10 - day Metronidazole treatment

[MKCall]

How many days into the 10 treatment do you usually still find white feces? Just starting day 7 and am basically curious if my fish are on the correct path.

Thank you for your help in advance.

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi MKCall, can you tell us what is happening with your fish? Also what is your temp?
Pat

[MKCall]

Bought 5 discus from the LFS and in midst of the 6 week quarantine process, a couple of them started to become uninterested in food, hanging in the corners and sure enough soon to follow was some white feces. After a some research through this forum I decided it appeared closest to Hex. I struggled at the time to find where to purchase Metro as the websites I was looking through wanted a prescription. I purchased a bulk container of API's General Cure and begun the 10 day medication treatment. Yes I am aware that API's is two meds and may not be as strong as using pure Metro but at the time I did not find the links on this forum to purchase pure Metro. I have just begun day 7 of the 10 treatment, currently 500mg of Metro per 10 gallon every 8-10ish hours with a 50% water changes before the next medication is added. On the morning of day 6 I did see 1 tiny spot of white feces on the bottom of the tank which made me wonder... How many days into the treatment could you still be finding white feces? After searching around I am unable to find where this question has ever been asked. The fish that clearly had the white feces are beginning to bounce back and appear to gain a small appetite. Feeding a mix of FDBW, beef heart flakes, Omega One discus pellets, Cobalt Discus Hans premium flakes, and I have went away from the frozen blood worms since seeing the signs of hex. Current temp is 91-92F while medicating.

[Second Hand Pat]

It sounds like your fish are on the right track. I would suggest continuing the metro for 12 days (vs 10). Also continue the heat treatment for about another week after the metro treatment is done. You want the fish to be eating well before returning the heat to it's normal temp.
Pat

[MKCall]

Thank you Pat!

[Second Hand Pat]

Thank you Pat!

You are welcome Matt :)
Pat

[Filip]

Most important thing is they started eating again Mkcall .
They should slowly recover from the white poop too as they regain their full appetite back .
There is no time frame in recovery process .
I've had discus having their first bite a full week after finishing the 12 day metro course , so you might consider your results as quick and sucfesfull response .

[LizStreithorst]

It sounds like your fish are on the right track. I would suggest continuing the metro for 12 days (vs 10). Also continue the heat treatment for about another week after the metro treatment is done. You want the fish to be eating well before returning the heat to it's normal temp.
Pat

When Pat gives advice it is always good advice. Glad to hear that your fish are doing well again.

[MKCall]

I will be adjusting the 12 day as suggested... Still have one discus (Largest 5"ish) that hasn't eaten, I know its not as big of a deal as what it feels like. On the afternoon of day 10, I did find a very tiny bit of white jelly on the bottom, which was a little discouraging. Two of my younger (2 & 1/2") have also picked up some really labored breathing, I did add a little aquarium salt and reduce the heat a little as I fear that they may have picked up a secondary bacterial infection. Is that possible or common?

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi Matt, the breathing of younger discus is naturally faster then adults and warmer temps will elevate their breathing even more. Best to add more air and maintain the heat IMO.
Pat

[Filip]

I will be adjusting the 12 day as suggested... Still have one discus (Largest 5"ish) that hasn't eaten, I know its not as big of a deal as what it feels like. On the afternoon of day 10, I did find a very tiny bit of white jelly on the bottom, which was a little discouraging. Two of my younger (2 & 1/2") have also picked up some really labored breathing, I did add a little aquarium salt and reduce the heat a little as I fear that they may have picked up a secondary bacterial infection. Is that possible or common?

Yes its possible .Laboured breathing sonuds more like protozoan than bacterial to me though .
You did the right thing adding a bit salt and lowering the temp . to ease their breathing .

[MKCall]

Thanks Pat, the rapid breathing didn't really concern me. I would defiantly call this labored breathing with both gills opening wide and a long pronounced "breath". I forgot to mention that I did lower by water level a little also. Just enough for my HOB to create a strong ripple at the top of the water and not create an abundance of micro bubbles.

[MKCall]

Yes its possible .Laboured breathing sonuds more like protozoan than bacterial to me though .
You did the right thing adding a bit salt and lowering the temp . to ease their breathing .

Time will tell! Thanks Filip

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Pat, the rapid breathing didn't really concern me. I would defiantly call this labored breathing with both gills opening wide and a long pronounced "breath". I forgot to mention that I did lower by water level a little also. Just enough for my HOB to create a strong ripple at the top of the water and not create an abundance of micro bubbles.

Hi Matt, you will see the wide open gill more pronounced during feeding with juvie discus. I noted the same with my contest fish and queried Al about it and Al said that was normal as the fish are expelling more ammonia during feeding.
Pat

[MKCall]

Is it common to still be seeing some signs of Hex this late (day 10)? Truthfully it was tiny, but still visible. Just don't want to cut treatment to short.

[MKCall]

Hi Matt, you will see the wide open gill more pronounced during feeding with juvie discus. I noted the same with my contest fish and queried Al about it and Al said that was normal as the fish are expelling more ammonia during feeding.
Pat

Interesting and awesome information!

[Second Hand Pat]

Is it common to still be seeing some signs of Hex this late (day 10)? Truthfully it was tiny, but still visible. Just don't want to cut treatment to short.

Sometimes Matt. In my experience it is tiny and thin I would not worry about it. If it is a concern then go to day 14 on the metro.
Pat

[MKCall]

Sometimes Matt. In my experience it is tiny and thin I would not worry about it. If it is a concern then go to day 14 on the metro.
Pat

Okay thank you

[peewee1]

double post sorry.

[peewee1]

I am not responding as an expert on this only as someone who had an experience with using Metro. I have a group of 5. One developed the clear stringy poop about 3 months ago. The fish continued to eat, did not lose weight, but did not grow either. Thanks to some on the forum Metro was recommended. I do about 15% water change every other day but was not putting full dosage of Metro either. Nothing changed. Four days ago I increased the Metro to the recommended does and today I noticed that the poop turned for clear to white but while the first part of the string was clear the last was brown. I am encouraged by this that this fish has a sign of recovery. The trigger seemed to be the increase of dosage four days ago. Today I added salt along with today's Metro dosage. Reading this thread it appears that I should continue this treatment for another week then.

Thanks everyone for posting your recommendations and experiences. I have one more little guy who I got in October. He got prolapse and has not grown, he sometimes eats, and is very thin but still alive. I am hoping this Metro treatment will help him too. I wonder is once a fish has stunted due to sickness if after the fish is cured if it will begin to grow or will it forever remain stunted?