Need some help with firemouth

[biguebs]

Have you tested your water?

Yes

If yes, what is your ammonia?

0

If yes, what is your nitrite?

0

If yes, what is your nitrate?

20

If I did not test my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.

Do you do water changes?

Yes

What percentage of water do you change?

51-60%

How frequently do you change your water?

Every week

If I do not change my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.

Went out of town for a couple days and returned to my FM having some long clear stringy feces and looking bloated. Also have noticed a bump on his face? Fish is not eating and mostly just camping out in his(her, don’t know) hide.

He’s been in a 125 with 4 silver dollars, an Oscar, a rainbow cichlid, and a couple small plecos for about a month now. Water parameters are good, I have upped my WC schedule to twice weekly @ 50% on this 125 due to the stocking from once weekly. Parameters listed above were prior to WC I did right away.

Anyway I keep coming across a variety of things when searching the stringy waste and I’m not entirely sure what to put stock in here. Bacterial infection, parasite, constipation, etc...

These are best pictures I could get... looking for input. While it seems to be somewhat common based on searches I haven’t had any experience with these symptoms.

 

[Deadeye]

Kind of sounds like internal parasites with the lack of eating and clear feces.

 

[kno4te]

I’d try feeding some hex shield if it has an appetite. Keep the water clean and see how it does.

 

[biguebs]

Kind of sounds like internal parasites with the lack of eating and clear feces.

I’d try feeding some hex shield if it has an appetite. Keep the water clean and see how it does.

So what’s the “spread to other fish risk” on an internal parasite? I can quarantine (I have a 29 gal but it’s empty, not running) but if it would have already moved to other fish in theory would prefer to treat the whole tank if need be I suppose.

kno4te are you seeing parasite as well? I just took a photo of his feces that came off (lol something I didn’t think I’d ever say) and one more off him (with yet more stringy poo). Can also see that protrusion coming off his cheek... what’s going on? Lol

 

[kno4te]

See the spot on the face. Could be lymphocystis as itll occur on stressed fish. Along with the stringy white poop. Not too clear in the pics.
I’d treat the whole tank with hex shield. Hex are present in fish and in the tank. Poop could be eaten and mouthed on by now so better to treat the entire tank.

 

[biguebs]

See the spot on the face. Could be lymphocystis as itll occur on stressed fish. Along with the stringy white poop. Not too clear in the pics.
I’d treat the whole tank with hex shield. Hex are present in fish and in the tank. Poop could be eaten and mouthed on by now so better to treat the entire tank.

Thank you - sourcing the hex shield now.

 

[i Aqua]

garlic juice works the best or apple vinegar this clears all bugs form his stomach

 

[i Aqua]

i used to feed garlic to my fish once a month. never lost any of my fish to sickness

 

[biguebs]

One thing I feed is nls Thera with the garlic added.
Usually toss it in a couple times a week. The fish in this tank currently are on a mix of nls (algae max, Thera a, and probiotic). Oscar gets hikari bio gold because he won’t take the nls.

I found some hex shield that will be delivered tomorrow (have to love Amazon)... what if this FM won’t eat it? I’m sure the others will.

 

[biguebs]

Also- adding salt something that will help with this? I.e. knocking out the parasites in the open water?