HITH

[artemis1]

Theoretically, HITH/HLLE strikes weakened parts of the fish (lateral line, sensory pores). When the fish is stressed, these are weakened to a further point in which they will deteriorate, whether hexamita, or whatever caused it.

Now this is just my theory.

Therefore, you must find the cause of stress- poor water quality, bad diet, etc.

And stop it.

 

[artemis1]

Oh, and by the way. HLLE and HITH may just be two different things that will occur together in fish. I have never seen an oscar with an eroded lateral line. This may be because the lateral line is well covered, so that is not a stress point.

Sorry, this is all gibberesh...

 

[quintas14]

Hikari excel, meal worms and 50% water cahnges every 4-5 days should keep hith away, and if it`s already there then metranidazol ( 200mg per 100g food) soak the food for an hour or so then feed and store the rest for later feeds. Also still 50% wc every 4-5 days. If however it`s really bad then you`ll need to treat the water which should be 100 - 200mg per 10 gallons of water every day for 10 - 14 days with 50% water change before dosing.
Then you can think of soaking the food in either disolved human multi vitamins or human liquid vitamins ( however liquid vitamins are never as complete as tablet ).
Sunlight is good for producing natural vitamin d, so you can put the fish in a bucket with tank water and put it outside ( if it`s warm ) and the natural sunlight will help, but make sure the fish doesn`t jump out.
Nothing can make up for bad water quality and poor filtration though so make sure these two things are top priority..

This isn`t gospel or anything but it`s always worked for me, even if i`ve bought a fish that already has it these steps have worked..

Good luck

 

[artemis1]

Metridonazale is a waste of money, IMO.

 

[quintas14]

That isn`t an overly productive answer really.
Do you have any reasons for thinking the way you do?

 

[cichlid2006]

feed a staple quality pellet in the morning and if you want feed frozen at night. mine get tetra prima (pellets), frozen bloodworm and cichlid mix and they have a constant supply of palatable plants.
i hadnt heard of HITH till i started going on american forums and the most common factor, next to poor water, seems to be a bad diet such as feeders/beefheart as a staple. which is why its less common here in the uk as feeders are rarely used or spoken of and beefheart seems to be mainly a discus growth food/treat.

 

[artemis1]

That isn`t an overly productive answer really.
Do you have any reasons for thinking the way you do?

Clean water is all you need for basic HITH. Metradonizole sometimes requires a prescription. Metronidazole and dimetridazole are only helpful in very severe cases of HITH. Basic cases, like this one, do not require any medication. Clean water, healthier diet, stress-free environment is all you need.

Don't get me wrong, in some cases metronidazole can be very helpful, if the cases is severe and perhaps a secondary infection occurs, slimy trailings are visible or something or another.

Art

 

[quintas14]

Metridonazale is a waste of money, IMO.

So exactly the same as i said then..

Not trying to argue but if his problem does get worse my post will help him in deciding what course of action to take, where as if he reads your post he might not bother with it atall and the fish may just get worse till it dies....

 

[craig_uk]

Clean water is all you need for basic HITH.

Agreed. Clean water will cure most diseases in time.

I do disagree on the blood worm thing though, i like to feed bigger fish smaller foods every so often. i consider it enrichment. The fish get to sift through the substrate, pick through plants etc. Keeps them acting like fish, not glass banging puppy dogs. just my 2 cents.

Craggy

 

[artemis1]

So exactly the same as i said then..

Not trying to argue but if his problem does get worse my post will help him in deciding what course of action to take, where as if he reads your post he might not bother with it atall and the fish may just get worse till it dies....

If he simply treats it with clean water it won't get worse.