HELP with Peacock bass

[ksmith088]

Hi,
First timer posting a thread but have used information from this website a lot! I have currently had this peacock bass for about a year now. He is currently in a 220 gallon tank with a Gar and Smallmouth bass. He has recently developed head and lateral line erosion. I didnt realize the nitrate levels were that high and have fixed the problem which has stopped it from getting any worse but how can I cure him? Will these scars always be there? He is such a beautiful fish and would hate for him to always have these scars.
If you look on his spiny dorsal fin also, there is a large gap that he lost making him look like sonic the hedgehog. Is there anyway to fix this or will he always have it? I know it makes him look unique but always wondered if its fixable.

Any input or redirecting to other posts would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[barracuda123]

I would say increase temps, regular water changes and add salt but I have never seen this :/

 

[barracuda123]

Welcome to MFK though!

 

[ksmith088]

Thanks it is a great website! But I do weekly water changes and all water parameters are great. Temp sits around 80 degrees and always keep up with salt. Thanks for the input though!

 

[barracuda123]

You're welcome, some monster cichla keepers will come to your help soon

 

[barracuda123]

P.s you'd get more replies if you posted it in the cichla section

 

[blksubykid]

I had a Orino with a gap in his Dorsal fin like the one pictured and it never healed, but I receive him that way so maybe yours might grow back. If you do weekly water changes then why were your nitrate levels high?

 

[haynchinook334]

The best way to avoid/cure HITH is to keep water parameters perfect and feed a variety of vitamin rich food at half the current amount. As for the dorsal fin, I don't think it will heal, well, it looks healed, but the "gap" will not fuse back together.

 

[ksmith088]

Once I realized the nitrate levels got high, I started performing the weekly changes and the levels have dropped dramatically. My only question is how to I get him to eat vitamin rich food? Even when he was a little guy I couldnt get him to eat anything other than live food so I just gave up. Im content with the fin I just want the HITH to heal up.

 

[mshill90]

It's not going to heal up completely if you continue to feed live.

Have you tried Krill, Shrimp, or any type of smelly foods like massivore?