Hex Or Tapeworm?

[jnms]

One of my Discus as started hiding at the back of the tank behind the plants. He has done a few stringy white poops. The poops are often between 2" and 3" long. Sometimes they are a bit segmented and other times they appear as one solid whole.

He has pretty much stopped eating, although he does pay interest in the food and looks at the food as though he wants to eat it, but won't actually do so.

I am unsure if he has HEX, internal bacteria or if these are tapeworms that are being passed.

At the moment I have treated for HEX using, eSHa HEXAMITA.

No other fish are displaying any symptoms.

Water Stats:
Am: 0.0
Ni: 0.0
Na: 25
Ph: 7.1 (these are locally bred discus so are used to the local water)


Here are a few photos:

 

[WILDER]

Any pitting on the head region or lateral line.
Any pimpes on the head.

 

[jnms]

Any pitting on the head region or lateral line.
Any pimpes on the head.

There appear to be no other symptoms, the body, scales, fins, gills and head all appear to be perfectly normal.

 

[WILDER]

What do you feed the fish.
Does he look bloated.
Not sure how good the ehsa med is. Noticed any changed to his waste since using the med.

 

[jnms]

What do you feed the fish.
Does he look bloated.
Not sure how good the ehsa med is. Noticed any changed to his waste since using the med.

I put the med in the tank a few hours ago - so too early to tell.

I am not sure if he is bloated - I will try and get some better photo's of him. He is slightly more bloated than the other discus perhaps.

I feed him bloodworm (I am aware it can cause constipation, but haven't had any trouble in the months I have been feeding it). Also frozen discus food, as well as Tetra Prima.

 

[WILDER]

Fish can bloat up if you over feed blood worms.
Do discus eat veg as never kept them.
I would also try some peas if they do. There good for getting things moving.
Are his fins clamped.
Does he look pale or darker in colour.
Is he leaning to onside or resting on things in the tank.

 

[jnms]

Fish can bloat up if you over feed blood worms.
Do discus eat veg as never kept them.
I would also try some peas if they do. There good for getting things moving.
Are his fins clamped.
Does he look pale or darker in colour.
Is he leaning to onside or resting on things in the tank.

Some of them will eat veg, some won't. They are very fussy. I will try some peas in the tank.

His colour is still good. There is a little clamping of is bottom fins. On occasion I have noticed that he does tilt forwards (head down) a little.

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
If he's abit bloated that could be making him tilt abit.
Is he maintaing his balance well apart from the slight head dipping.
Has he clamped his fins after the med or was he clamping them before med.

 

[jnms]

Ok.
If he's abit bloated that could be making him tilt abit.
Is he maintaing his balance well apart from the slight head dipping.
Has he clamped his fins after the med or was he clamping them before med.

He isn't clamping his fins at all any more. Seems to have stopped doing that since the medication was put in the tank.

He is still passing the white waste and has been doing that constantly for about 2hrs now.

 

[WILDER]

Can you see any worms coming out with the waste.

 

[jnms]

Can you see any worms coming out with the waste.

No, the waste gets to about 2" or 3" long before it breaks off, and then the process starts again. I can't see any worms coming out with it, unless they are very small and falling away whilst I am not looking

 

[WILDER]

Once you finshed with the med course you back up with a bacterial med.

Keep us all updated on his progress.

 

[jnms]

Once you finshed with the med course you back up with a bacterial med.

Keep us all updated on his progress.

Ok Wilder, thanks very much for all this help - it's very much appreciated!

You don't think that tapeworm an issue at this point?

 

[WILDER]

White stringy poo can be constipation, bacterial infection, internal parasites.

If you try the peas that takes care of the constipation. Already added a parasite med. Then you back up with a bacterial med after the med course it up.

How long has he had the long stringy white poo.

 

[jnms]

White stringy poo can be constipation, bacterial infection, internal parasites.

If you try the peas that takes care of the constipation. Already added a parasite med. Then you back up with a bacterial med after the med course it up.

How long has he had the long stringy white poo.

I only noticed it yesterday, so acted on it pretty quickly. He's been hiding at the back of the tank since Monday.

Prior to that he was perfectly fine...