Worms?

[joliet]

Hi all, I need some advice.

My Sparkling Gourami is looking rather "wasted" (not drunk!) and his, err, poo, is all white and stringy. Still has a good appetite, and is swimming around happy, just looking a bit skinny.

From what I can gather, he must have some sort of worm infestation?

Whats the best cure for this? What's worked or not worked for you?

Thanks in advance

P.S None of the other fish in the tank seem to have it. :-? he really does look a bit silly next to his lovely, blossoming female companion.

[noelj]

it may well be some kind of parasitic infection, any chance of a photo?

[Aquila]

My best guess would Hexamita which either attacks as hole-in-the-head disease or an internal infection which causes white stringy poo. Treatment is using Metronidazole which you need to get a vet to precribe you.

[joliet]

My best guess would Hexamita which either attacks as hole-in-the-head disease or an internal infection which causes white stringy poo. Treatment is using Metronidazole which you need to get a vet to precribe you.

Hmm just looked that up, and these are the symptoms liste; "the fish becoming darker or even black, the fish start swimming backwards, the head sinks in (becomes thin), weight loss and the fish starting to hide in small corners with its head facing downwards"

He has none of those. He just looks really thin, like the thin picked on clown loach at the pet shop, type thing. But he's happy. He swims around fine, still dances and flirts with his partner, still eats (sometimes looks as though he's chewing it but then spits it out). He is just thin, and his poo is stringey and looks empty. It's almost as if he's anorexic or something.

I don't know what it is, I'm completely lost, and I'm worried that he's not actually absorbing anything he's eating, or something inside him is eating the food without him getting any (hence the empty poo). :-?

I will try and get some pics tonight

[Aquila]

Those are the symptoms for hole-in-the-head, which your fish doesn't have.

He has an intestinal infection (also believed to be caused by the flagellate hexamita). Some symptons: white stringy poo, emaciation, lethargy, possible disinterest in food (or spitting out).

I have a good site bookmarked, but i am at work so i will have to send it to you later.

Edit* Read this in the meantime:

http://www.mypalhs.com/forums/archive/i ... 91343.html

Hmm just looked that up, and these are the symptoms liste; "the fish becoming darker or even black, the fish start swimming backwards, the head sinks in (becomes thin), weight loss and the fish starting to hide in small corners with its head facing downwards"

He has none of those. He just looks really thin, like the thin picked on clown loach at the pet shop, type thing. But he's happy. He swims around fine, still dances and flirts with his partner, still eats (sometimes looks as though he's chewing it but then spits it out). He is just thin, and his poo is stringey and looks empty. It's almost as if he's anorexic or something.

I don't know what it is, I'm completely lost, and I'm worried that he's not actually absorbing anything he's eating, or something inside him is eating the food without him getting any (hence the empty poo). :-?

I will try and get some pics tonight