What's wrong with my True Perc? Will he make it?

[gsechen]

hey guys,

I got a true perc 3 days ago and I am worried about him. He has been swimming right next to the glass and does not rest. He now has some mucus developing on his sides and near his gill. also has been excreting a white line of poop. What can I do to help him. So far he still has the strength to swim but he won't eat anything. He tried to eat the formula pellets but spits them out. Anyway here is a picture of him...you can see the white of the mucus.

 

[aquaruki]

I don't know what to do about the mucus, but try giving him soft frozen foods (defrosted in some tank water first). Like mysis or spirulina brine... if he is weak, pellets might be too hard to chew.

 

[Random Aquarist]

White poop sounds like parasites. I'd get him into quarantine.

 

[Slakker]

Yeah, stringy white excrement is one of the telltale signs of parasites. Throw him in quarantine and start treatment asap.

 

[gsechen]

what if I don't have a QT tank and how should I treat him?

 

[GSMguy]

get a cheap 10 gallon tank and start it with water from your tank

 

[gsechen]

what chemicals do I need to use for parasites?

 

[Jovreefer]

How long has he not been eating?

If they are starved that can also lead to stringy poop.

I'd be more worried about the mucus right now. Sounds like possible brook. Is he breathing heavy? Does his color look faded?

 

[gsechen]

he ATE BRINE!!!! color not faded at all. Was scratching against the rocks. I have a 5.5 QT tank set up. I will use Quick Cure by Aquarium Products contains formuline, no and malachite green is this ok?

 

[TOURKID]

internal parasites can be treated in the reef if need be.

BUT

The mucus sounds like brook. and you need to treat it FAST if it IS brook.

Its a big step for a beginner, but you need to treat it with a formilin bath. (IF its brook)

 

[norcal99]

sounds like it could possibly be brooklynella. I have formalin if you need to do dips. Let me know and I can bring some over for you.

 

[flasher1]

I had this problem with my true perc in my first tank. I quarentined him for a week and gave him an antibiotic that my LFS gave me. After he made it, I bought him a yellow carpet anemone and he has not been happier.