How do i tell if my fish have parasites?

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Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jan 5, 2012
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Ohio
i think my channel catfish might have parasites. for the last couple of weeks he has been breathing very hard and not eating at his normal rate. he also has long, white, stringy turds(which i read about and it means something bad but i forgot what it was). could he have parasites? what should i do. other tank mates are florida gar, red tail payara, poly ornate, LSN, Marble saiflin pleco, Jack dempsey and an orange spot sunfish. my channel catfish, gar, sunfish will be moved to my 1350 gallon pond soon but if the channel has parasites i don't know if i want to put him in the pond until i can cure him.
 
Pics?

White stringy poo is a bad sign, look closely at its eyes do u see any tiny worms on him or around him?

And what size tank are all these fish in?

Go S. Vettel #1 rb8
 
Pics?

White stringy poo is a bad sign, look closely at its eyes do u see any tiny worms on him or around him?

And what size tank are all these fish in?

Go S. Vettel #1 rb8

Fish are in a 75. Yes I know that is to small. Which is why I'm moving the bigger ones to the 1350 pond. Filtration is a fluval 405. I did a wc yesterday. Also he ate a live tilapia yesterday, it was a red Nile. I just got in a shipment and the vendor sent two extras which I threw in here as feeders.


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It's never good to mix temperate and tropical fish. Aside from that, if the cat has parasites there's a good chance it could transmit them to the test of your fish.
 
It's never good to mix temperate and tropical fish. Aside from that, if the cat has parasites there's a good chance it could transmit them to the test of your fish.

Ok thanks. I'll move him to quarantine.
PS: explain south Florida, you know, where channel cats, oscars, clown knives and pbass all live together.


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Ok thanks. I'll move him to quarantine.
PS: explain south Florida, you know, where channel cats, oscars, clown knives and pbass all live together.


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The reason I say they shouldn't be mixed is that they generally have different temperature range preferences. Even in south Florida, the water temp doesn't stay 80+ year round. Many natives start going downhill if kept at tropical temps year round/long term...
 
Anyone know what I should do? What kind of meds should I use?


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With this stock 2x per week 50% wc are REQUIRED! so many things can occur if this isn't done like clockwork, and you don't have a choice with the bio load u have. Focus more on maintaining the water quality, and DO NOT OVERFEED, try NLS thera guard food, along with tetra parasite guard, that should clear it up.



Go S. Vettel #1 rb8
 
With this stock 2x per week 50% wc are REQUIRED! so many things can occur if this isn't done like clockwork, and you don't have a choice with the bio load u have. Focus more on maintaining the water quality, and DO NOT OVERFEED, try NLS thera guard food, along with tetra parasite guard, that should clear it up.



Go S. Vettel #1 rb8

Yeah that's about what I do. I keep my NO3 around a 5-10 ppm. And your sure about the pellets killing off the parasites? Should I put the catfish in a quarantine tank?


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