What is a string hanging from my fish? Are they sick?
by Aquaboy on Saturday, May 1st, 2010 | 7 Comments
I have a 10 gal tank, new at this fish thing, with 2 guppies, 2 platys and 2 gouramis. Last night I noticied a “string” hanging from one of my guppies and one of my platys. What does this mean? This morning when I woke up there was nothing hanging out of them. Are they sick? not fed enough (1 feed every other day – but maybe not enough). Someone please help, I don’t want the fish to die on the kids.
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its poo, it will fall off.
Dont worry too much about it
Stringy poop can be a sign of over feeding (usually with dry foods), or an internal problem including internal parasites.
See if the fish will take a little cooked de-shelled pea, this will act as a laxative and clear out the gut, watch for more poopy and don’t feed for a couple of days. Poop shouldn’t be stringy or white.
thats their poo, nothing to worry about. sometimes they get real long too and they will swim around with it for ages lol.
Haha It Just Means They Are Going To The Toilet
Wow, four very good answers so far. You’re fortunate to have such good responses. Yes it’s poo that is sticking in strings due to the quality or freshness of the food they are eating. The two halves inside a frozen raw pea are great ways to add fresh nutrients and vitamins to your fish diet. They have to learn to eat it, The guppies and platies usually do eventually but the gouramis may not even though having the example of the livebearers may help.
Be sure you are not using old expired or very cheap fish food. Try treating your fish with frozen foods such as blood worms or white mosquito larva three or four times a week. Feed your fish much smaller amounts of flake food two or three times a day instead of once every two days. Try one of the recipes for making your own home made food if you enjoy a challenge and saving money, while providing your fish with a superior diet.
Its Poop
If the “string” is hanging from the fish’s anus, it’s only feces (fish poop).
The fish may be a little constipated, but it probably isn’t otherwise sick.
If the “string” falls off in a reasonably short time (maybe an hour or two), it’s nothing to worry about.
If you think your fish may be constipated, try changing to a different food– maybe one with a higher vegetable content.