Skinny fish. I think interal parasites?

[Snowflake311]

I have had this blue acara for almost a year like 10 months he was 1" when I got him and his mate. The female is growing well and looks great I have split them up.

The male has been getting thiner and thiner from the side the bottom of his belly looks sunken in. He will get some whit poop sometimes then other days it looks fine. All the other fish in the tank are growing well and are happy. I bought a rescue that had HITH and it's cleared up. My acara does not get picked on sometimes the EBJD will just him a hard time.

I'm freaking out I don't want my other fish to be effected. I have fed Anti bacteria food for 2 weeks. I have treated with jungles parasite clear 3 times. That says it works on internal parasites. I do 50% wc/vacuum every week. I did loss one red eye tetra 5 months ago he stoped eatting and got skinny then died when I was on vacation. Since then all other red eye tetras have been fine and all other fish have been well too.

I'm pretty sure it's interal parasites what's the best treatment for that?

 

[luohanfan]

Sounds like internal Hexamita..
Use Metronidazole Aka Flagyl..
as far as i know it's the only thing that really works..

 

[Snowflake311]

I will get more parasite gaurd that has Metronidazole. I treated them for 4 days a week ago. One dose every 48 hr doing wc before each dose.I wish I had a microscope so I could check the poop. I know how too I was a vet tech. Maybe I could bring a sample to my vet?

I Fed them blood worms today and I noticed the blue acara gets pushed out of the way at feeding time too. But he still eats. He also still has enough spunk to try and push others around.

 

[luohanfan]

day 1 dose metro.. day 2 nothing day 3 waterchange 40% of water but dose the full volume of water again.. day 4 nothing, day 5, 40% water change and dose full volume of water again.. this slowly builds up the amount of metro in the water ...then do nothing till day 10.. day 10 dose full dose.. this will hopefully get rid of any trace of hexa..
day 12 do another water change..
hope this helps you..

 

[Dreamsing]

Sounds like internal Hexamita..
Use Metronidazole Aka Flagyl..
as far as i know it's the only thing that really works..

How can you identify the different internal paracites? Is there a diagnosis or symptom chart somewhere, or just lots of experiance?

 

[Lupin]

How can you identify the different internal paracites? Is there a diagnosis or symptom chart somewhere, or just lots of experiance?

You can't identify the parasites until they are spotted actually or based on symptoms that only match specifics.

For internal parasites, obviously the proper treatment here is medicated food, if not waterborne treatments.

What do you normally feed your fish?
Is the fish still eating?
What are your water parameters?
Thickness of substrate?
Is this tank planted?
You have not seen red strings attached on the anus of the fish at all?

If the fish is expelling white poop, that's NOT normal at all. This is an issue not to be taken for granted. Unfortunately, a lot of causes have to be considered. Stress, bacterial infection and internal parasites...As this fish is already thinning out, then my first impression would indeed be internal parasites but what?

Do you have access to Jungle Antiparasite foods? The rest are not going to properly work because they are not broad range enough to destroy possible cestodes, flagellates and nematodes. Jungle AP has metro, prazi and levamisole. That's good enough to clear off all three parasites. If not, use fenbendazole or flubendazole.

Do NOT waste your time over antibiotic meds if you are not suspecting bacterial infections at all.

 

[Snowflake311]

For internal parasites, obviously the proper treatment here is medicated food, if not waterborne treatments.

What do you normally feed your fish? Cichlid pellet, dry krill, Spirulina Algae Flakes, and frozen bloodworms.
Is the fish still eating? Yes he eats but does not get as much as the others.
What are your water parameters? Ammonia 0 nitrites 0 nitrates 10
Thickness of substrate? 2"
Is this tank planted? Yes
You have not seen red strings attached on the anus of the fish at all? No worms in sight.

I am treating they with the medicated food for internal parasites I have the jungel medicated food. Not all the fish eat it. I have seen the skinny one eat a few. My ebjd loves them he is a weird O. My other fish only eat 1 or 2 if they are starved. Poop is looking good now. It looked clear not white at times before. It's only my blue acara that seems to be Ill it's really annoying.

I'm going to put him in the hospital tank. I will do one treatment of the main tank with parasite gaurd. Then keep useing the medicated food on the Maine tank and the skinny one.
Thanks

 

[Snowflake311]

day 1 dose metro.. day 2 nothing day 3 waterchange 40% of water but dose the full volume of water again.. day 4 nothing, day 5, 40% water change and dose full volume of water again.. this slowly builds up the amount of metro in the water ...then do nothing till day 10.. day 10 dose full dose.. this will hopefully get rid of any trace of hexa..
day 12 do another water change..
hope this helps you..

Thanks I will try this too.

 

[luohanfan]

let us know how you go..

 

[Snowflake311]

I'm feeding the medicated food right now. I'm going to pick up more parasite clear and use both. I'm going to take the skinny fish out. See if I can't get him to fatten up too.

Thanks all I will try and update how skinny does. All my other fish look good and are happy.