Discus is dark and has white faeces

[mark4785]

Since 8 days ago, my discus abruptly stopped eating, became dark, has a cobweb like strand coming away from its fin and is pooing both white globular shaped and stringy poo.

I was told this was likely hexamita so began treating the tank with Metroplex and Praziquantel, having dosed the tank with Metroplex 6 days in a row and treating with praziquantel 2 days ago.

Despite the treatment the fish is still in the same predicament except for the poo being globular when it comes out and looks more like a cob-web spherical strand when free floating in the water.

I do not know what I am dealing with here so if anybody can give a positive diagnosis and treatment regime I would appreciate it. I have attached photos to help with identification. All of my smaller discus are fine and eating.

 

[PygmyPepperJulli]

https://www.fishforums.net/threads/what-to-do-if-your-fish-has-stringy-white-poop.466276/ hope this helps

 

[mark4785]

https://www.fishforums.net/threads/what-to-do-if-your-fish-has-stringy-white-poop.466276/ hope this helps

I have read this but its not clear which diagnosis applies to this situation.

 

[PygmyPepperJulli]

Sorry, I wasn't sure (I dare say my first post was pretty unhelpful). Following the guide, it's clearly not a bacterial infection (it's not eating), so I'd say it is an internal protozoan infection as your treating. The white strand coming from it's fin makes me think fungal infection. This is going to sound odd and might be totally wrong, but have you tried (probably with gloves on) pulling the white strand off? Is it in qt or in the main tank? And sorry to have to ask, but water parameters? (probably not relevant but might help).

Really sorry, I have no experience with discus. Stringy white poop can be caused by any sort of internal parasite, not just hexamita. Why is hexamita specifically diagnosed in the first place? (not me contending, just curious).

Even if this post does nothing else, bump.

 

[Colin_T]

Internal bacterial or protozoan infection along with something in the water or on the fish stressing it out and causing the excess mucous (stringy stuff on fin).

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What is the temperature of the water?

What is the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate of the water?

What is the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply?
This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website (Water Analysis Report) or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

What do you feed the fish normally?
What did you feed the fish in the few days before this started?

Have you added any new fish to the tank in the 2 weeks before this started?

What medications (besides metroplex) have you tried?

Have you done any water changes recently?
If yes, how much did you change and how often have you been changing the water?

Is the fish in a bare quarantine tank by itself or in a tank with other fish?

Are there any live plants or algae in the tank?

Can we get a picture of the entire tank?