Fish with white feces - direct me to the thread

[Deleted]

Greetings All,

I read on the forum the other day treatments for fish with white feces.... and it even showed pictures (quite lovely I might add -- grin)

Well.....I have no idea what the topic/thread was now.

Here is the problem:
One of my eight line red tail rainbows ate something she shouldn't have. It was my fault.
The tank was treated with General Cure (for another fish suspected of having gill flukes)....I dose the tanks a couple of times a year with Prazi Pro to help prevent internal parasites.... So your answer can't be to just dose for internal parasites.

After one of my water changes last week, I was careless and didn't put a net up to catch crud (for lack of better word) that comes out of the circulation pump when I turn it back on. I saw the rainbow eat some of it -even though I told her "don't eat that" (smile).....I netted as much of the crud as I could (and do promise in the future to clean the pump more often -- smile).

Her first waste (after that "mishap") that I noticed was thick white (never had seen that before in any of my fish...sorry no photos to share).... so yes, that confirmed she ate what she shouldn't. It wasn't until yesterday, that I saw the thinner white trail (similar to the photo that was posted). Good news is she is still eating....And no, I don't look at my fish all the time/24 hours a day to examine their waste.

Any suggestions? Point me to Carl's page on this topic and I will read it. If constipation is suspected, I can't feed her a frozen pea (advice I always received before for constipation). How on earth does anyone get a small fish to eat a frozen pea? (that would choke a rainbow anyways).

Thanks in advance.

[parker002]

White feces can be a sign of general GI distress, aka "upset stomach" and doesn't necessarily mean disease.

As for peas, make sure you shell them first. If you put a frozen pea in warm water and then squeeze it, the shell pops right off. Crush the pulp and feed.

[devonjohnsgard]

Just having proper parameters and minerals, a fish can fight this one on it's own. If you continue to see it, you could consider treatment. I had something like this a while back and asked the forum about it. Here's the thread:

everythingaquatic.proboards.com/thread/3626/disease-share

[Carl]

Both are excellent answers IMO

I have no specific article for this other than parasites, which likely is not the issue for reasons you already stated.

I would simply add to read the Fish Nutrition article, Sick Fish Section

Reference:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Quality_Fish_Food.html#poor_appetite

Carl

[Deleted]

Thanks Devon and Carl,

Now that this aquarium has a Wonder Shell for proper minerals, she will probably be fine. She is still eating, so that is a good sign. Since I just added a new fish today, I am keeping the lights off (seems to reduce stress for the newcomers this way). I will check her out more tomorrow when I turn the lights on. Tomorrow, they will get Spirulina/Brine shrimp (frozen foods with a few drops of vitamins added) as a treat - which should help her out, too. I just didn't have time to get that ready this evening. The rainbow isn't showing any stress.