Treating Entire Tank With Parasite Medication

HI all, so I had a Mickey Mouse Platy die on me today. All Parameters are good and have been going smoothly. Weekly water changes, 0-0 Amm and Nitrite , and 5-10 Nitrate. Steady 7.4 PH, Temp Steady at about 78-80f.
There was never any aggression between any of the fishes. I have 3 Angels, 5 Albino Corys, and a Loach (not sure which kind but long like a snake).
But, I began searching the forums and seen a lot of talk of long stringy poop. Haven't really thought anything of it because all my fish have pooped like this since I got them. It's long, string and red or orange(color of flakes).
I was wondering, if it is Parasites that got my Play, can I treat the entire Tank with some sort of Parasite Medication, and if so, which is the very best out there?

P.S, all my fishes swim normal, eat normal, don't see any white spots or anything on them.

Thanks in advance, guys

 

How long have you had your fish?

 

White stringy poop is a sign of internal parasite. Stringy non white poop us a sign of overfeeding. It's always good to quarantine every new fish. If you haven't, then I would. You can use praziquantel along with metronidazole. The two most popular kind is PrazI Pro and Seachem Metroplex. Or you can use one that has both, like Parasite Guard and General Cure.

I used all of these. IMO, PrazI Pro and Metroplex are expensive. General Cure can be expensive also, depending where you get it from. The one that I use mostly is Parasite Guard. It is cheap and effective.

 

How long have you had your fish?

I have had the 3 Angels and loach since late Feb. I had some tetras and danios in there also, but have rehomed them based on the advice I had received on here that they were not compatible(tetras due to amount, and danios due to temp).
And I just got the 5 Albino Corys about 2 weeks ago I believe.

White stringy poop is a sign of internal parasite. Stringy non white poop us a sign of overfeeding. It's always good to quarantine every new fish. If you haven't, then I would. You can use praziquantel along with metronidazole. The two most popular kind is PrazI Pro and Seachem Metroplex. Or you can use one that has both, like Parasite Guard and General Cure.

I used all of these. IMO, PrazI Pro and Metroplex are expensive. General Cure can be expensive also, depending where you get it from. The one that I use mostly is Parasite Guard. It is cheap and effective.

Should I feed every other day? I usually do a pinch of flakes a day. I'm also leaning towards the quality of food, since it is flakes. I knew nothing of food quality when I first got into this hobby so I had grabbed a big bottle of Flakes. But I now see that I should be feeding better quality frozen food.
Are any or all of those medications good to use in the entire tank? It is a 60 gallon.

I'll be shopping for a QT tank soon. My wife and I got a 36gal bowfront, but that is currently cycling for Cichlids.

 

Should I feed every other day? I usually do a pinch of flakes a day. I'm also leaning towards the quality of food, since it is flakes. I knew nothing of food quality when I first got into this hobby so I had grabbed a big bottle of Flakes. But I now see that I should be feeding better quality frozen food.
Are any or all of those medications good to use in the entire tank? It is a 60 gallon.

I'll be shopping for a QT tank soon. My wife and I got a 36gal bowfront, but that is currently cycling for Cichlids.

A pinch of flakes a day isn't too much. Is there anyone else that is feeding them also or maybe you don't know about? I would treat the entire tank and set up a quarantine tank for future fishes.

 

I would probably do a parasite med. personally. I used Prazipro for the first time today as a preventive med in my QT. It is safe for all fish & inverts (at least that's what it says on the back) Follow the instructions on the back exactly. It was very easy to understand. In your case I would do two rounds. Just to be sure.

 

A pinch of flakes a day isn't too much. Is there anyone else that is feeding them also or maybe you don't know about? I would treat the entire tank and set up a quarantine tank for future fishes.

For sure, there isn't any one else feeding them. I have the little cabinet locked where I keep my supplies. Mainly because of my little one. Dont want her getting into my test kit with all those chemicals. She's a handful lol.

I will look for a qt tank this weekend and when I get out of work today, go look for the medication.

I would probably do a parasite med. personally. I used Prazipro for the first time today as a preventive med in my QT. It is safe for all fish & inverts (at least that's what it says on the back) Follow the instructions on the back exactly. It was very easy to understand. In your case I would do two rounds. Just to be sure.

Sounds like a plan! Tanks Allie! That'll be the one I look for.
I've also been reading about deshelled peas. Would that be something to give them while they're medicating? Just to help flush out what they may have?

 

How long of poops are we talking here?

 

How long of poops are we talking here?

I would say, somewhere around half an inch. Maybe a tad bit longer every so often.

 

My gut feeling (since we're talking gut parasites) is nothing is wrong. Those are short poos, and one fish has died with no visible symptoms.
It may be food for thought, but I can't legally buy fish antibiotics, and I have discovered that by and large, it doesn't matter. I would guesstimate that 90% of treatments in our hobby are either with the wrong medication or unnecessary. So why risk wasting precious antibiotics on a hunch that could help antibiotic resistant bacterial strains develop?
PrazI is great, and any fish from a fish farm could do with a shot of it. But it isn't cheap, and odds are, you don't need it.
Watch, wait, and you have some ideas to work with if a pattern develops.

 

I have been researching Platies a LOT and most sites (including Fishlore) recommend a temperature lower than what yours is set on.

I've been doing a fishless cycle for my future Platies and have my temperature set on 74°F.