White poop Flowerhorn?? Please help!!!

vinnie coyle

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Dec 9, 2018
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Hi guys,

I wonder can you help me. I woke up to find my Flowerhorn very inactive this morning, and then I noticed he done a very big cloudy poop, which made a mess of my entire tank. He is about 3 inches long.

I monitored him and then about 30 mins later he did another. And again made quite a mess. No stringy poop attached at this stage.

I now notice that he has a very small amount of poop attached. Looks quite white. I took a pic, but it's not very clear.

I did feed him half a freezed dried fish the past 2 days along with his usual pellets etc. A small amount. This was his first time eating this.

I have not feed him today yet as want to keep monitoring first.

Can you please review and let me know your thoughts and if treatment is necessary and if so, what's the best type. I will be getting some Epsom salt today to mix into his pellets.

Thanks in advance

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kno4te

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Add metronidazole and Epsom salt (1 tbsp per 5g) to the tank. Then feed hex shield or metroplex mixed with Epsom salt sol (1/2cup distilled water and 3/4 tsp Epsom salt) and use seachem focus to bind. Then feed to fish. Keep the water clean and best of luck.
 
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RD.

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It might just be gastrointestinal upset caused from the freeze dried fish. For now I would just stick to epsom soaked pellets, and see if it clears up.
 

vinnie coyle

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Dec 9, 2018
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Add metronidazole and Epsom salt (1 tbsp per 5g) to the tank. Then feed hex shield or metroplex mixed with Epsom salt sol (1/2cup distilled water and 3/4 tsp Epsom salt) and use seachem focus to bind. Then feed to fish. Keep the water clean and best of luck.
Hey,

Thanks for the reply. I need to wait until pet shoo open tomorrow to try and get the above. I got a bag of pure Epson Salt from chemist. I will try feeding him some pellets now soaked in a salt mix.

He seems much more active now, so I am hoping he just had an upset stomach...

Thanks again for quick reply...
 

vinnie coyle

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It might just be gastrointestinal upset caused from the freeze dried fish. For now I would just stick to epsom soaked pellets, and see if it clears up.
Hey RD,

Thanks for advice, I got some Epsom salt now, so going to soak a few pellets.

He seems much more active now and no stringy poop. Fingers crossed he just had upset stomach...
 

vinnie coyle

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Dec 9, 2018
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Hey,

So quick update.,

I mixed up 1/2 cup of RO water with a table spoon of Epsom salt. Mixed until salt resolved.

I then soaked 2 different types of pellets I have in the salt/water mix for 10 mins. I will keep the rest soaking for another while then put them in a container to keep, I'll feed these pellets only for a few day while monitoring.

I feed Sullie 3 of them and he eat them up straight away. He has no poop hanging anymore and seems a lot more active. Fingers crossed now he is ok...

I'll let ya know how he does.

Thanks again everyone...

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RD.

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Good stuff, hopefully that's all that is required. BTW in my experience flowerhorn have sensitive gastrointestinal systems so I recommend finding a good quality pellet, and sticking with that. No freeze dried, no meat, no shrimp, etc. Just keep it simple, sudden changes in diet often cause issues. Good luck.
 

vinnie coyle

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Dec 9, 2018
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Good stuff, hopefully that's all that is required. BTW in my experience flowerhorn have sensitive gastrointestinal systems so I recommend finding a good quality pellet, and sticking with that. No freeze dried, no meat, no shrimp, etc. Just keep it simple, sudden changes in diet often cause issues. Good luck.
Hey RD,

He doing ok,. I have been monitoring him, and haven't noticed any white poop since. I fed him only the Epsom Salt soakedp pellets for first 2 days, and have been slowing adding flakes etc back into his diet.

I think you are right and I will not feed him any of the freezed Dried Insects again.

His lump has Def deflated but I hope that it will start to grow again...

I'll keep you guys posted. It may help someone else in future....

Thanks again
 
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islandguy11

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Good stuff, hopefully that's all that is required. BTW in my experience flowerhorn have sensitive gastrointestinal systems so I recommend finding a good quality pellet, and sticking with that. No freeze dried, no meat, no shrimp, etc. Just keep it simple, sudden changes in diet often cause issues. Good luck.
Spot on as usual RD -- in my Kamfa's first few months here I mainly gave pellets but sometimes freeze-dried krill or frozen shrimp -- but I started to notice that after feeding the latter 2 he'd quite often have semi-white poo, which went away quickly after he ate pellets the next feeding. So I stopped feeding those 'treats' and for the last year and half have only given him pellets (with no gastro issues).
 
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