Happy but not eating GT

[tiger15]

I raised this GT from juvies to 5” subadult, then about 2 months ago he stopped eating completely. He appears happy, not reclusive, and continues to defend his territory. He looks healthy with vibrant color, except for the white poop. Despite not eating for two months, there is no sign of wasting away or developing hollow belly yet. I have lost fish before that refused to eat, but they never looked happy and eventually wasted away to death. What’s happening and any chance of saving him?

 

[A201]

Since the GT isn't eating, the usual med - food mixture treatment is out.
I've read where Discus keepers often use a heat treatment to deal with intestinal parasites. The theory is; gradually upping the temp to 92 - 94 degrees & keeping the temp sustained for five days before gradually lowering. Some claim successful recoveries.
It sounds outrageous, but I've successfully treated Africans for Ick w/ temps of 89.5 - 90 degrees with no fish showing adverse effects.
There is plenty of on line info available regarding the above suggested treatment. Be sure to research.

 

[tiger15]

It sounds like something worth trying. Discus came from warm water and can handle temp up to 92, provided adequate aeration is provided. I double that GT can tolerate that high temp, mid to high 80s may be OK. White poop is symptom of parasites in the gut and I wonder if there are chemical remedies that can be absorbed through skin into the gut. I had fish that suffered the same symptom but recovered on their own. He has not been able to shed it off for two months and I’m surprised he is still alive and not waisted away.

 

[A201]

Unfortunately I don't think there are any known internal parasite meds that work directly through the water column.
Hope the GT gets better soon. Always been one of my favorites.

 

[RD.]

Metronidazole works on internal pathogens/parasites such as Spironucleus aka Hexamita via bath, see below.

Dr. Edward J Noga suggests:

1. Bath

a. Add 19mg/gallon and treat for 3 hours. Repeat every other day for 3 treatments.

2. Prolonged Immersion

a. Add 25mg/gallon and treat once daily for a total of 3 times.
b. Add 95mg/gallon and treat every other day for three days.

3. via feed

25 mg/Kg of body weight/day for 5 to 10 days, or 100 mg/kg of body weight for 3 days. Retreat once if required.


Dr. Edward J. Noga, MS, DVM, is a highly respected professor of aquatic medicine and immunology, that has been published approx. 150 times in related papers/journals. His lab at NC State University specializes in the study of infectious diseases of finfish and shellfish. His book, Fish Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment is the go to "health" book for every serious fish keeper and aquatic DVM.



Another possibility is Cryptobia iubilans, in which case metro will not be the route to go.

See more in following link.

VM104/VM077: Cryptobia iubilans in Cichlids

After many years of diagnostics at the University of Florida and at other laboratories around the country, it appears that Cryptobia iubilans is not uncommon among cichlids, and that environmental and other factors determine the extent of disease.

edis.ifas.ufl.edu

 

[MrsE88]

He looks stressed to me. He has his stress line showing.
What else is in the tank? Any changes? Fish added or taken out?
I’ve had saums get white poo from stress and bounce back to eating once they are happy again.

 

[FINWIN]

Check PH

 

[Cabie]

White poop is symptom of parasites in the gut and I wonder if there are chemical remedies that can be absorbed through skin into the gut.

If he has nematode worms, Levamisole, Nematol and Flubendazole can be used in the water.

If he has spironucleus, then you will probably have to force-feed him.

You should examine his feces with a microscope first to determine what type of parasites you should treat for.

I raised this GT from juvies to 5” subadult, then about 2 months ago he stopped eating completely. He appears happy, not reclusive, and continues to defend his territory. He looks healthy with vibrant color, except for the white poop. Despite not eating for two months, there is no sign of wasting away or developing hollow belly yet. I have lost fish before that refused to eat, but they never looked happy and eventually wasted away to death.

When my green terror had capillaria worms, he looked very happy too, very active, with amazing colors. When I examined his feces with a microscope, he had thousands of capillaria worm eggs.

 

[tiger15]

If he has nematode worms, Levamisole, Nematol and Flubendazole can be used in the water.

If he has spironucleus, then you will probably have to force-feed him.

You should examine his feces with a microscope first to determine what type of parasites you should treat for.



When my green terror had capillaria worms, he looked very happy too, very active, with amazing colors. When I examined his feces with a microscope, he had thousands of capillaria worm eggs.

I do not have a microscope to positively identify the specific pathogen. But I will try to force feed him with metro. I’ve never done it before, so if it doesn’t work it may stress and accelerate his demise. But I consider him a goner without treatment as he hasn’t eaten for two months, and not much longer he can sustain. What’s amazing is that he looks happy and colorful, and the disease is apparently self contained as no other fish are affected. So there is no merit to treat the entire tank. In the past I had fish recovered on their own from white poop or deteriorated to death within a short period. I tried bathing treatment with Clout before but never worked. So this time I’ll try force feed medication.

 

[Cabie]

So there is no merit to treat the entire tank.

If you see improvement by force feeding metronidazole, you will know he indeed had spironucleus, and in that case you should definitely treat the whole tank, because spironucleus is contagious. In low numbers, the fish won't show any symptoms, and that's the best time to treat. If you wait for the other fish to show symptoms and stop eating, treating them at that point will be a lot harder than just treating them now. When fish are still eating, you just need to feed them Hex-Shield for 3 days and you're done.

If metronidazole doesn't work, try treating him for nematodes. Capillaria is VERY common in green terrors. You could treat him by putting meds in the water in a smaller tank and if you see improvement you should treat the whole tank, because like spironucleus, capillaria is very contagious even though you don't see symptoms at first.