Yellow Belly Regal not eating and white poop

[aphinney]

I have a 5-6" yellow belly regal who its chunky and thick. I just got him two days ago from a reputable wholesaler. He looks gorgeous. Yesterday he was doing good. didn't eat but what picking the rocks here and there.

Now today he is still doing good. not eating yet as I have presented him with mysis, LRS, Rods, half shell clams, bloodworms and nori.

but he has been swimming in the corner vertical and then comes nose down and back up... then when I come over he will swim normal through the rocks to the other side and kind of do the same thing just minimal around some rocks but always ends up back in the same corner. Im guessing this is stress. But he is the only thing in this 220g other than a few small wrasse.

also I came home to find a long string of white feces. im guessing an internal parasite from all ive researched. I know we are in day two and it just needs time but any advice would be great. Thank you

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Hi. Was the fish a new arrival at the wholesaler?

 

[*unique*]

Those yellow bellies always coming in with some weird parasite whether it’s flukes or something g else internal prazi it

 

[aphinney]

Those yellow bellies always coming in with some weird parasite whether it’s flukes or something g else internal prazi it

That was my plan - starts tomorrow

 

[aphinney]

Hi. Was the fish a new arrival at the wholesaler?

yes

 

[aphinney]

I just want to get this boy eating and im a bit worried about his swimming pattern and white feces

 

[*unique*]

@Jay Hemdal @vetteguy53081

 

[*unique*]

I just want to get this boy eating and im a bit worried about his swimming pattern and white feces

I tagged the pros let’s see what they say!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I just want to get this boy eating and im a bit worried about his swimming pattern and white feces

Not sure how assessments are being made without videos under white light intensity. Your videos not playing and will need length of at least 2o seconds. You tube video may be better

 

[MnFish1]

if you don't have a QT'd fish - I'd treat this one as per the protocol above. Ad
s @vetteguy53081 said - no way to answer.

 

[aphinney]

Not sure how assessments are being made without videos under white light intensity. Your videos not playing and will need length of at least 2o seconds. You tube video may be better

Ill get you a video in the morning

 

[aphinney]

here is what I have now. This is not my display. this is a holding / observation tank. I will get longer videos in the morning.

 

[vetteguy53081]

here is what I have now. This is not my display. this is a holding / observation tank. I will get longer videos in the morning.

Unfortunately need a video of at least 20 seconds

 

[aphinney]

Unfortunately need a video of at least 20 seconds

I understand

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I have a 5-6" yellow belly regal who its chunky and thick. I just got him two days ago from a reputable wholesaler. He looks gorgeous. Yesterday he was doing good. didn't eat but what picking the rocks here and there.

Now today he is still doing good. not eating yet as I have presented him with mysis, LRS, Rods, half shell clams, bloodworms and nori.

but he has been swimming in the corner vertical and then comes nose down and back up... then when I come over he will swim normal through the rocks to the other side and kind of do the same thing just minimal around some rocks but always ends up back in the same corner. Im guessing this is stress. But he is the only thing in this 220g other than a few small wrasse.

also I came home to find a long string of white feces. im guessing an internal parasite from all ive researched. I know we are in day two and it just needs time but any advice would be great. Thank you

Do you know where this fish was collected?

As you are no doubt aware, this species is very delicate, and collection with cyanide is an issue in some of these fish.

In terms of mucus feces, that is a general symptom. Here is a write up I did on that:

Excess mucus in fish feces:

This will present as white or light colored, stringy fecal material that often hangs from the fish’s anus for a longer than normal period. There are a number of different causes for this, some benign, others very serious. Without access to a microscope, there is little that can be done to diagnose this issue effectively.

Idiopathic mucus feces: this fancy term is just to describe white mucoid bulky feces of no serious consequence, but of an unknown cause. Some suspicion is that this can be caused by changes in diet or diets high in fats.

Starvation: Fish that have no food moving through their bowels may excrete white mucoid feces with little bulk to them. The primary diagnostic for this issue is evident in that the fish won’t been seen to be eating. Resolving the anorexia is of course the prime focus to resolve this issue.

Bacterial infection: internal bacterial infections can cause stringy feces as well. While some of these may resolve on their own, medicated foods containing a broad spectrum, gram negative oral antibiotic may be required.

Metazoan infections: multicellular worms are often blamed for mucoid feces, but in reality, they are almost never the root cause for this, and really, can only be diagnosed through looking for their ova in fecal samples. Fish can harbor tapeworms and nematodes without producing mucoid feces.

Protozoan infection: Hexamita and related diplomonad flagellate protozoans very frequently cause white stringy feces, especially in newly acquired clownfish. Metronidazole is the most frequent treatment for this issue. It can be dosed orally at 25 mg per kg of fish body weight, or 5 g in a kg of food. However, it is a very bitter medication, and some fish will refuse to feed on food containing it. It can be dosed in the water at 25 mg/l, but this is more effective in treating marine fishes, as freshwater fish do not “drink” aquarium water.

Coccidia: These microscopic, spore-forming, single-celled parasites are common diseases in dogs and cats. In fish, they cause epithelial necrosis of the gut, enteritis and the copious production of mucus (Noga 2010). These cannot be diagnosed without microscopic examination, and there is no well researched cure for this in fishes, although Toltrazuril has been tested.

Constipation: This malady is often given as a cause for stringy feces, but it is not as common as one would think. When it is seen, the feces are usually dark, not light in color. Often touted as a “cure for constipation”, many aquarists add Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) to the aquarium’s water – do not do this in marine aquariums, its use is primarily as a tonic/dip for freshwater fish. Seawater formulas already contain between 7 and 19 grams of magnesium sulfate per gallon (depending on the recipe). NSW magnesium level is around 1200 ppm and sulfur is around 840 ppm. Some benefit might be seen using it as a dip in additional concentrations, but adding a small amount to a marine aquarium itself has no benefit. Epsom salts do have some possible benefit when mixed into the food as a 3% by weight adjunct. Another commonly heard remedy for constipation is; “feed fresh peas”. This is an effective cure for fancy goldfish and Malawi cichlids that develop constipation and bloating. Again, overextrapolation has marine aquarists trying to feed peas to carnivorous fish, etc. The best method to enhance gut motility in fish is to feed frozen adult brine shrimp – not as a permanent diet, just long enough to get the constipation resolved.

Jay

 

[aphinney]

Do you know where this fish was collected?

As you are no doubt aware, this species is very delicate, and collection with cyanide is an issue in some of these fish.

In terms of mucus feces, that is a general symptom. Here is a write up I did on that:

Excess mucus in fish feces:

This will present as white or light colored, stringy fecal material that often hangs from the fish’s anus for a longer than normal period. There are a number of different causes for this, some benign, others very serious. Without access to a microscope, there is little that can be done to diagnose this issue effectively.

Idiopathic mucus feces: this fancy term is just to describe white mucoid bulky feces of no serious consequence, but of an unknown cause. Some suspicion is that this can be caused by changes in diet or diets high in fats.

Starvation: Fish that have no food moving through their bowels may excrete white mucoid feces with little bulk to them. The primary diagnostic for this issue is evident in that the fish won’t been seen to be eating. Resolving the anorexia is of course the prime focus to resolve this issue.

Bacterial infection: internal bacterial infections can cause stringy feces as well. While some of these may resolve on their own, medicated foods containing a broad spectrum, gram negative oral antibiotic may be required.

Metazoan infections: multicellular worms are often blamed for mucoid feces, but in reality, they are almost never the root cause for this, and really, can only be diagnosed through looking for their ova in fecal samples. Fish can harbor tapeworms and nematodes without producing mucoid feces.

Protozoan infection: Hexamita and related diplomonad flagellate protozoans very frequently cause white stringy feces, especially in newly acquired clownfish. Metronidazole is the most frequent treatment for this issue. It can be dosed orally at 25 mg per kg of fish body weight, or 5 g in a kg of food. However, it is a very bitter medication, and some fish will refuse to feed on food containing it. It can be dosed in the water at 25 mg/l, but this is more effective in treating marine fishes, as freshwater fish do not “drink” aquarium water.

Coccidia: These microscopic, spore-forming, single-celled parasites are common diseases in dogs and cats. In fish, they cause epithelial necrosis of the gut, enteritis and the copious production of mucus (Noga 2010). These cannot be diagnosed without microscopic examination, and there is no well researched cure for this in fishes, although Toltrazuril has been tested.

Constipation: This malady is often given as a cause for stringy feces, but it is not as common as one would think. When it is seen, the feces are usually dark, not light in color. Often touted as a “cure for constipation”, many aquarists add Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) to the aquarium’s water – do not do this in marine aquariums, its use is primarily as a tonic/dip for freshwater fish. Seawater formulas already contain between 7 and 19 grams of magnesium sulfate per gallon (depending on the recipe). NSW magnesium level is around 1200 ppm and sulfur is around 840 ppm. Some benefit might be seen using it as a dip in additional concentrations, but adding a small amount to a marine aquarium itself has no benefit. Epsom salts do have some possible benefit when mixed into the food as a 3% by weight adjunct. Another commonly heard remedy for constipation is; “feed fresh peas”. This is an effective cure for fancy goldfish and Malawi cichlids that develop constipation and bloating. Again, overextrapolation has marine aquarists trying to feed peas to carnivorous fish, etc. The best method to enhance gut motility in fish is to feed frozen adult brine shrimp – not as a permanent diet, just long enough to get the constipation resolved.

Jay

I do have that information. I do not want to post it publicly. It is a very well known wholesaler. The fish was good sized. He looked pretty good. Received him right off the plane on Tuesday morning.

He past this morning about an hour ago.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

I do have that information. I do not want to post it publicly. It is a very well known wholesaler. The fish was good sized. He looked pretty good. Received him right off the plane on Tuesday morning.

He past this morning about an hour ago.

Sry. Hard loss. Sounds like u have a good relationship w the seller to ease the pain. Took me 18 months to get the right one imported treated, and conditioned on prep food. Good luck.

 

[aphinney]

Sry. Hard loss. Sounds like u have a good relationship w the seller to ease the pain. Took me 18 months to get the right one imported treated, and conditioned on prep food. Good luck.

Yea, im for sure going to try again. But still tough

 

[alton]

Sorry for your loss. The medium juvenile Maldives Regal's have always been my go to as far as getting to eat and doing well in an aquarium. I have had luck with a few Red Sea Regal's years ago but they didn't start eating until 3 to 4 weeks. I think they only made it was due to being very fat upon arrival. It has been my understanding juvenile angels hang out in caves and crevices picking at whatever floats by for food. Adult angels swim the ocean picking at the best foods available. The Maldives are normally available after February. Hoping Biota ones come available soon

 

[aphinney]

I mean this one was chunky. He was thick. 5-6". Looked great. adult

im at a loss. clueless