The flowerhorn is a really niche fish within the fish keeping community and although it is beautiful to look at, it can be prone to having multiple issues with white poop.
In addition to the regular causes of white poop that all fix have to deal with, a flowerhorn also seems to have a much higher chance of having problems with hexamita.
The chances of a flowerhorn getting hexamita and having problems with white poop are actually that hight that the term “flowerhorn white poop disease” has started to become more and more popular within the flowerhorn keeping community to refer to problems with their fish having hexamita.
Due to seeing so many people reaching out about having problems with flowerhorn white poop recently, we decided that we wanted to publish this dedicated article going over the topic to try and help as many of our readers as possible.
Summary Of Common Causes Of White Poop In Flowerhorns!
The list below is the more common causes of white poop in flowerhorns that we will cover in more detail in the article:-
- White Poop Disease (Hexamita)
- Parasites
- Poor Diet
- Stress And Anxiety
- Bacterial Infection
- Ammonia And Chlorine Levels
- Side-Effect Of Medication
Other than hexamita being the most common cause of white poop in flowerhorns, the rest of the causes are in no particular order as they can depend on the tank setup that you are running.
This can make some more common for others depending on how they have their aquarium setup but for the most part hexamita is still very common no matter what you do.
Is It Normal For Flowerhorns To Have White Poop?
It is not normal for flower horns to have white poop and it is almost always a sign of a problem with the fish that needs to be treat quickly.
As with most problems, the sooner you notice that your fish is producing white poop that is often stringy the better as you are able to start treating the problem fast.
Some of the causes of white poop in your flowerhorn can actually be serious if they are left to develop over a prolonged period of time and the longer they have to develop, the more difficult they can be to treat to save the fish.
What Causes White Poop In Flowerhorns?
The most common cause of white poop in flowerhorns in hexamita but there are a number of other relatively common causes of white poop in flowerhorns too.
As we mentioned earlier in the article, the problems that we will cover below are not in any particular order other than hexamita being top due to being the most common.
You will often have to do some investigating to try and work out what is happening with your flowerhorn to cause it to have white poop but it is generally easy to diagnose.
White Poop Disease (Hexamita)
The most common cause of white poop in flowerhorns is hexamita and it is such a common problem that the term “flowerhorn white poop disease” has become more popular to use within the community.
Hexamita is a relatively common parasite that can affect all sorts of fish but it seems to particularly enjoy infecting flowerhorns for some reason.
The problem is that hexamita is able to lay dormant in a fish for weeks or even months before causing any problems and by the time you notice that your fish has it, it can be quite difficult to treat.
You will often find that once hexamita takes hold in your flowerhorn, the white poop is not the only symptom that you will see.
Other symptoms can include a loss of appetite, lethargy, weight loss and even bloatedness.
If your flowerhorn is displaying any of these other symptoms as well as having white poop then it is highly likely that hexamita is to blame.
The best way to treat hexamita in your flowerhorn is to use a course of metronidazole which you will be able to purchase from most pet stores.
You need to make sure that you follow the instructions on the packet carefully though as metronidazole can be quite harsh on a fish’s system if not used correctly.
As well as treating your flowerhorn with metronidazole, you also need to make sure that you clean the tank out completely and sterilize all of the equipment.
This is because hexamita is highly contagious and can quickly spread to other fish in your aquarium if you do not take the necessary precautions.
Parasites
While hexamita is the most common parasite that can cause white poop in your flowerhorn, there are a number of other parasites that can also be to blame.
The most common of these other parasites is probably black spot disease which is caused by a type of fish lice.
Other parasites that can cause white poop include gill flukes, tapeworms, and intestinal worms.
As with hexamita, parasites are often able to lay dormant in a fish for weeks or even months without causing any problems and by the time you notice that your fish has them, they can be quite difficult to treat.
You will often find that once a parasite takes hold in your flowerhorn, the white poop is not the only symptom that you will see.
Other symptoms can include a loss of appetite, lethargy, weight loss and even bloatedness.
If your flowerhorn is displaying any of these other symptoms as well as having white poop then it is highly likely that a parasite is to blame.
The best way to treat parasites in your flowerhorn is to use a course of medication which you will be able to purchase from most pet stores.
You need to make sure that you follow the instructions on the packet carefully though as the medication can be quite harsh on a fish’s system if not used correctly.
As well as treating your flowerhorn with medication, you also need to make sure that you clean the tank out completely and sterilize all of the equipment.
This is because parasites are highly contagious and can quickly spread to other fish in your aquarium if you do not take the necessary precautions.
Poor Diet
Another common cause of white poop in flowerhorns is a poor diet.
Flowerhorns are notoriously fussy eaters and will often only eat a limited number of different types of food.
This can often lead to problems as a flowerhorn that is not getting a varied diet is more likely to suffer from nutrient deficiencies which can lead to a number of different health problems.
One of the most common problems that can be caused by a poor diet is intestinal blockages which can cause white poop.
Intestinal blockages are often caused by a flowerhorn eating something that it should not such as gravel or pieces of decoration.
They can also be caused by a lack of fiber in the diet which can lead to constipation.
The best way to prevent intestinal blockages is to make sure that your flowerhorn is getting a varied diet that includes plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits.
You should also make sure that there is plenty of gravel in the tank for your flowerhorn to eat as this will help to keep its digestive system healthy.
If your flowerhorn is already suffering from an intestinal blockage then you will need to take it to the vet as they will be able to give it the treatment that it needs.
Stress And Anxiety
Another common cause of white poop in flowerhorns is stress and anxiety.
Flowerhorns are very sensitive fish and even small changes in their environment can lead to them feeling stressed and anxious.
If your flowerhorn is feeling stressed then it is likely that it will stop eating as well as it normally does which can lead to a number of different health problems.
One of the most common problems that can be caused by stress is gastrointestinal problems which can lead to white poop.
Gastrointestinal problems are often caused by a build-up of bacteria in the gut which can be brought on by stress.
The best way to prevent your flowerhorn from becoming stressed is to make sure that its environment is as stable as possible.
You should avoid making any sudden changes to the tank and you should also try to keep the noise and light levels down.
If your flowerhorn is already suffering from stress then you can try using a calming supplement which you will be able to purchase from most pet stores.
Bacterial Infection
Another common cause of white poop in flowerhorns is a bacterial infection.
Bacterial infections are often caused by a build-up of bacteria in the gut which can lead to a number of different problems.
One of the most common problems that can be caused by a bacterial infection is gastrointestinal problems which can lead to white poop.
Gastrointestinal problems are often caused by a build-up of bacteria in the gut which can be brought on by stress.
The best way to prevent your flowerhorn from becoming infected with bacteria is to make sure that its environment is as clean as possible.
You should also make sure that you change the water in the tank on a regular basis and you should sterilize all of the equipment that you use.
If your flowerhorn is already suffering from a bacterial infection then you will need to take it to the vet as they will be able to give it the treatment that it needs.
Ammonia And Chlorine Levels
Another common cause of white poop in flowerhorns is high levels of ammonia and chlorine in the water.
Ammonia and chlorine are both toxic to fish and can cause a number of different health problems if they are present in high levels.
Problems with ammonia or chlorine levels in your tank can rapidly increase the stress in your flowerhorn and cause its poop to turn white.
You can usually deal with high ammonia levels in your tank with a partial water change and high chlorine levels can usually be treat with a water conditioner product.
Side-Effect Of Medication
Another common cause of white poop in flowerhorns is a side-effect of medication.
Always read the label of any medications that your flowerhorns are on as you will often find that some of them will clearly list white poop as a temporary side effect.
If the white poop is causes due to medication, the poop color will usually go back to normal in around a week of ending the medication.
