Platy with white stuff

[UnknownUser]

HI all, I have a new platy who all of a sudden has this whiteness on her side, and TONS of white poo! She's still eating, maybe a bit more lethargic than usual but overall not too bad for a sick fish. I got her from the LFS maybe a week or two ago and she was doing great up until two days ago.

I have been treating my tank with kanaplex for a fin rot issue in a different platy (that has resolved) so she got this while on an antibacterial treatment..... So I decided to add metroplex to the treatment as well. Is this what parasites look like? She started pooing this white stuff tonight and I gave the metroplex this morning. The other fish are doing just fine.

 

[Ronniethewitch]

Looks like columnaris. Treat for internal parasites.

 

[UnknownUser]

Metroplex claims to treat parasites, is that a good med for it?

 

[Ronniethewitch]

I am not knowledgeable enough to help when it comes to treatments. Maybe should have kept my nose out. There is a guide I have been given permission to share that helps you diagnose and treat your fish. Let me see if I can post it here.

Fish Disease and Treatment

 

[Whitewolf]

Another headache/asprin approach thread. When will people learn it just dosen't work that way. If its having problems pooping its probably from bad water quality, and bad diet rather than "parasites" Yes capallaria and camallanus worms can be a problem. Buy levimasole flakes online. But instead, change the water a lot, drop in some non-iodine salt, and feed more veggies and frozen brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms.....and less flake food that has a lot of grain filler in it.
Its probably just constipated, fish don't eat dry flake food in nature everything they eat has ALOT of moisture in it.

 

[Ronniethewitch]

Another headache/asprin approach thread. When will people learn it just dosen't work that way. If its having problems pooping its probably from bad water quality, and bad diet rather than "parasites" Yes capallaria and camallanus worms can be a problem. Buy levimasole flakes online. But instead, change the water a lot, drop in some non-iodine salt, and feed more veggies and frozen brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms.....and less flake food that has a lot of grain filler in it.
Its probably just constipated, fish don't eat dry flake food in nature everything they eat has ALOT of moisture in it.

It's not just a poop problem though, is it? There. Is also white fuzz which is shown in the picture.

 

[Whitewolf]

White fuzz means that water mould is eating dead skin. Fish don't get fungal infections normally they have wounds or damage to the scales that is usually from a parasite or a wound, and then the "fungus" just eats dead skin/scales.

 

[UnknownUser]

Whitewolf, I don't understand this comment. There are many, many threads on this forum about fungal infections in fish.

I do a 30% wc once a week. It's only a 10 gal with 4 fish in it (1 gup 3 platy). My ammonia is 0, nitrates unreadably low, ph 8. I feed flakes 4x / week, blood worms 1x/week, peas 1x/week with a day of no feeding. I take very good care of these fish and am following all the rules on this forum.

I just purchased Furan-2 it'll be in tomorrow. I'm doing more than 50% wc right now. This was her poop today, and it just keeps coming. I'm debating not feeding them today and letting her empty her bowels. The white stuff is still on her body.

Random edit: the poop floats!

 

[Whitewolf]

I think once again your trying the headache/asprin approach. "fungal" infection in fish, dump green chemical in water, problem solved..... NO!
Firstly, fish don't get fungal infections very often, but if they do it dosent manifest in a lesion on the skin like this.. This type of skin decay is caused by a parasite or by a wound. True fungal infections are much larger, much fluffier, and rare.
Did you know that nitrofurazone contains some harsh chemicals, including the same carcogenic chemicals as found in roundup?
I can't see anything wrong with your fish in these pictures anyways, where is the water mould on the skin? I saw it earlier. If you find a clear plastic bowl, you can trap the fish against the glass and take a much better picture. I use my hands to grab fish. Why use nets that tear the scales open?
Methylene blue is a cheap safe chemical that can be used in a bath if you really feel the need to treat a wound like this fish has. Why dump chemicals into a established tank when baths work better?
If you read those threads on "fungal infection on fish" you will probably see a lot of mis-information, and most of the time it turns out to be bacterial infection or a parasite, or a wound. Fish have immune systems, slimecoats that protect from fungus. Its a very rudimentary thing in nature for decomposition, when you cycle a tank people notice the fungal decay of food used to cycle the tank. It does not harm a healthy fish. I use to put sticks and leaves in my aquariums and the surface of the water would have a mould slime on it...… do not leaves and sticks fall into lakes and decompose in nature? Why would this hurt a fish that is surrounded by fungus decomposing stuff like its suppose to do over millions of years.. If fungus hurt fish, there would be mushrooms growing in lakes not fish!

 

[UnknownUser]

Whitewolf, you are obviously very heated by this topic, but I would just ask that you not yell at me over it. I am just a fish owner looking for advice, not a centuries-old debate about meds vs natural remedies...

However, I see your point about it not being fuzzy and therefore not a fungal infection. The whiteness from the first picture was that clear because of the angle in relation to the lighting. In the next three pictures, it is much harder to see as the lighting is behind her and not in reflecting off the wound. I only used those pictures to show her poop. However, the white stuff from picture #1 is definitely still there.

Can you give me instructions on what to do with this fish? I don't have methylene blue. I do have aquarium salt, if you think salt baths will help? Or to put salt in the tank? She is still pooping. She has been basically non-stop pooping since last night. It is a long, white string every time.

If it is a wound, why is it all white like this? And if it is a parasite, what will get rid of it?

 

[Whitewolf]

Sorry just one person was giving me a hard time this morning following me from thread to thead, was not meant to direct that towards you I understand your new.
I really can't see the first picture very well, its far away and blurry.
There are skin parasites called costia, there are anchor worms.
Methylene blue is cheap, should cost $3 a bottle online, or in a fish only store.
I really have to see it better to tell you what's happening.
But nothing wrong with its poop, looks healthy in those pictures earlier today.

Lets get down to business, I'm trying to save you and whoever reads this post money. Kanamycin can be bought in flake form for $4 a bag, as can metro, as can dewormer (levimasole) as can general cure (Praziquentel)
Don't waste money on powder that is $15 a small vial (and is cut) that is just a ripoff at worst a overpriced powder antibiotic product at best
I would link you but I can't on fishlore. Its not any kind of bacterial infection as they just wouldn't grow to such size and the fish still be alive and acting healthy, so it either got a wound that will heal on its own, maybe it got attacked by chineese algae eater?
Or its some skin parasite that you would have to just go to Walmart and get some Quick Cure (Victoria green) and dose the ick med for a few days. Turn up the heat first if you can.

 

[UnknownUser]

I don't have any Chinese algae eaters in my tank, just one guppy and two other female platies. None of the pet stores around me sell heaters that I can control the temp on
So, DON'T use the furan-2 stuff? What is this Quick Cure you speak of at Walmart? I don't really want to buy a ton of different meds online as they probably won't come in time anyway... I'm just really curious why a wound would look white like that? I'll try to get a better picture tomorrow.

The pooping has finally stopped!

Ugh, these fish are so much harder than I thought they'd be. So many different meds and diseases.

 

[vyrille]

Hi! I just want to make a few clarifications. Regarding the use of metroplex (metronidazole): its use is primarily for anaerobic (low oxygen) infections and some ciliated protozoans (amoebas, giardia, etc). It has almost no role for treating visible (external) infections because these are in constant contact with oxygenated water, and anaerobic bacteria will not grow in these conditions. As for the white poo, from what I see it's a solid opaque poo, almost chalk-like. This is not typically what you'd find in parasitised fish, you'd instead find more clear, translucent, and almost floating, white poo. Off the top of my head this can be caused by a high calcium diet (shouldn't be an issue) or the interference of some antibiotics in the uptake of calcium in the gut, causing it to be excreted in the feces (shouldn't be a problem short term).

With regards to the white patch, in your later pictures it seems to have disappeared?

 

[UnknownUser]

It hasn’t disappeared, it’s just very hard to see unless the light is directly on it. I just tried to get her to get a better picture and give her another salt bath, but honestly it just caused her a ton of stress so I left it alone.

I don’t really know what to do about the white patch. She is eating fine and active around the tank, searching for food and such. The white patch isn’t spreading and it isn’t on any of my other fish. It’s been on her for multiple days now. Maybe I just don’t do anything?

 

[Whitewolf]

I could easily tell you what it is and what to do but I have to have a picture I can actually see.
I'm not the one telling you to rush out and buy a ton of meds, but Walmart sells a parasite med in a dropper called Quick cure or Rapid cure that has anti-protozoan properties. Its cheap like $3-4

 

[UnknownUser]

It’s definitely a parasite. She’s very thin now even though she eats the same amount as the others. Is it safe to treat the whole tank with Quick cure?

 

[AverageDewdrop]

My Shubunkin had internal parasites. Butt swelled and pooed white. White poo that's stringy can indicate parasites but also other things. I didn't really read the other messages.

If it's internal you gotta treat internally. Is ich ruled out ? There are other types of external parasites. But we would need a picture to tell

 

[Ronniethewitch]

I am not going to comment on individual medications and whether you should use them. I will say that medications made for aquarium fish when used correctly, following directions etc are generally safe. BUT if it's an internal parasite that you are wanting to treat, AverageDewdrop is right, treatment needs to go into their food, to get the parasite inside, as well as the water, to get the eggs. You can make your own medicated food, easily and cheaply. That way you only need the one medication.

It works best if you use bloodworms because they soak up the meds without turning to mush, so the fish have something to eat. Put a small amount of what you want to treat the tank with into a bowl. If it's powder,add enough water to make it into a watery paste, add a tiny bit of Epsom salt (bath salts) this will help the fish to poo and pass the parasite. Add the bloodworm and mix it up really well, press a clove of garlic and add that, to make the fish want to eat it. (Fish go crazy for garlic!) Make sure all the bloodworm is wet with the concoction. Let it air dry. Crush it all back up when it's dry. Feed it to your fish. What doesn't get eaten will also leach the meds into the water. If you also treat the water whilst feeding them medicated food, it has worked for myself and for others.

Before you do any medicating though, a large water change will not cause any harm at all. Clean water is your best friend at any time, but especially with a poorly fish.

Also, it's been a few days, are any of the other fish showing symptoms? Have you managed a better picture? Whitewolf might get passionate and easily riled-but really is knowledgeable and can help you diagnose better than most.

 

[UnknownUser]

I feel like she's pooing her whole life-force out of her. She doesn't stop pooing, and yes it's white. I don't know how to "rule out" ich for sure. Either way, she's thin and starving and has white poo. So I dosed the tank with Rapid-Cure from Walmart (thank you WhiteWolf for the cheap treatment). It says it'll work within 48 hours, so hopefully she looks better soon!

 

[Whitewolf]

There's no parasite that causes a lot of poopong, honestly the last pictures of the fish it looked fine. Bacterial infections can cause stringy poop too. I eoyld reccomend if you do decide to get meds the vest thing is to buy them online abd keep them a few years. Flakefood meds work. Cheap antibiotics like amoxicillin or bacterum

 

[UnknownUser]

Well the white spot from the first picture is still there and she is bone thin even though she’s eating.

Can Rapid-cure be given with food? Or should they not ingest it? Currently I’m just treating the tank.

This is the best picture I could get. She’s very, very thin. You can see the whiteness of her tail too.

 

[AverageDewdrop]

I am not going to comment on individual medications and whether you should use them. I will say that medications made for aquarium fish when used correctly, following directions etc are generally safe. BUT if it's an internal parasite that you are wanting to treat, AverageDewdrop is right, treatment needs to go into their food, to get the parasite inside, as well as the water, to get the eggs. You can make your own medicated food, easily and cheaply. That way you only need the one medication.

It works best if you use bloodworms because they soak up the meds without turning to mush, so the fish have something to eat. Put a small amount of what you want to treat the tank with into a bowl. If it's powder,add enough water to make it into a watery paste, add a tiny bit of Epsom salt (bath salts) this will help the fish to poo and pass the parasite. Add the bloodworm and mix it up really well, press a clove of garlic and add that, to make the fish want to eat it. (Fish go crazy for garlic!) Make sure all the bloodworm is wet with the concoction. Let it air dry. Crush it all back up when it's dry. Feed it to your fish. What doesn't get eaten will also leach the meds into the water. If you also treat the water whilst feeding them medicated food, it has worked for myself and for others.

Before you do any medicating though, a large water change will not cause any harm at all. Clean water is your best friend at any time, but especially with a poorly fish.

Also, it's been a few days, are any of the other fish showing symptoms? Have you managed a better picture? Whitewolf might get passionate and easily riled-but really is knowledgeable and can help you diagnose better than most.

I second everything listed

Well the white spot from the first picture is still there and she is bone thin even though she’s eating.

Can Rapid-cure be given with food? Or should they not ingest it? Currently I’m just treating the tank.

This is the best picture I could get. She’s very, very thin. You can see the whiteness of her tail too.

Do you have espom salts ? It needs to be fragrance free. It can help. I used to soak my fish flakes for my Shubunkin in the espoms. Which seemed to definitely also help with the parasites.

 

[UnknownUser]

Is aquarium salt the same type of salt as epsoms?

 

[Ronniethewitch]

Are you sure that the fish wasn't just very constipated and is now finally clearing itself?

I can see the white both on the side and what looks like almost a band of white on the tail. Whitewolf what do you make of it?

Is aquarium salt the same type of salt as epsoms?

It's better - for dips! Not sure about making them poo though...

 

[Whitewolf]

Looks like a bacterial infection. Did a fish ever die and rot in your aquarium? That can be really bad for the others

 

[Ronniethewitch]

Ive just read this whole thread from start to finish again, and there is a whole lot of information here.

Two people have said the poo didn't look like worms. (The usual internal parasite suspect). So that could mean your fish was constipated and is clearing, or has a bacterial infection, which can also cause pooing, as whitewolf said, or could even just be stressed and clearing etc. Lots of reasons for poo, basically.

I see the white patches you are describing even if others do not. If it's bacterial then the treatment you gave it already should be just about working right now. Are you seeing any improvement? If yes, all I would recommend is once it's completely gone - water change water change water change to keep it clear. If not, I would probably try the salt dip with the aquarium salt you already have to hand.

These are my thoughts only, based on everything written here, definitely not directions that need following.

 

[UnknownUser]

She acquired this white band on her tail at the end of an antibiotic treatment (another fish in the tank had fin rot but it cleared after the treatment). I assume it’s not bacterial since she got it during the treatment.

Can constipation make them look healthy? Because she was a healthy weight before. Then she pooped a ton. And now she’s anorexic.

 

[Whitewolf]

What antibiotic did you use? Its possible to damage their kidneys with kanamycin. Its also possible to get antibiotic resistant bacteria. It looks like the fish just needs a break from meds. In the future you would just have this stuff on hand, preferably in flake form. I have all of these in flake that cost me about $5 each
Levimasole
General cure (flakes)
Oxytetracycline
Pancur
Kanamycin
Praziquentenel

I am not against using medications for fish, just don't want people running out to LFS and spending a fortune on these powder medications that don't work worth anything in hard water. Hard water makes most meds just bind to the calcium and very little is absorbed.

 

[UnknownUser]

Yeah, that's good to know now -- a bit too late for me as I saw fin rot and ran out to my LFS who only sells kanaplex / metroplex / focus in powders... ran me up $40-$50 that day. It treated the fin rot, though.

There were no meds in the tank for about 3 days, but it was during these past 3 days with no meds in the tank that she got super skinny... I would hate to think that by treating one fish's fin rot, my other fish got kidney failure

 

[Ronniethewitch]

She acquired this white band on her tail at the end of an antibiotic treatment (another fish in the tank had fin rot but it cleared after the treatment). I assume it’s not bacterial since she got it during the treatment.

Can constipation make them look healthy? Because she was a healthy weight before. Then she pooped a ton. And now she’s anorexic.

Lol depends on what you call healthy. Your fish does not look unhealthy weight-wise to me. I assume not to anyone else, or they would have mentioned it. If it continues to waste away it would be concerning, but you're not there yet. The white patches are a different matter because it has spread from the tummy to the tail, after bacterial treatment first for another fish's fin rot then again as whitewolf suggested. Did you also say you have aquarium salt already? Salt baths can be used to treat bacteria, fungus and even some parasites... I have never used it myself because if you use too much it's dangerous to fish but if you follow directions, it might be just what you need.

 

[UnknownUser]

Can anyone upload an of an underweight platy? I really don't know what I'm looking for -- she just looks really thin compared to my other two (but they could be fat... lol)

I do have salt... I did one bath on Friday with 4 tsp salt to 1 gal water and she did fine in it. I was going to do it again but she gets so distressed when I try to catch her and I just don't want to stress her out more when I'm trying to help her

 

[Ronniethewitch]

Well maybe just keep clean water for a couple of days. See if dropping the stress levels help. I will find you a pick of a week plAtys with wasting disease- hang on.

Add: She is skinny, but not dangerously yet. Found a pic, tryinG to gEt it to upload.

I'm sorry, just realised that I can't, because it's from another fish forum. I'm sorry.

 

[UnknownUser]

Okay, thanks for trying though! I'll just finish the treatment of Rapid-Cure and then do a 50% water change every other day and see what happens.

 

[Whitewolf]

Yeah, that's good to know now -- a bit too late for me as I saw fin rot and ran out to my LFS who only sells kanaplex / metroplex / focus in powders... ran me up $40-$50 that day. It treated the fin rot, though.

There were no meds in the tank for about 3 days, but it was during these past 3 days with no meds in the tank that she got super skinny... I would hate to think that by treating one fish's fin rot, my other fish got kidney failure

50 dollars for kanaplex? See this is exactly what I'm talking about. That fish store ripped you off, not only is that way too much money, but it dosent sound like it worked, rather it sounds like this fish in particular got some kidney damage.
This is the sad money making part of the hobby unfortunately. I would avoid that fish store, I don't like any of them for advice at all. If you want to run to petsmart or something fine, but this store ovbiously wants to sell you pricey meds
I'm not allowed to link you to specific places to buy medicated flakes, but trust me they are out there. And they are cheap compared to this pricey powder. What a rip off!

 

[UnknownUser]

I should’ve been more clear. It was $50 for kanaplex, metroplex, and focus — all three. I still felt like it was a bit pricey, but I don’t have much to compare to and my fish was sick so I paid

I’m pretty surprised no one thinks she’s thin in the most recent picture... I just compared friday’s picture (original post) to the new one and she’s lost her whole tummy! It’s completely flat now! Poor fish. I don’t see her getting over this

 

[Whitewolf]

Its blended kanamycin. Not even 100% they carge $20 for this little tiny tube and you put it in your hard water and poof it's gone. I just feel bad that you couldn't get $50 of more fish that's what this hobby is supposed to be about. Fun!

 

[Ronniethewitch]

I should’ve been more clear. It was $50 for kanaplex, metroplex, and focus — all three. I still felt like it was a bit pricey, but I don’t have much to compare to and my fish was sick so I paid

I’m pretty surprised no one thinks she’s thin in the most recent picture... I just compared friday’s picture (original post) to the new one and she’s lost her whole tummy! It’s completely flat now! Poor fish. I don’t see her getting over this

I do think she's thin. You're definitely not imagining that. I just don't think she is dangerously thin. If we get the flu, and poo a lot, we lose weight too. But I've seen pics where their tummy sinks right in and has a big hollow. You said she is still eating, right? If you keep her in really clean water and watch her closely, you'd be amazed at how hardy these little things are. . I'm just aware that you're, quite understandably worried and I just wanted to put you at ease a little until she gets sorted out. How is she today?

 

[UnknownUser]

She is the same as yesterday, she is still active and eating and basically seems like a totally normal / healthy fish but skinny and white! I added carbon to the filter to remove anything that might be left in the tank. I think I'm going to do another salt dip and a large WC tonight since platys are pretty hardy when it comes to salt. She did totally fine in my last dip. I'll probably stick to dips and wc and just let her relax, see if she gains some weight back. I'll let you know what the outcome is

 

[Ronniethewitch]

I love how much time, effort and concern you're putting into this. I can tell you're a very responsible fish keeper, and are going to have very happy fish babies for many years to come. . Fingers crossed for both of you.

 

[Whitewolf]

You should try m blue. Skinny pale striny poop vsn simetimes be nitrite poisioning. Brown blood disease. To which m blue is a cure. You may mot want to admit it but a5 sine piunt poasibly you had high nitrites for a few days in a row? Read up on it.

Methylene blue has antI parasite uses and its primary use in fish medicine is for fungus. But it also heals nitrite poisioning and aids more oxygen to the fish blood.

 

[FinalFins]

I remember reading up on it, but I never remember seeing that m blue had antI parasitic uses?

 

[Whitewolf]

M blue with heat and salt claims to kill ick in a lot if reseaech papers yes. I do my research. Lol

 

[Ronniethewitch]

M blue will stain everything, recommend using something other than your main tank for treatment.

 

[FinalFins]

m blue is als a antibacterial and will wipe out the BB in the tank.

 

[Whitewolf]

Yeah I know all this.... Its already in a hospital tank was my understanding ?

 

[UnknownUser]

So my little girl was euthanized today. I gave her a salt bath twice, 50% wc both days. But every time she ate, she’d immediately poop. She wasn’t getting any nutrients.

I was up all night watching her, she didn’t move much. When she did, a few times she was almost taken by the filter. This morning I fed them, and she wouldn’t even come up to eat. I took that as her saying she was done. I couldn’t risk her dying while I was in class all day today and potentially infecting my other 3 with whatever she had.

Thanks for all your help here.

You should try m blue. Skinny pale striny poop vsn simetimes be nitrite poisioning. Brown blood disease. To which m blue is a cure. You may mot want to admit it but a5 sine piunt poasibly you had high nitrites for a few days in a row? Read up on it.

No, my nitrates were tested daily during treatment and stayed below 5.

 

[Ronniethewitch]

So my little girl was euthanized today. I gave her a salt bath twice, 50% wc both days. But every time she ate, she’d immediately poop. She wasn’t getting any nutrients.

I was up all night watching her, she didn’t move much. When she did, a few times she was almost taken by the filter. This morning I fed them, and she wouldn’t even come up to eat. I took that as her saying she was done. I couldn’t risk her dying while I was in class all day today and potentially infecting my other 3 with whatever she had.

Thanks for all your help here.

I am so very sorry to read this. I'm also very sorry we couldn't help. Fingers crossed it was just the one fish.