Hi everyone this might be a stupid question but here recently my oscars poop has turned from the normal colored and textured poop to a lacy kind of off white color. I'd like to think that it's because of stress, recently my tank that I was keeping them in sprung a major leak and I had to quickly move them to a 10 gal. that I was using to breed my feeders in, that I have no more of . However I'm also worried that it could be because he's gotten sick, maybe from eating too many guppies or some type of bacterial problem. I've already lost one of my oscars due to this tank mishap and I don't want to lose another one.

However on a lighter note I have got my tank resealed and am currently in the process of refilling it and making sure it still isn't leaking. Hopefully they'll be back in their original home soon enough.

Thanks for your help guys!

Obviously we don't want to worry you unduly, but white faeces can sometimes be a sign of internal parasites. Is it stringy at all?

What a lovely subject to talk about?I hope you're not eating your dinner

Yes actually it is very stringy, pardon the expression but it took him about an hour and a half to pinch the thing off and it was longer than the length of his body. If it is the parasites that you are talking about are they contagious? My other oscar doesn't have this problem (knock on wood)... yet.

Are these parasites easily cured or possibly deadly?

Symptoms Cause Treatment and Links
A). The vent or anal area is inflamed, and feces are often slimey The feces contain small, thin worms. This is the larvae of livebearing nematodes Treat with: Paracide-D.

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. The vent does not appear to be inflamed, but no fecal matter can be expressed completely, and is dragged around like a long slimey string The intestines are affected with either: a). Bacteria b). Flagellates c). Worms. Make a fecal mount to determine the problem a). Treat with: Doxycycline
b). Metronidazole

c). = Paracide-D


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C). Fecal droppings are white or yellow, and slimy Your fish is probably affected with intestinal flagellates. Nematodes can be the secondary cause Treat with Metronidazole -or- Paracide-D.

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D). When the fish remain stationary, red or brown worms hang out of the anus looking like a pom-pom The fish is affected by Camallanus worms, which bear live larvae Treat with: Paracide-D in the food and De-Los in the water.

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E). Whitish, flat, elongated segments are seen coming from the anus. Or in fecal matter, several segments Your fish are affected with a Tape Worm Mix up some frozen food with Paracide-D and feed to the fish for 3-5 days.

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F). The feces is long, white and stringy. The feces contain elongated eggs with champagne-cork-like covers Your fish are affected with Capillaria Worm Larvae Treat with: Paracide-D.

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G). The fish is bloated up, has a reduced appetite and also has clear to white feces Your fish is affected with Hexamita. Very common in Discus and African Cichlids. This is referred to as "Malawi Bloat" Make a medicated frozen food with Metronidazole. Use 1/4 tsp. per 4 oz. of food. Feed to the fish once a day for 10 days. Or try treating the water with Parinox

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This may be of use to you.

here is a site that I was just reading about the different parasites that fish have. and how to treat them. I hope this is helpful.

www.exoticpetvet.net/aqua/parasites.html

here is a bit from the site that I think your oscars might have:

Hexamita and Spironucleus are two other protozoal parasites commonly found in the intestinal tract of some freshwater fish, however systemic infections can occur. Hexamita is also known as "hole in the head disease." It may cause small holes to appear in the body, especially the head region, and often strings of mucus trails from the lesions. Lesions may also develop at the base of the fins and near the lateral line. They have a direct life cycle, and are principally acquired by oral ingestion of trophozoites or cyst stages.

In addition to the skin lesions fish often go off their food and develop a hollow-bellied appearance, and often have stringy, off-color feces. Hexamita often exists in low levels in the intestines of tropical fish, especially cichlids, including discus, angelfish and oscars, and gouramis. They may be considered commensals, however, with stress, overcrowding, low oxygen levels, improper water parameters, changes in temperature or poor diet, the parasites can multiply and the fish may then develop signs of systemic disease.

The best way to treat Hexamita infections is with medicated food. However, since infected fish often become anorexic, they usually won't ingest an effective dose. Both Hexamita and Spironucleus are best treated with metronidazole. This medication is available in commercially available fish food flakes. If the infected fish are still eating, they should be treated for 5-10 days, with 10-15 mg/gram of food. If the fish are not eating, baths should be used, immersing the fish for 6-12 hours, with 250 mg/10 gallons of water. Several courses of treatment may be necessary to successfully control this problem. Of course, as with all infectious organisms, it is always best to prevent introduction to the tank in the first place, by quarantining and prophylactically treating all new stock, and to maintain your fish in the most healthful manner possible.

I have just checked my book, and you can also use something called "Concurat" it is possibly the same, or something similar to what Marcus has suggested because it is actually for Sheep, goats and poultry.

What you need to do is soak living bloodworm in the solution and then feed it to your Oscars. According to my book, you mix 1 g into 100 g of feed. That is an awful lot of bloodworm so maybe you could work out what is appropriate. However, I'm not comfortable with you just acting upon my advice. I would prefer it if you got professional advice from a vet before doing this.

OFL wrote:



lol... yes i am eating atm.... not any more though

biancawinter wrote:

whatever, fish poo never change my appetite. i used to remove them
while having something to eat on the other hand