Picked up a Rostratus pair and then this happened

[Gottafish]

Several weeks ago, I picked up a Rostratus pair and then this happened...


The male, developed a weird, discoloration of the pigment in his facial region. It's not a fungus, or anything on his scales. It's like how some people have missing pigment.

Could it be stress? I moved the pair to a open 65g thinking I did not want to contaminate my main community tank. Then it went away. Literally in 1 day or so. I haven't seen it show since. I'm going to add the female into the community soon back the male is getting a little fresh in the 65.

Is this stress? or some crazy Pathogen? It looks like a vicious start to HITH almost. BUT then it vanished... FYI community stock is/has been fine.

I'd love to hear some others thoughts.

Thanks so much.

 

[cichlidfish]

It does look like HITH. I would start treating ASAP. Its good you moved them too. That looks like a female, but it is really hard to tell. Males do get a hump, but only when they get larger. How big are they?

 

[Gottafish]

It does look like HITH. I would start treating ASAP. Its good you moved them too. That looks like a female, but it is really hard to tell. Males do get a hump, but only when they get larger. How big are they?

I appreciate the input. I agree it looks like hit at times, but has HITH ever vanished in like 12-24 hrs?

Hmm, it's possible I have a larger female than male then. 5" or so I'd say. Maybe that's why male was getting beat up. I saw them labeled as "talapia" at one store near near, so for 30.00 I figured it was worth the rescue, and now they have become a headache haha.

 

[duanes]

I agree with cichlid fish, looks bacterial.
The stress of moving, and new surroundings could easily cause the immune system to weaken, and over a few weeks bring infection on.
I also find rostratus to be more easily stressed out than your average cichlid.
They come from very low nitrate waters, so more than average water changes, and water movement may be needed.
For mine I do at least every other day water changes, and keep the flow quite high.

You can see how hard the flow is by the bent vallisneria in their tank