clown fish parasite?

[bugbdon]

ok here's the deal......
i bought 2 true percs last saturday from a fish store i trust. i eyed these tank bred clowns up for at least 3 weeks while my tank was finishing up the cycle. they were fed thera a + and brine shrimp plus.
i brought them home and fed them later on. they showed interest in feeding, but just "mouthed" the pellets. i never say them actually take a whole pellet in. i bought the smallest pellet size (1mm). i also tried feeding them brine shrimp... again, they just "mouthed" it.
later i saw long, stringy, white feces from one fish. i suspect parasites.
i went to the store today, told them all about it and they gave me some kent's garlic drops and a small bag of medicated anti-parasitic food.
i got home, soaked the crushed pellets in some garlic, then fed.....same friggin thing, they just mouthed the pellets!!!!!

any ideas? i really appreciate advice

*sorry for being wordy, but background info is key in diagnosis

parameters are close to perfect 0 ammonia, 10ppm nitrate, 0 nitrite, pH 8.2, temp 80 F

 

[Percula9]

Did you see the fish eat at the store? Never buy a fish that doesn't eat at the store. Sometimes fish can take up to a week before they start to feed in your tank. Takes them time to acclimate to their new surroundings. I doubt the fish are actually sick.

 

[bugbdon]

i didn't actually see them eat at the store.(my bad) i figured if the fish were at the store for over 3 weeks and they looked healthy then they were eating. i probably am being paranoid, but the white stringy feces do raise an eyebrow.

 

[Percula9]

Are they a mated pair? The stringy feces could be from the fact they haven't eaten and the last of their waste is coming out. Put a couple of drops of the garlic in the water 15min before feeding. This may induce feeding. I wonder what they were feeding them at the store. You might try live brine shrimp to help induce feeding if that store or another one near you sells it. The fish though can't survive on live brine for long. What other tank mates do they have? Once you get them to eat, try frozen mysis, my fish really like it. Good luck I hope it works out for you.

 

[bugbdon]

they're not a mated pair, hopefuly one day though! the store had them on "brine shrimp plus" and spectrum "thera A" (a non medicated antiparasitic pellet) i've tried mysis shrimp too, but again they just "mouth" the shrimp. it's odd, i'll go to feed them and they come right to the front of the tank for me and go after the food like they've never eaten before, BUT they just mouth everything. i think i see them take some small pieces in now. for example, i feed....they mouth everything....let it go and it breaks down in the water then they feed on the VERY small pieces as they float by. i think it's also worth mentioning that the one with the stringy feces displays some darkening on the orange parts. thanks for they help, i do appreciate it. oh, they are the ONLY fish in the tank. i have 5 snails, 3 hermits, and 2 camel shrimp in there with them.
thanks

 

[Percula9]

The fact that they are trying to eat is a good sign. They are obviously eating some of the food. Keep using the garlic. As for the darkening on one clown no clue. Keep me updated on their progress. What the store told you about their feeding I will take with a grain of salt since you didn't see them feed at the store. Remember never buy a fish unless you see them feed at the store. My criteria for buying a fish are a number of things. First I look at the fish and check for injuries. Look for clear eyes and check for rapid breathing. I ask how long it's been in the store. The final clinch of course is to see them feed. It's very easy to forgo these procedures, when your hot in the pants to get your new pet.

 

[bugbdon]

thanks for your advice, i'll let you know how it all turns out

 

[bugbdon]

alright so the clowns aren't looking so hot. i went to the store bought stuff for a hospital tank =( and some PraziPro and i'm gonna start it up tomorrow. i also picked up some tetracycline. one's a dewormer and the other is a broad spectrum antibiotic. my theory is that the dewormer will get the little buggers out of the GI tract and the antibiotic will treat/prevent secondary infection. i'll have to use the PraziPro first, cuz i can't use the tetracycline along with it.
thanks for putting up with me

 

[Percula9]

Let me know what happens. Don't feed during treatment, to reduce ammonia build up in the quarantine tank. Keep ammonia detox on hand.

 

[bugbdon]

well they're out of the hospital tank now.....i don't see abnormal feces, so i hope they're ok. they're eating better now as well