Flowerhorn wont eat anything...

[Kramit]

I have a flowerhorn thats about 3 months old or so. All was fine until recently. I had a few friends over last friday ( so almost a week ago) and they fed it about 3 feeder goldfish in an hour period or so, but i didnt think it would hurt. it ate all of them. and ever since that night it hasn't eaten anything and wont even make an attempt to eat any pellets i normally feed it. It swims around normally, but i noticed it has a white clearish poop, which i dont know if its from the goldfish or what because ive never fed it that many at once... any input or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

-Mark

 

[Lupin]

This is why feeding goldfish is widely discouraged. Unfortunately, goldfish are loaded with various ailments such as flukes, internal parasites, tumors, etc. What you need to do now is dose praziquantel and hope your fish will pull through. Here's the praziquantel dosing regimen.

* Remove carbon.
* Add 2.5 milligrams per liter of water.
* If you are using the powdered version, it is difficult to dissolve. Predissolve in tank water by shaking it up in a small container.
* Dosing
Day 1 -- remove carbon, perform water change with vacuuming, and add Prazi to tank
Day 2 -- add Prazi
Day 3 -- do nothing
Day 4 -- do nothing
Day 5 -- do nothing
Day 6 -- add Prazi
Day 7 -- add Prazi
Day 8 -- normal partial water change with vacuuming
Day 14 - normal partial water change, then add prazi
Day 21 - normal partial water change, then add prazi
Day 28 - normal partial water change, then add prazi
Day 35 - normal partial water change, add carbon, treatment is complete

5mg per liter also works but some fish seem to considerably lose their appetite as the dosage is increased so administer prazi carefully and start with 2.5mg to see if everything improves.

 

[Kramit]

ok, my next question.. I have another fish on the other side of the tank. will this affect him and his appetite? Thanks

 

[Lupin]

I'd just treat both as a precaution.

 

[BraveheartCalif]

This is a more perfect dosing schedule that will yield results. You only need to dose 2 x's w/ Prazi for 14 days total. Before you add the prazi for 1st dose do a water change. If you use the pharm grade prazi (powder). Use 1/4 teaspoon per 40 gallons of aquarium water. Dose 1 time and leave in the water for 7 days. Then do partial water change and full dose again for another 7 days. **Take a few drops of (vodka) put into a shot glass add prazi per spec. Stir as to become soluble w/ vodka first. Then add some tank water to fully mix than add to tank. Follow this regimen and youll eliminate the flukes.

 

[Kramit]

I've been reading around and It sounds a lot like my fish might have hexamita, or hole in the head.. will prazi treat that as well?

 

[BraveheartCalif]

is the feces whitish and slimy? is there signs of holes in the fish near the sensory organs? if this is the case then treat for hex id go Metronidazole, Treat every 24 hours with a 25% water change before each treatment. Treat for 10 days.

If you have a resistant strain of hex then get back to us and well have u add another med.