white mucoid bulky feces of no serious consequence, but of an unknown cause. Some suspicion is that this can be caused by changes in diet or diets high in fats.

Starvation: Fish that have no food moving through their bowels may excrete white mucoid feces with little bulk to them. The primary diagnostic for this issue is evident in that the fish won’t been seen to be eating. Resolving the anorexia is of course the prime focus to resolve this issue.

* Bacterial infection: internal bacterial infections can cause stringy feces as well. While some of these may resolve on their own, medicated foods containing a broad spectrum, gram negative oral antibiotic may be required.

Metazoan infections: multicellular worms are often blamed for mucoid feces, but in reality, they are almost never the root cause for this, and really, can only be diagnosed through looking for their ova in fecal samples. Fish can harbor tapeworms and nematodes without producing mucoid feces.

* Protozoan infection: Hexamita and related diplomonad flagellate protozoans very frequently cause white stringy feces, especially in newly acquired clownfish. Metronidazole is the most frequent treatment for this issue. It can be dosed orally at 25 mg per kg of fish body weight, or 5 g in a kg of food. However, it is a very bitter medication, and some fish will refuse to feed on food containing it. It can be dosed in the water at 25 mg/l, but this is more effective in treating marine fishes, as freshwater fish do not “drink” aquarium water.

* Coccidia: These microscopic, spore-forming, single-celled parasites are common diseases in dogs and cats. In fish, they cause epithelial necrosis of the gut, enteritis and the copious production of mucus (Noga 2010). These cannot be diagnosed without microscopic examination, and there is no well researched cure for this in fishes, although Toltrazuril has been tested.

Constipation: This malady is often given as a cause for stringy feces, but it is not as common as one would think. When it is seen, the feces are usually dark, not light in color. Often touted as a “cure for constipation”, many aquarists add Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) to the aquarium’s water – do not do this in marine aquariums, its use is primarily as a tonic/dip for freshwater fish. Seawater formulas already contain between 7 and 19 grams of magnesium sulfate per gallon (depending on the recipe). NSW magnesium level is around 1200 ppm and sulfur is around 840 ppm. Some benefit might be seen using it as a dip in additional concentrations, but adding a small amount to a marine aquarium itself has no benefit. Epsom salts do have some possible benefit when mixed into the food as a 3% by weight adjunct. Another commonly heard remedy for constipation is “feed fresh peas”. This is an effective cure for fancy goldfish and Malawi cichlids that develop constipation and bloating. Again, overextrapolation has marine aquarists trying to feed peas to carnivorous fish, etc. The best method to enhance gut motility in fish is to feed frozen adult brine shrimp – not as a permanent diet, just long enough to get the constipation resolved.

 

[abdullazizamr]

Firstly, pics , especially a you tube version video under white bright lighting will help with assessment. White stringy feces can be internal but also can be excess mucus in the stomach lining from foods especially if fed mysis shrimp and even brine shrimp frequently. Chances of recovery will depend on what pics/video shown and symptoms such as loss of weight, elevated breathing, lethargic behavior, no appetite as examples. A good universal medication is ruby rally pro for clowns but seeing you are in Egypt, try to obtain Waterlife Myxazin

This is the YouTube video . No I only fed him pellets I don’t think specific food caused it. Beside that even waterline myxazin isn’t available I searched for it. And he lost appetite yes

 

[abdullazizamr]

Sorry, there isn't a lot that you can do. Only some causes of mucus feces are from internal parasites. Once they stop eating, there is no way to get the medication inside them.

Here is some text about the reasons that fish can develop mucus feces: The ones with an * next to them are the ones that are likely to be the issue in this case.

Excess mucus in fish feces: this will present as white or light colored, stringy fecal material that often hangs from the fish’s anus for a longer than normal period. There are a number of different causes for this, some benign, others very serious. Without access to a microscope, there is little that can be done to diagnose this issue effectively.

Idiopathic mucus feces: this fancy term is just to describe white mucoid bulky feces of no serious consequence, but of an unknown cause. Some suspicion is that this can be caused by changes in diet or diets high in fats.

Starvation: Fish that have no food moving through their bowels may excrete white mucoid feces with little bulk to them. The primary diagnostic for this issue is evident in that the fish won’t been seen to be eating. Resolving the anorexia is of course the prime focus to resolve this issue.

* Bacterial infection: internal bacterial infections can cause stringy feces as well. While some of these may resolve on their own, medicated foods containing a broad spectrum, gram negative oral antibiotic may be required.

Metazoan infections: multicellular worms are often blamed for mucoid feces, but in reality, they are almost never the root cause for this, and really, can only be diagnosed through looking for their ova in fecal samples. Fish can harbor tapeworms and nematodes without producing mucoid feces.

* Protozoan infection: Hexamita and related diplomonad flagellate protozoans very frequently cause white stringy feces, especially in newly acquired clownfish. Metronidazole is the most frequent treatment for this issue. It can be dosed orally at 25 mg per kg of fish body weight, or 5 g in a kg of food. However, it is a very bitter medication, and some fish will refuse to feed on food containing it. It can be dosed in the water at 25 mg/l, but this is more effective in treating marine fishes, as freshwater fish do not “drink” aquarium water.

* Coccidia: These microscopic, spore-forming, single-celled parasites are common diseases in dogs and cats. In fish, they cause epithelial necrosis of the gut, enteritis and the copious production of mucus (Noga 2010). These cannot be diagnosed without microscopic examination, and there is no well researched cure for this in fishes, although Toltrazuril has been tested.

Constipation: This malady is often given as a cause for stringy feces, but it is not as common as one would think. When it is seen, the feces are usually dark, not light in color. Often touted as a “cure for constipation”, many aquarists add Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) to the aquarium’s water – do not do this in marine aquariums, its use is primarily as a tonic/dip for freshwater fish. Seawater formulas already contain between 7 and 19 grams of magnesium sulfate per gallon (depending on the recipe). NSW magnesium level is around 1200 ppm and sulfur is around 840 ppm. Some benefit might be seen using it as a dip in additional concentrations, but adding a small amount to a marine aquarium itself has no benefit. Epsom salts do have some possible benefit when mixed into the food as a 3% by weight adjunct. Another commonly heard remedy for constipation is “feed fresh peas”. This is an effective cure for fancy goldfish and Malawi cichlids that develop constipation and bloating. Again, overextrapolation has marine aquarists trying to feed peas to carnivorous fish, etc. The best method to enhance gut motility in fish is to feed frozen adult brine shrimp – not as a permanent diet, just long enough to get the constipation resolved.

If I were to dose human metronidazole as the last resort. As I mentioned my tank only has one clownfish and some mushrooms . Is it safe to dose it in this tank ? Setting up a quarantine tank today would be very hard but doable

 

[Lasse]

Metronidazole is the most frequent treatment for this issue. It can be dosed orally at 25 mg per kg of fish body weight, or 5 g in a kg of food. However, it is a very bitter medication, and some fish will refuse to feed on food containing it. It can be dosed in the water at 25 mg/l, but this is more effective in treating marine fishes, as freshwater fish do not “drink” aquarium water.

I have used metronidazole for freshwater infections by Hexamita and related diplomonad flagellate protozoan direct in the water to fish that does not eat and it works well. As Jay mentioned it works probably better than well in salt water because they drink. Metronidazole is a lipophilic product - it will pass through cell membrans into fishes even in freshwater.

By the way - Metronidazole is very effective against anaerobic gut bacteria too - it is often used as backup in stomach surgery - I speak of own experiences

Sincerely Lasse

 

[abdullazizamr]

I have used metronidazole for freshwater infections by Hexamita and related diplomonad flagellate protozoan direct in the water to fish that does not eat and it works well. As Jay mentioned it works probably better than well in salt water because they drink. Metronidazole is a lipophilic product - it will pass through cell membrans into fishes even in freshwater.

Sincerely Lasse

Can I use it in my reef tank ? How often should I dose it ?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

If I were to dose human metronidazole as the last resort. As I mentioned my tank only has one clownfish and some mushrooms . Is it safe to dose it in this tank ? Setting up a quarantine tank today would be very hard but doable

No - you really should not dose metronidazole in the water if invertebrates are present.

 

[Lasse]

As I mentioned my tank only has one clownfish and some mushrooms

You can kill the mushrooms

You Have PM

Sincerely Lasse

 

[vetteguy53081]

If I were to dose human metronidazole as the last resort. As I mentioned my tank only has one clownfish and some mushrooms . Is it safe to dose it in this tank ? Setting up a quarantine tank today would be very hard but doable

As Jay mentioned, no metro which is not safe, has to be administered precisely and makes food taste bitter
The fish overall looks better than described and if any treatment, stick with ruby rally or myxazin as mentioned

 

[abdullazizamr]

As Jay mentioned, no metro which is not safe, has to be administered precisely and makes food taste bitter
The fish overall looks better than described and if any treatment, stick with ruby rally or myxazin as mentioned

So ruby rally and myxazin aren’t available so technically I shouldn’t do any meds. Will a freshwater dip help him ? Also I know it’s a very strange question but based on the look of the fish if left untreated will he survive and start eating back again ?

 

[Lasse]

IMO - take out the mushrooms and treat with metronidazole as the last resort if it does not get better i 2 - 3 days. Test with frozen adult artemia if you can get that. IMO - its impossible to see anything that can help as a diagnostic tool in the video. He/she act as a normal clown - just wobbling around

Sincerely Lasse

 

[vetteguy53081]

So ruby rally and myxazin aren’t available so technically I shouldn’t do any meds. Will a freshwater dip help him ? Also I know it’s a very strange question but based on the look of the fish if left untreated will he survive and start eating back again ?

FW will offer temporary relief

 

[MnFish1]

I do not want you to get multiple different answers. However - mucus in feces is not likely something that will kill a fish short-term