Oscar With Thin White Poop

[Suriliel]

Hi there, I didn't feel the need to post this in the fish emergencies section as there doesn't seem to be any immediate emergency, he's acting fine. Anyways, my Oscar looks like he's pooping dental floss. He's about 5 inches, otherwise very healthy and acting completely normal. He's eating fine, his water parameters are perfect and his tank size is fine (just trying to avoid any unnecessary questions). I'm just wondering what sort of things can cause thin white poop. I've read it could be some sort of bacterial infection.. any truth to that? Thanx

 

[DanDanUK]

Hi there, I didn't feel the need to post this in the fish emergencies section as there doesn't seem to be any immediate emergency, he's acting fine. Anyways, my Oscar looks like he's pooping dental floss. He's about 5 inches, otherwise very healthy and acting completely normal. He's eating fine, his water parameters are perfect and his tank size is fine (just trying to avoid any unnecessary questions). I'm just wondering what sort of things can cause thin white poop. I've read it could be some sort of bacterial infection.. any truth to that? Thanx

First and fore most, the most obvious question "what have you been feeding it ?" sounds to me like you may have been feeding it minced beef or garden worms that normally dose it ...lol

 

[Suriliel]

No he's been eating cichlid spirulina sticks, cichlid pellets, occasionally a pellet he steals from the lobster (they're pink, dunno exactly what's in them, but he's been doing that forever and hasn't had white poop before). Nothing odd, just normal stuff. He munches on the plants sometimes too. He's been eating basically the same few things for 2 months, and he's never had white poop.. and it's not just that it's white, it's also really thin.

 

[Tolak]

Could be anything from a little constipation to internal parasites or bacteria. Start with feeding a blanched pea or two, and wait 24 hours. This should take care of any constipation issues.

Usually there is a difference in behavior with a parasitic or bacterial problem. You can usually tell if an oscar is feeling a little off, they are one of the more outgoing, interactive fish I have ever seen.

 

[Suriliel]

Hmm yea I haven't noticed any behavioral changes really.. he has seemed a tad more aggressive today though, challenging the lobster a bit and whatnot.. but that may just be him growing up I'll try the pea thing, hopefully that fixes him Thanx for the help.

 

[max11180]

could be wise to shell the pea also, the skins arnt a great idea for the innards, same as any fish. chances are your Oscar will spit the shell out and eat the mushy part anyways (mine used too), but might as well save on picking up the shells later, by not using them in the 1st place.

 

[Suriliel]

Heh yea, I've fed him peas before and he basically just chewed up the entire thing and spit it out. I'll try again with shelling it and maybe cutting it in smaller pieces so maybe he'll just swallow it. I sit beside the tank all the time (that's where my computer is) and eat peas so I throw him one occasionally he likes them sometimes.. heh.