Managuense + HITH = Sad fish and human

[jagermonger]

I've read articles pertaining to hole-in-the-head being a nutrient deficiency; however, I need additional help. I have a managuense cichlid who seems to be plagued with this condition.

The problem I'm having is that I feed him a variety of high quality foods with the staple of his diet consisting of Hikari Cichlid Bio-Gold pellets and he still continues to experience HITH. I have; however, fed him feeders ONCE but they were just female guppies several months ago. In addition to the pellets, I feed him frozen blood worms, crickets, freeze dried shrimp, and the occasional frozen beef heart. On to water chemistry.

I perform 50% water changes every 5 days to supplement the canister filter that provides chemical, biological, and mechanical filtration. Oh, and the jaguar lives alone in an 80 gallon aquarium.

I read somewhere that carbon may cause HITH; however, I'm reluctant to break down the canister filter and remove the chemical portion of my filter. Also, I have not tried using any sort of medication because I am paranoid about killing off my beneficial bacteria and over-dosing, etc.

I appreciate any suggestions / help anyone can give me.

Thanks!

 

[Deaths Sting]

I've read articles pertaining to hole-in-the-head being a nutrient deficiency; however, I need additional help. I have a managuense cichlid who seems to be plagued with this condition.

The problem I'm having is that I feed him a variety of high quality foods with the staple of his diet consisting of Hikari Cichlid Bio-Gold pellets and he still continues to experience HITH. I have; however, fed him feeders ONCE but they were just female guppies several months ago. In addition to the pellets, I feed him frozen blood worms, crickets, freeze dried shrimp, and the occasional frozen beef heart. On to water chemistry.

I perform 50% water changes every 5 days to supplement the canister filter that provides chemical, biological, and mechanical filtration. Oh, and the jaguar lives alone in an 80 gallon aquarium.

I read somewhere that carbon may cause HITH; however, I'm reluctant to break down the canister filter and remove the chemical portion of my filter. Also, I have not tried using any sort of medication because I am paranoid about killing off my beneficial bacteria and over-dosing, etc.

I appreciate any suggestions / help anyone can give me.

Thanks!

Some people feel that the carbon may remove some of the beneficial minerals found in the water leading to an increased incidence in the disease. At the same time, the mineral imbalance may be caused by an increase in Hexamita organisms in the intestine, which may lead to malabsorption and a decrease in the absorption of the needed vitamins and minerals.

u can try Metro+, but having a varied diet of fresh/frozen fish and even vegetables will help a lot!

 

[jagermonger]

Thanks for the reply.

So it seems that the jury is still out as to whether or not carbon contributes to HITH. Hmm.

I remember, a long time ago, that there was a liquid multi vitamin for fish called "sera" or something like that. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find anymore information on it but some people recommend using a human liquid multivitamin supplement and soaking the fish's pellets in the concoction, what are your ideas on that?

 

[EVAN YUNCK]

IVE BEEN USING CARBON FOR EVER IVE ONLY HAD 1 FISH THAT HAS EVER HAD HLLE, AND HE CAME WITH IT. MY LFS HAS EVERY PRODUCT FROM SERA AND THEY MAKE THE BEST MEDS FOR HLLE,THERE IS NO CURE ONLY A WAY TO SUBSIDE THE PROB. I TRYED ALL THE STUFF OUT THERE ON MY HLLE OSCAR JUST SEEMED TO SLOW IT DOWN, DONT USE HUMAN VITMINS TRY KENT THEY MAKE A VITAMIN SUPLIMENT THAT GOES IN THE WATER CANT THINK OF THE NAME OF IT OR SENCE YOU FEED HIM QUALITY FOODS TRY USING THERE FRESHWATER ESCENTIALS TRACE ELEMENTS, DONT DITCH THE CARBON LIKE SOME WILL SUGEST, UNLESS YOUR MEDICATING.

 

[Ang]

Possible causes of HITH include:

Boring diet
Malnutrition
Stray Voltage
The parasite Heximita
Carbon in filters

again, some of these are theories, but all of them seem to be factors.

I dont believe your problem lies with diet. I believe you have that covered.

I would remove all the carbon from your filters. Carbon is completely unnesessary for an established aquarium. In Fact, it can actually MASK problems by covering up tell tale odors that would otherwise alert you to a problem. All carbon does is remove odors.

I would treat your tank with Metronidazole. The parasite Heximita is not always the cause, but in your case, it could be very likely.

I would also test your water for stray voltage. You would be astonished at how much stray voltage is actually found in most aquariums and this is one theory that hobbiests have in regards to HITH.

 

[OscartheGrouch]

Take out the carbon for a while and see how that goes. I don't use the stuff at all unless after I'm done medicating a tank. What kind of canister are you using?

 

[jagermonger]

Thanks for the replies all:

@Evan: I knew Sera had something but my LFS doesn't carry it, I think I will look for that freshwater essentials that you speak of. Who makes it?
@OscartheGrouch: I'm using the Rena XP3 canister filter. Tomorrow I'll remove the carbon and see how that goes.
@Ang: Hmm, stray voltage? Interesting. I guess I'll have to use someone's fluke voltmeter. I swear, if my ebo-jager heater is irritating him I'll flip my wig. Also, is there some other name of Metronidazole, like a brand name?

I appreciate the help everyone. He's a great fish and I'd REALLY like to keep him happy.

 

[EVAN YUNCK]

KENT MAKES THE TRACE ELEMENTS, CARBON DOES NOT CAUSE ANY HARM I WISH PEOPLE WOULD STOP SAYING THAT.

 

[Deaths Sting]

KENT MAKES THE TRACE ELEMENTS, CARBON DOES NOT CAUSE ANY HARM I WISH PEOPLE WOULD STOP SAYING THAT.

we can say whatever we want and so can u.... but... please learn to use the CAPS lock button button bro

 

[TwistedPenguin]

Have you ever once religiously kept your nitrates below 10 ppm for 6 months or longer? I'm not talking about assuming they're low but actually testing (with a liquid test tube kit) to make sure they're low? Just curious. People can shout carbon, hexamite, no UV & the ozone layer all they want. But it's a very rare fish that gets HITH with nitrates under 10 ppm.