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I just added 5 flame tetras to my 55g. I don't have a QT tank...though I should. I just noticed that a few of them have white poo. I think that is a sign of internal parasites. Am I right?
What can I do to treat it and prevent my other fish from getting it (if it can spread)?? I really don't want to lose any of my fish...especially my angel and german ram.

edit: one particular flame tetras has a very funny looking belly...it is v shaped from the side...the bottom of it. Could this be constipation? I got the a week ago so they shouldn't be stressed any more. I only see the white poo in the one fish now. What could this be?

*Kristin*

white poo is a sign of initernal parasites, but i don't think it's the ONLY possible cause of white poop. i would monitor it for a couple days, and see if it persists once they have been fed your food for a few days. it could just be that they weren't fed particularly well wherever you got them from.

i don't think internal parasites are extremely common, and if they are it's tough to get rid of them, so it's probably best not to jump to conclusions and treat with a harsh medication if not necessary.

feel free to correct me if i'm wrong, anybody!

Internal parasites are very common, same as they are in dogs and cats and horses and birds, its just that its LESS COMMON that they cause problems, so mostly its not a cause for concern.

Most animals can handle a certain amount, but once the parasite burden gets too high, often when the fish has been stressed or ill or danaged somehow so that immunity weakens the fish's defenses, thats when it starts causing problems as the parasites overpopulate.

a LOT of tropical fish are bred outdoors, exposed to mud and muck and bird droppings and snails and heaven knows what else. They pretty much all have exposure to parasites from a young age, and if they are hobbyist-bred, they'll be exposed to parasites at the LFS.

If you find a gentle wormer, I see no big deal in giving the fish a treatment before adding them to your system. We worms big furry animals on a regular basis because they gad about all over the place and that increases their risk of picking up nasties (and some internal parasites ARE nasty, even in small numbers) but your main risk factor is adding new fish to your tank. That goes for parasites, bacteria, fungi, algae, viri, the lot.
If you can lessen the risk by slotting in a treatment for parasites.

I'm not understanding the V shape, do you mean that side-on the underside of the belly comes to a point? is that point around the anal area?

Also, what are you feeding? Some foods can give a white stringy appearance.

And yes *token smack* get a cheapy QT tank, or even a bucket or storage box

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

I agree it could be a parasite problem or even a dietry problem. There are many medications that can be used but first give us a full list of all the foods you use and how often also the amount used.

In My Profile you will see all the different food I use.

I would try a quick cure of frozen Blood Worms and a few squashed cooked peas. Just in case it is a diet problem.

Also a photo of the fish with the V shape could help. You could also take that fish to your LFS and get them to have a look at it.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

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Keith

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Hi there,
Keith has good advice. A meal of squashed peas
and frozen bloodworms will help if its dietary.
You may want to get a medicated food, or start treatment with pure crystalline Metronidazole just in case.
If you cant buy a QT tank, use a plastic tote bin,
just run a heater and an air stone in it.
Just put the heater on a slab of slate in the bottom.
Its very worthwhile to do this, and dose all new
fish with a quality dewormer during the qt period of 3 weeks.


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Thanks guys.

I'm not understanding the V shape, do you mean that side-on the underside of the belly comes to a point? is that point around the anal area?

Yes...the underside of the belly came to a point. It was near the anal area.
This morning the fish looks normal though...so I don't know what that was about. One of them still has the white poo though.
I feed: Bio Blend Tropical, Nutrafin Max Complete Pellet food, and I feed my angel Tetra Color Bits Tropical Granules, which the flames may eat also. I also feed shrimp pellets and an algae wafer for the bottom feeders.
I have frozen blood worms and may try to feed some tonight, along with a pea...to see if that may help.
The fish are not acting any different.
I have some Jungle Labs Parasite Clear that contains Metronidazole...but I want to use that only if I have to. I may try to find pure Metronidazole if I can. The jungle lab tablets have some other stuff in them also.

*Kristin*

im pretty sure white poo means there is not enough protein in their diet. my fish get white, stringy poo when they only have flakes, but when i feed them bloodworms they get thick, dark poo

This sounds like a rubbish suggestion but it works, if I have a fish with white poo I give it tetra prima, then if it comes out orange within two days I know it hasnt got internal parasites, and if it doesnt it probably has. Just a little no cost test

Sometimes in a big community not every fish eats every day, sometimes a fish that hasnt eaten in 24 hours will produce a whitish poo that is mainly cellulose. Give them a big feed and see what happens. Unless treated, nearly everyones fish will have an internal parasite , its only a worry when things get out of control.Treat the fish if it persists and not if it doesnt.