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	Fish Poop question?
Mia Hobbyist Posts: 86 Kudos: 79 Votes: 2 Registered: 20-Mar-2005	I just don't understand why my platys always have strings of poop hanging out of them, but my black neons never do. Also what can I do to help the platys out? They are fed flake food in the morning and frozen brine shrimp for dinner. Thanks Sorry about the gross subject
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
LITTLE_FISH *** Little Fish *** Master of Something Posts: 7303 Kudos: 1997 Votes: 670 Registered: 20-May-2005	Mia, There is no need to help your platies, they are just fine. I would be more concerned with the Black Neons. Every fish has “poop” and it might be stringier for some species, I think it has to do with the diet. For example, platies eat more plant matter than tetras and that might be a reason why the string is longer. But your Neons will poop as well; maybe you should keep an eye open because at some point something has to come out, it might just be shorter. Ingo Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
Callatya Moderator The girl's got crabs! Posts: 9662 Kudos: 5261 Registered: 16-Sep-2001	You ma have a parasite problem, or you may just need to bulk up the diet with a bit of veggie matter try feeding algae flakes along with the rest of your diet, and consider a worming treatment. For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
NFaustman Enthusiast Posts: 172 Kudos: 163 Votes: 78 Registered: 13-Jun-2005	I can't say I've ever noticed my pristella tetras pooping (or bolivian ram, for that matter), and they appear to be very healthy. "I am a believer in punctuality, though it makes me very lonely" EV Lucas
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
kitten Fish Guru Meow? Posts: 2266 Kudos: 2194 Votes: 19 Registered: 18-Nov-2003	Most fish that are have a more plant-based diet (especially algae eaters) have longer poop. Mollies and guppies are algae grazers (they pick at algae all day long to supplement) and I believe platties are as well. I've noticed, of the fish I keep, the ones that have the longest, and certainly most noticeable poops are the mollies, guppies and plecos. They just swim around with it attached to them and you have to wonder where it all COMES from. I rarely see any of my other fish jaunting around the tank with stuff hanging from them, whereas the ones I've mentioned can go hours with it attached. I can tell you, it's really annoying when you're trying to figure out which of your guppy fry are males and which are females... stupid stuff keeps blocking my view! ~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
i_spaz_out Hobbyist Posts: 94 Kudos: 67 Votes: 1 Registered: 10-Jul-2005	platies, like all other live bearers (guppies, mollies, swordtails, etc...) are BIG poopers! they put out a lot of waste. there's nothing wrong with your platys, and probably nothing wrong with your tetras either. some fish don't poop as much as others... i have some fish that you'd never know they poop at all if you didn't watch them like a hawk. it doesn't look like you have a problem, but if they're not pooping AT ALL, then you do... just keep an eye out.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
AshleyNicole Small Fry Posts: 3 Kudos: 2 Votes: 0 Registered: 13-Oct-2005	What color is the poo? White stringy poop is usually indicitave of internal parasites, and platies, mollies, seem to be more e to this.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
Mia Hobbyist Posts: 86 Kudos: 79 Votes: 2 Registered: 20-Mar-2005	Their poop has never been white, only brown. Also THANKS to everyone for answering my question
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
i_spaz_out Hobbyist Posts: 94 Kudos: 67 Votes: 1 Registered: 10-Jul-2005	if the colour of the poop resembles the colour of the food, then you have nothing to worry about... platies just poop a lot.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
Racso Mega Fish Some Assembly Required Posts: 1163 Kudos: 1442 Votes: 35 Registered: 19-Feb-2002	to explain a little more on what every one else has said. The plant/algae fiber that they are eating will hold the poop together as they poop. Basically, their poop is stronger than others. The reason you don't see other fish with that kind of poop is that it breaks often, and will not string. Now if it IS white/clean/hollow tube of poop, then it might be a internal parasite, but since you've said its normal and brown, your fish is fine.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
longhairedgit Fish Guru Lord of the Beasts Posts: 2502 Kudos: 1778 Votes: 29 Registered: 21-Aug-2005	I actually find trailing fish poo really funny , my gf's sunset platies fly around like a poo display team . All of them usually have their own little streamers Doesnt sound like you have anything to worry about. Last edited by longhairedgit at 15-Oct-2005 00:11
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
Mia Hobbyist Posts: 86 Kudos: 79 Votes: 2 Registered: 20-Mar-2005	So now I should have asked this earlier but if they do get a parasite what do I have to do??
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
Callatya Moderator The girl's got crabs! Posts: 9662 Kudos: 5261 Registered: 16-Sep-2001	They sell anti-parasite foods and fish worming drugs. Any of those would be fine for platies For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55
Mia Hobbyist Posts: 86 Kudos: 79 Votes: 2 Registered: 20-Mar-2005	cool thanks
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:55


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