Problem With Floating Feces

[greeneyed]

My cousin has a tank with a Texas Cichlid and a Pleco and a couple of Green Terrors.

She called me about this, and the only thing I could think of was internal parasites.
She treated the tank for them. Though I think she used the cheap tablets(not sure what they are called.

She says this didn't help.

So I am asking for yours.

Anyone know what this might be? I am pretty new to the fish stuff, so I am still learning as I go. She just knew that I usually try research any hobby I get into.

Thanks guys for looking.

[poel_19]

what does the poop look like.....i know sounds silly but it would help narrow some things down...

[greeneyed]

Well, poop.
But it seems to be encapsulated in some kind of poop colored tubing?
I know it sounds weird , but describing poop to me is weird.
The tubing? isn't opaque, but a translucent brownish, she says.
Only happens occasionally.
I know there is something wrong, just not sure what it is.
She doesn't have any kind of testing equip.
I won't be able to go up there for awhile either.
Thanks,
I hope I described it vividly enough for you.
If not I can try to get her to send me some pics.

Thanks again.

[bra8ndy8]

My common's pleco poops float!!! And his is about 4 ft long!! So talk about GROSS!

[poel_19]

what is she feeding? type of food I mean, anything new she added to their diet? new fish? any of them look sick(sunken belly) other than just floating poop?

[greeneyed]

No, she says they look alright.
She is feeding cichlid pellets she got from lfs. Not sure which brand she told me early on, but I forgot( will ask her).
No new fish.
She got this established tank from a friend.
Moved it and most of water.
And put her fish in.
after 3-4 months she has this problem.
She is just attached to her fish and wants them to be as healthy as possible.

[AndrewH]

Maybe it's just the food in the poop that's floating (make sense?).

If the fish aren't showing signs of illness I wouldnt' recommend treating the tank (the more you treat the less effective the meds will be later on when you really need them).

Here's (http://www.poopreport.com/Doctor/Content/float.html) a link that might help (it's about humans, but relative to the subject IMHO and it's a little gross).

[greeneyed]

Increased levels of air and gas in the poop make it less dense, and cause it to float. Simple as that.

I know she has 2 bubble wands across the back of her tank.
There seems to be alot of mico bubbles in the tank as well.
You reckon this could actually be the problem?

[AndrewH]

I'm not sure exactly. I would think it's all internial and wouldn't have anything to due with the bubble wands (but it might).

As long as she's not loosing fish, I'm not to sure I'd really be all that concerned with it myself. Simply do the normal water changes, water chem checks, and a good health evaluation as often as possible and let it ride.

Maybe even try changing to a different food might help?