Need advice - JD with HITH / Parasite

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dacjd25

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 11, 2011
40
0
0
PA
About a month ago purchase a JD from a seller on craigslist...I thought the fish was in good health but when I got it home it had a decent sized crater on its head. I also noticed it had an inflamed anus / vent area. This morning I noticed a 3 inch white stringy "poop" hanging out.

I have noticed him displaying some odd behavior as well.

He randomly will spaz out and dart around the tank like something spooked him.
His color will fade to almost white, then come back and look completely normal.

I will note that he is eating normally.

What do you guys suggest? Tetra Para Guard, Prazi Pro, etc?

75g, temp at 80-82, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate, fx5 filtration
1 3"Angel
1 4"Blood parrot
2 3" senegal bichir
1 6" L88 pleco
1 mystery snail
No live plants
 
I've had a couple Oscars with HITH. I used this to treat it every time:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4615+13940&pcatid=13940

It made the symptoms get better but they always return from my experience. Regular treatments will keep the fish alive indefinitely but it sounds like there is more going on. The pale color and erratic behavior can be signs of the sickness it is experiencing or poor water conditions causing stress. What are your water conditions? The stringy poop and inflammation I have not seen and I dont think are directly caused by HITH. Off the top of my head I would guess it to be an infection, possibly treatable with medication as well.
 
I also found this post with lots of information on HITH disease:

http://www.worldcichlids.com/diseases/Adamhith.html

It basically says improve water conditions, remove carbon, keep water temp 80-82F and feed a balanced diet with lots of vitamins. If it doesn't get better, begin medication. The slimey poop can be caused by hexamite (also a parasite believed to cause HITH coincidentally). The link to the medication I recommended seems to be the only thing on the market for it.

Heres a list of symptoms, illnesses and treatments for reference:

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/information/Diseases.htm

I just googled it so take it with a grain of salt
 
Thanks for the info, I decided to treat with API general cure. I don't know if it is in my head or what but the JD seemed way more active this am. I plan to do dose #2 tomorrow...

We'll see what happens.


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