Platy - white poop?!

Hi everyone - another fish health question here! I noticed one of my new platies with white poop and read a little about it - could this be a parasite!? I got this one and two other platies two days ago and all seem to be acting fine, but this one has had white stringy poop yesterday and today. Have not noticed this with any other fish. Ammonia - 0 Nitrite - 0 Nitrate - 10. Water temp 73.5 degrees, 20 gallon tank. Thanks so much in advance for your help!

 

Hi again - sorry to be annoying and add another message to the post but I am really concerned about my fish and the other fish in my tank with the white-poop platy. I do not have a quarantine and I’m new to fish keeping so want to make sure I treat/take care of whatever is going on with my fish, just not sure what that is! They all seem to be acting fine other than the white poop continues with the one platy. Any help is much appreciated!! Thanks!!

 

Hmm I'm not sure what medicine can treat it, but first, you should take out the white-poop platy and put him in another tank/container. If it is a parasite, you don't want it to spread to your other fish. Try using the search feature on this forum, you might get answers.

Good luck

 

Fishyfriends876 thanks for the reply! I don’t have another tank and was concerned about putting him (or her, not sure?) in a small container but maybe that’s best? I did try the search feature and came up with possible tape worm or other parasite or some other posts said can just be caused by stress/diet and I did just get him two days ago. Also if it is parasites do I need to treat the whole tank at this point since he’s been in there a couple days?!

 

I could be wrong but that doesn't really look like internal parasite poop. Usually the internal parasite poop will be very stringy and thin. Do you feed the fish any foods that are white? Maybe the flakes you feed are doing it.

 

Fishyfriends876 thanks for the reply! I don’t have another tank and was concerned about putting him (or her, not sure?) in a small container but maybe that’s best? I did try the search feature and came up with possible tape worm or other parasite or some other posts said can just be caused by stress/diet and I did just get him two days ago. Also if it is parasites do I need to treat the whole tank at this point since he’s been in there a couple days?!

If it is a parasite, I think that the other tankmates might have it too. Check with them for a bit.

You could try isolating the platy in a container. After she poops the white poop, examine it, and see if it looks like any of the worms. If it just looks like normal poop and has the same texture, don't worry.

 

I could be wrong but that doesn't really look like internal parasite poop. Usually the internal parasite poop will be very stringy and thin. Do you feed the fish any foods that are white? Maybe the flakes you feed are doing it.

Oh I’m so glad to hear that! I was able to collect some poop and look at it more closely (though I don’t have a microscope or anything) and it doesn’t look like parasites to me, but closest thing I’m familiar with is worms in dogs and I’m sure fish parasites are not the same lol! I just got the fish 2 days ago and so far he’s just had some fluval tropical flakes (that came with the tank) and shrimp pellets that I give my Corys, but who knows what he had at the fish store. I’ll keep an eye on it but let me know if you (or anyone else) has any other recommendations!

 

Oh I’m so glad to hear that! I was able to collect some poop and look at it more closely (though I don’t have a microscope or anything) and it doesn’t look like parasites to me, but closest thing I’m familiar with is worms in dogs and I’m sure fish parasites are not the same lol! I just got the fish 2 days ago and so far he’s just had some fluval tropical flakes (that came with the tank) and shrimp pellets that I give my Corys, but who knows what he had at the fish store. I’ll keep an eye on it but let me know if you (or anyone else) has any other recommendations!

It could very well be internal parasites but when my fish had it, the feces was more stringy and almost clear looking. If you think it is internal parasites later on then I would use prazi pro.

 

It could very well be internal parasites but when my fish had it, the feces was more stringy and almost clear looking. If you think it is internal parasites later on then I would use prazi pro.

Thank you, I’ll pick some up! Should I go ahead and treat the tank with it now just in case? Or better to not use medicine unless needed? I have the platies, zebra danios, and Panda Corydoras. So far I think fish all seem healthy otherwise, but again I’m new at this so not really sure what to be looking for.

 

Thank you, I’ll pick some up! Should I go ahead and treat the tank with it now just in case? Or better to not use medicine unless needed? I have the platies, zebra danios, and Panda Corydoras. So far I think fish all seem healthy otherwise, but again I’m new at this so not really sure what to be looking for.

I would do it as one little bottle treats a lot so you won't run out. I do it with all new fish as a prevention as its very delicate on the fish but messes up the parasites.

 

Thank you! Just ordered some on amazon!