My GTs not eaten for 2 months :(

[Blu-ray]

Hi there,
I have a pair of Green Terrors about 6 to 8" long in a 40g tank. I didn't change anything, diet, water change schedule, etc. even didn't introduce any fish or decoration to the tank but about 2 months ago they stopped eating. their diet was Hikari cichlid bio-gold+ and some Tetra and Sera foods.
signs of disease are like Hexamita, not eating and white feces stuck to the fish for a long time. their behavior is normal.
now its 2 months since they stopped eating. I mean they have not eaten ANYTHING even blood worm that is favorite of all fish.

I have tried various treatments:

Metronidazole
Tetra Hexa-Ex
Praziquantel
sera med Professional Flagellol

but no positive results.
a friend of mine works as a breeder and hes dealt with thousands of green terrors. I called him and he said he always treat this problem with OxyTetraCycline medicine. IMO its an antibiotic and shouldn't have something to do with this intestine problem but as hes very experienced and I have no other choice I got the medicine and will use it today.

also another friend told me that once he didn't get any result with usual treatments as a final attempt he injected Metronidazole straight to the fish's intestine ( of course he knew how to do that ) and they healed up. I hope I won't get into that level!

any idea about this disease?
attached an older shot of them, females got a hollow belly now but male still looks perfect.

 

[Lupin]

I'm not sure I'd consider the bulging stomach 'hollow'. What makes you say that? Perhaps they are eating behind your back? Most fish are often known to do that. If both have not eaten for two months, they would have appeared very thin by now. Have you tried garlic to tempt them to eat?

 

[Blu-ray]

sorry that was the best I could say in english by hollow I meant an empty stomach, a thin stomach, a concave stomach as a result of not getting any food in a long time.
I'm sure the female has not eaten anything in this 2 months, I'm very accurate in monitoring my fish. her body doesn't look that thin only the stomach. before the disease she had got fat because her belly was full of eggs and she had not laid for a few months. I think during this 2 months shes used those extra fat.

the male showed signs of improvement after 2 weeks of treatment with metronidazole, he started taking a little food and in a week he was eating very good but suddenly again the signs of disease came back, white poo and he stopped eating. now its a month that hes not eaten. he still looks normal even the head hump is the same.

I've not tried garlic. I have offered them any food that I have ( hikari, tetra, sera ) they just ignore. even won't take bloodworms. they come to me to get food but as soon as I throw in the food they start acting like "I'm not hungry anymore". seems theres a serious case of internal problem that they can't even taste the food.

 

[tcarswell]

Best of luck !,those fish are beautiful. If it were me i would definitely follow the breeders advice. I am surprised the other medicines didn't work. Did you remove your carbon filters ?

 

[dravesef]

well best of luck to you on fixing the problem, what is your water temp? i've had real picky fish that would not eat if it was real real hot in the tank like 85 plus(heater went out of control). i fixed the heater temp came down and they ate again.

 

[Blu-ray]

Thanks for your comments guys.
theres no carbon filter in the tank and theres no problem with the temp, its around 80-82 like before.

well I did the oxytetracycline treatment and now 48 hours passed but no improvement. I'm getting disappointed

I've used praziquantel to kill possible flatworms ( cestodes and trematodes ) and it didn't work, theres another medicine called Mebendazole, it kills roundworms ( nematodes ). I'm gonna try it too.
I think these meds are harmfull to fish's liver and other organs but I have no choice.

 

[Irbanjaxed]

mine eat behind my back all the time i dont think theres anything to worry about they look way to good to be sick imo

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

if you are thinking it is worms (based on treatments used) then try using Levamisole if you are able to acquire some.