Pleco with long stringy poo

[Sandy C]

I have noticed, in my other tank with 2 Discus ,I have a small Pleco with long stringy poo. It is light brownish and about 2" to 3" long. Noticed it several times. This tank has been treated with a dewormer (Piper??sp?) and also with Prazipro. Is this normal for a Pleco? He eats good, cucumbers , sinking pellets and there is also wood in there.

[kaceyo]

That's just normal pleco poop. If any of your discus start having the same kind, then get back to us.

[Sandy C]

Thanks so much for the info...I was kind of worried.

[Eddie]

That's just normal pleco poop. If any of your discus start having the same kind, then get back to us.

Ditto.

[brewmaster15]

Guys I just saw this as someone pointed me to it... healthy Pleco feces may be long, but it shouldn't be stringy... it should kind of fall apart in big? pieces......especially if they have a good diet...

Plecos can be carriers of internal protozoans and.. and if the feces is stringy and whitish or interspaced with areas that are not solid... You may be dealing with internal protozoans.

Hth,
al

[Double Up]

Guys I just saw this as someone pointed me to it... healthy Pleco feces may be long, but it shouldn't be stringy... it should kind of fall apart in big? pieces......especially if they have a good diet...

Plecos can be carriers of internal protozoans and.. and if the feces is stringy and whitish or interspaced with areas that are not solid... You may be dealing with internal protozoans.

Hth,
al

Good to know! Thanks!!!!!!!!

[Oroborus]

The pleco I have has stringy/clear white poo. He's currently in a tank by himself, active at night, eats algae wafers and zucchini, hides in his cave during the day. He looks good other than the poop and swims around normally. Should I just take a wait and see approach with him? Water is 85 degrees and ammonia/nitrates and nitrites are 0. PH is 8.2.

Guys I just saw this as someone pointed me to it... healthy Pleco feces may be long, but it shouldn't be stringy... it should kind of fall apart in big? pieces......especially if they have a good diet...

Plecos can be carriers of internal protozoans and.. and if the feces is stringy and whitish or interspaced with areas that are not solid... You may be dealing with internal protozoans.

Hth,
al

[brewmaster15]

Depending on the pleco type, you may want to try adding Driftwood as many need the fibers from wood to their diet ..If you already have driftwood there....I'd personally go with a course of metronidazole.

When we mix other species of fish with our discus we should always keep in mind that they could be carriers of pathogens and it sounds like yours is doing just that.

hth,
al

[Oroborus]

Thank you, sir. Metro it is!

[nc0gnet0]

Al,

Doesn't that have alot to do with the pleco's diet? I know mine, when fed a slice of summer squash or zuchinni, there poo can take on a whitish look. When they are scavenging cichlid pellets, its long and dark. And when I say long I am talking 12-24 inches ..........Oh the fun of having a 18 inch common..........

[brewmaster15]

Al,

Doesn't that have alot to do with the pleco's diet? I know mine, when fed a slice of summer squash or zuchinni, there poo can take on a whitish look. When they are scavenging cichlid pellets, its long and dark. And when I say long I am talking 12-24 inches ..........Oh the fun of having a 18 inch common..........

Diet is part of it, but if its stringy and looks like pieces are being tied together by slime or mucus.. ...thats not normal...even for a pleco.


hth,
al