I'm not sold on it being HITH, the spots look uniform on his head. Can you get a clearer shot of his head (use macro setting on your camera)? I could be wrong here.
HITH or just sensory pits? (Midas)
- Thread starter Natalie
- Start date
The spots are definitely symmetrical and located where his sensory pits are (but isn't that where HITH usually manifests?) After doing several searches I haven't found any Midas/RD whose pits turn white and larger with age. I will try to get a better picture tonight to post here.
Also, to answer an earlier question, I have tried danios and barbs with him and he kills everything. He's been very outgoing actually since I took out the slate rock a few days ago (he would always wedge himself under it). I also put up a mirror which he is constantly obsessed with. I'm keeping a close eye on him to make sure he doesn't get withdrawn or stressed but he's been out and about more than usual lately.
Also, to answer an earlier question, I have tried danios and barbs with him and he kills everything. He's been very outgoing actually since I took out the slate rock a few days ago (he would always wedge himself under it). I also put up a mirror which he is constantly obsessed with. I'm keeping a close eye on him to make sure he doesn't get withdrawn or stressed but he's been out and about more than usual lately.
The would be symetrical....more or less. HITH is better known as Head and Lateral Line Erosion...HLLE. The sensory pits are very small and delicate. It's often the first place you see the disease start. The fish pictured here does have HLLE. I would suggest getting a drug called metrodiazinol...you can get this in some form/brand at your LFS. Remove the carbon from your filter as this will filter out the drug as well. If you have a smaller hospital tank you can move the fish there to treat. Since the drug dosage is based on water volume...treating a smaller tank will save you time. It will also help preserve the biological balance of your tank. Don't worry about adding salt...or bubblers...or melafix...get a good medication and treat the problem. The cause of HLLE is disptued...some think it's a vitamin defficiency, poor water quality, stress, or stray voltage in the water. Google "HLLE" and you will find pages to read. Bottom line is go with a good medication...spare the voodoo remedies. If you catch it early and treat it the fish should be fine as it ages.
Here's a close up shot of my girly Rocky. She lived 18 years.
Believe it or not....she's alive here.
She spent most of her last years laying like this.
Here's a close up shot of my girly Rocky. She lived 18 years.
Believe it or not....she's alive here.
She spent most of her last years laying like this.
I agree. I recently had to treat a gold sev for hlle because he decided he liked the bichir food better than what he should have been eating. Water parameters were good, it was all diet (not saying that's the case here). Treated as said with metrodiazinol and healed up (still scarred obviously). With him already heving it now, I would try to keep nitrates lower than 20 at ANY time.
I know i can not prove this of course but i really do think HITH comes from the parents { one or both being a victim of HITH..etc ..when you bring that little guy home i believe he was already carrying this disease.. ..it just comes out later.. i do not believe it is their diet or the water {as long as they are kept up to par} i think it happens as the fish matures.. so stop blaming yourself ..i doubt very much that a fish in this beautiful condition could have any thing happen to it because of you..except for the HITH it is gleeming and stunning and his health just glares back at you.. i am sorry for this occurence to this beautiful fish and i wish you the best that you will be able to stop it in its tracks.. it will take a long time and lots of patience but he is so worth it.. i wish you the best.I have been trying to cure this guy for 2 years now... he is very healthy and i believe he is under control but time will tell.. you can see his spots in this older picture.
I really appreciate the help. I moved the guy (with filter and heater) to a 25-gallon Rubbermaid because I'm using my 20g quarantine tank for a new fish. I don't have access to pure metronidazole locally but started Jungle Parasite Clear tablets today (a combo of metronidazole and praziquantal).
I'm pretty bummed because I was planning on finding a home for this fish in the next month or so, but I'm not sure anyone will take him now that he has HITH. He's still eating and acting fine so as long as he stays happy, I'll keep treating and hope for the best.
I'm pretty bummed because I was planning on finding a home for this fish in the next month or so, but I'm not sure anyone will take him now that he has HITH. He's still eating and acting fine so as long as he stays happy, I'll keep treating and hope for the best.
Natalie;1397475; said:
They will cover over and become harder and harder to see.. thats a beautiful fish i hope it heals up good. let us know!
The erosion will stop. If the pits get too deep then it will have bad scars. The smaller ones will close a little.
I got a free Oscar that is in remission. Its a little little guy about 10 inches, that is fully grown. I can post some pictures tomorrow of how he has healed. He is pretty good at posing.
I got a free Oscar that is in remission. Its a little little guy about 10 inches, that is fully grown. I can post some pictures tomorrow of how he has healed. He is pretty good at posing.
