HEX?

[Greengirl]

My prized blue marble angelfish is pooping a white stringly slimey looking poop and I don't think he is eating. I noticed the poop two nights ago. Does he have internal parasites? What can I do to treat him? He is my favorite fish amongst all of them. Please help!

 

[McGrubble]

Yeah, sounds like Hexamita or Spironucleus. I'd call your local vet to see if they have metronidazole. Luckily, you're in the early stages, so there's hope for your little guy!

 

[McGrubble]

In the meantime, I don't think it wouldn't hurt to get a bottle of Pimafix and start dosing the tank, just in case.

 

[Andrew]

Try a teaspoon of epsom salts per ten gallons and metronidazole. You can get metro at a good fish store or online.

 

[Avatar]

Or

You can swing by on the way home from work and I'll set you up with the Metro as I have a whole canister. CCA's poster child and spiritual leader might be round today as well so you could do worse.

Have been told that it helps to deliver this med internally by mixing with food, Andrew or someone else can tell you how best to attempt that.

 

[Andrew]

It's much more effective when mixed with food... if you can get the fish to eat. Usually fish in GI distress won't eat so it's best to treat the water. Even if the fish are eating, you can't control the dose because you don't know how much the fish will eat.

 

[YSS]

You can also try cranking up the heat and use the heat treatment. It works well for discus. Treat the fish in 96F for 5 to 6 days. I heard this works for angels as well, but not 100%.

 

[Greengirl]

Thank you guys for the great advice. I already turned up the heat to 84 last night. Tonight I will slowly crank it up to maybe 86. Doug Gossnell gave me some metro last light. He gave me four cups of perfect doses for my fish in a 15g isolation tank. He did not eat before so I am just going to treat him with metro and water changes and try feeding him in a week. Does that all sound good by your standards?