Clownfish poop

[OCDP]

It has definitely been a rough week for me and my livestock. Despite all my efforts, keeping the nutrition up, water quality up, I still run into problems.

I think BOTH new clownfish have internal parasites (worms) The poop is long, white and stringy. It takes a bit before it falls off. All research leads me to believe this is worms, but I could be wrong though?? The fact that both have the worms, or may, really has me wondering what I could be doing wrong.. I always assume it's me. But I am most certainly not careless, and I follow proper acclimation and generally try to reduce stress as much as I can before introduction.

Is this something clownfish can get over themselves, or does it require a QT treatment? My plan is to not move anymore livestock as I have done enough of that over the past week.

My treatment plan is to continue the every day feedings of NLS Pellets & Mysis (vary between the two) and I am soaking the food in Selcon and Garlic Xtreme (not so much the garlic, I am having my doubts these days) I will continue to keep my water quality up, and keep skimming wet, while running carbon.

The fish show no signs of distress, as they still eat fine and are active. Although, I am not sure what exactly I should be looking for in terms of symptoms, as I have never dealt with worms if that is indeed what I have. I hope by keeping them fat, they are able to fight off whatever they may have.

[Myka]

Try a QT and treatment with PraziPro. That's what I would do if my fish was poopin white.

[naesco]

If you have been using selcon and garlic before the problem developed, stop using both.
Garlic does nothing for worms that I am aware of and too much selcon may cause digestive problems just like too much vitamin c in humans. Feed them normally and see if it clears up.

[OCDP]

If you have been using selcon and garlic before the problem developed, stop using both.
Garlic does nothing for worms that I am aware of and too much selcon may cause digestive problems just like too much vitamin c in humans. Feed them normally and see if it clears up.

Hmm, intersesting. I will definitely try this. I was under the impression that a drop of selcon per feed was a good idea.

More suggestions welcome, thank you guys for the quick reply.

[Myka]

Hmm, intersesting. I will definitely try this. I was under the impression that a drop of selcon per feed was a good idea.

I don't know about the idea of Selcon and Garlic being the issue. I use several drops of Selcon and 1 drop of Garlic in about every third feeding. I don't like to feed anything every time.

[OCDP]

I don't know about the idea of Selcon and Garlic being the issue. I use several drops of Selcon and 1 drop of Garlic in about every third feeding.

I don't know if it's the cause or not either, but I am willing to stop using it for a few days to see if it helps at all.

[Myka]

Ya, there's no harm in that. Although if the fish's condition does improve with just that change, I would still be very hesitant to believe it was the cause or the remedy. I think QT is in order for these fish...clowns are sensitive to all sorts of problems.

[naesco]

Hmm, intersesting. I will definitely try this. I was under the impression that a drop of selcon per feed was a good idea.

More suggestions welcome, thank you guys for the quick reply.

Yes it is good to feed both but if your fish have an upset tummy and not worms lay off it to see it it improves.

[Aquattro]

Just some additional info, both my clowns had this when I got them, I did nothing and it cleared up on it's own. That was about 8 months ago....

[OCDP]

Thanks for the input. Both clowns still eating like pigs and appear healthy.. nothing physical I can see with my eyes.

The larger clown though, really has a thing for the left corner of my tank. I don't know if it's just crazy clown behaviour, or if there's something bothering the fish.

It does two things:

First, the two clowns always swim against the flow. Okay, not always but 95% of the time they are just idle and swimming against the flow in the center of the tank (I blame the larger fish, because when I had the previous pair, they started this, and when I added the new perc on Friday, I think it just started following the others lead) ... I dunno if this is a bad sign, or if they just really dig swimming against the water flow?? I am wondering, because they are both wild caught if this is just natural for them. Second thing my larger clown does, is it gets itself into the left corner of the tank, near the bottom and just kinda hangs.. again, still kind of swimming against the flow. He's not laying down or breathing heavy or taking a load off cuz it's stressed, it just looks like it enjoys hanging out in that part of the tank for whatever reason. I sure wish they would move around a bit more. They literally are always swimming against the flow. I never get to see their full faces other than when they are eating, just the side views all the time.

I've had too many days to sit and stare into the tank, I am probably just worrying myself, which I tend to do often. For now, I will assume they are normal, crazy clowns.

[karazy]

personaly i think what the thing bout the left corner is it cud be hosting it.
clownfish can host to anything, heck ive heard of them hosting magfloats
so aslong is it doesnt seem like its trapped there, i think its ok

[OCDP]

personaly i think what the thing bout the left corner is it cud be hosting it.
clownfish can host to anything, heck ive heard of them hosting magfloats
so aslong is it doesnt seem like its trapped there, i think its ok

It's definitely possible. Now that I think more about it, the pair I purchased last Tuesday had been at the LFS for quite some time (probably a month) So the clowns were pretty used to tank life, and an empty tank at that. That's where they sleep too, in the corner. I assume it's because that's what they were used to in the previous tank. And of course, the new perc I added on Friday just seems to be taking the others lead. I believe the male from the previous pair turned female, and the newly added perc was male (luckily) I at least think this is what happened. I was hoping the new clown would get the other moving about more, and sleeping in the rocks... or in one of the 3 GBTA's I have... hah.

I've had clowns host many things, but that's just it, they were 'things' like a powerhead, or a coral, never a corner of a tank. But that is a good point, I should have caught on to that sooner myself.

[JDigital]

It does two things:

First, the two clowns always swim against the flow. Okay, not always but 95% of the time they are just idle and swimming against the flow in the center of the tank (I blame the larger fish, because when I had the previous pair, they started this, and when I added the new perc on Friday, I think it just started following the others lead) ... I dunno if this is a bad sign, or if they just really dig swimming against the water flow?? I am wondering, because they are both wild caught if this is just natural for them. Second thing my larger clown does, is it gets itself into the left corner of the tank, near the bottom and just kinda hangs.. again, still kind of swimming against the flow. He's not laying down or breathing heavy or taking a load off cuz it's stressed, it just looks like it enjoys hanging out in that part of the tank for whatever reason. I sure wish they would move around a bit more. They literally are always swimming against the flow. I never get to see their full faces other than when they are eating, just the side views all the time.

I've had too many days to sit and stare into the tank, I am probably just worrying myself, which I tend to do often. For now, I will assume they are normal, crazy clowns.

Mine pair does the same thing... Always against the flow (800gph), and then at night my big one just chills just above the sand bed, and the smaller one kinda bumps and grinds... i got a cool vid from last night of them sleeping, I will have to upload it..

EDIT: Here is the vid..(don't mind the F1 commentary.. :P)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI7USTrdQg4

[Alyssa]

Hello,
I am in a bit of crisis. I have a 90 gallon tank. Phosphates are a little high but all other parameters are good. I have a purple tang, 2 neon gobies, 2 clowns, shrimp (x3), snails and crabs. Diet consists of frozen mysis, pellets and flake with occasional brine as a treat. About 4 days ago I noticed that he has lost his appetite and has a piece of long, white, stringy poop hanging from him. I have bought 3 different medications: Medic by PolypLab, PraziPro and Metronidazole. I have been dosing the food in the DT with the Metronidazole for 3 days. Only problem is, the clown will not eat! I have a QT and my question is should I quarantine him or not? What type of medication should I be using, can I switch now?

[asylumdown]

How long has it been like this? How long have you had the fish? Has it improved since you posted? I don't know of many people who feel comfortable adding medication directly to their display tank, but there's a good chance the medication tastes awful to fish (have you ever tried chewing an aspirin?), so getting them to eat it might be challenging in a display tank. Also, all uneaten food is now delivering medication to your entire system.

The first question you need answered is whether or not the medication is even necessary. If you've had this fish for months, have added no other new fish, and this suddenly developed, I would be more inclined to wait and see. If this is a relatively new fish that wasn't quarantined, it's perhaps parasites. However, which parasite and which medication are much harder questions to answer.

But yes, as a general rule of thumb it's good to treat all illnesses in a separate QT tank. You have much more control in that circumstance, your fish is not going to be competing for resources with anyone, and you're not exposing your main system to chemicals that could affect everything.

Repashy makes a powdered food that you constitute in to a a solid gel yourself at home. It's much easier to mix medications in to that kind of food in known quantities, but you might have had to have trained your fish to eat that brand before you use it to attempt to deliver a medication. I'm not sure I would try it myself as attempting to give an internal dosage to a fish that eats however much of anything that it wants runs the real risk of over or under-dosing the medication.

[Alyssa]

Hello asylumdown. Thank you for your response. We moved the male clown to the QT last night and dosed with PraziPro (as per instructions 1teaspoon for 20 gallons). I am happy to post that he just ate for the first time in a week! The female is acting funny now, she has not eaten for a few days, but no sign of worms. We are just going to keep our eyes on her. Do you know if if it is normal for one of the mates to act funny if the other is sick or separated? Again thanks for your input, we are so relieved that he has finally eaten.

[Alyssa]

So this response is very late but I figure better late than never. The female also had symptoms of worms so we moved her to the QT as well. The male got sicker and sicker; he didn't eat for about a month. With advice from our LFS we did hypo salinity and high temperature. After a few days he started to eat. I am happy to say that both clowns are happy and healthy in a new 180 gallon tank.