Need gar disease help. Calling gar experts.

[cichlaguapote]

Can someone tell me what is wrong with this gar? (the gashes/wounds on his head) Is it an external parasite or look more like an injury? Suggestions on treatment?

(already been doing high heat/salt treatment but not seeing enough results to convince me it's helping)

I've had him for two weeks. I either got him like this and didn't look close enough at him when I got him or he did this on the way home in the tub. Not really sure which. And not sure really where to start for a cure as I've never seen anything like it and admittedly don't know that much when it comes to gars.

Thanks in advance. Again hoping someone can give me an idea of how he might have been damaged like this and a good cure if there is one?


(Sorry for the dirty glass in second pic)

 

[Gar keeper]

Damn, I wish I could help. Am I wrong or is that like a small hole now?
I hope it's not related to what's up with my Gator Gar. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=227049

Are there 2 marks or is that just dirty glass in the 2nd pic?

The only thing I can tell you is that these fish are tough as shi* and very resistant to most illnesses. Don't give up hope yet, but keep us updated with pics and reports.

 

[xander]

Can someone tell me what is wrong with this gar? (the gashes/wounds on his head) Is it an external parasite or look more like an injury? Suggestions on treatment?

(already been doing high heat/salt treatment but not seeing enough results to convince me it's helping)

I've had him for two weeks. I either got him like this and didn't look close enough at him when I got him or he did this on the way home in the tub. Not really sure which. And not sure really where to start for a cure as I've never seen anything like it and admittedly don't know that much when it comes to gars.

Thanks in advance. Again hoping someone can give me an idea of how he might have been damaged like this and a good cure if there is one?


(Sorry for the dirty glass in second pic)

i don't have much experience with diseases when it comes to gar, but some basic pointers with gar are to use salt and bump temp, increase water changes too, do not use meds. pm e_americanus, polypterus or demjor, they're usually the only ones who would know what to do. or if you're feeling urgent and they don't reply, www.aquaticpredators.com, the gar forum might have something.

 

[cichlaguapote]

Damn, I wish I could help. Am I wrong or is that like a small hole now?
I hope it's not related to what's up with my Gator Gar. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=227049

Are there 2 marks or is that just dirty glass in the 2nd pic?

The only thing I can tell you is that these fish are tough as shi* and very resistant to most illnesses. Don't give up hope yet, but keep us updated with pics and reports.

Yeah I know they're tough but ideally would like those two spots to heal as quickly and as best as possible.

There are two gashs/spots/wounds. One is the left which you can see in the first pic. And the one on the right which is smaller you can see in the second pic though I know the water spots don't help.

I don't think this is anything to do with what is wrong with your fish Gar Keeper. I wouldn't even worry about your fish for now. It seems fine at least in comparison.

Xander: Already been dosing salt, high heat, and tanks already get lots of water changes. So thanks but it is time for the next step beyond the basics. I'll wait for E_Amer. or someone else to respond. It's not life threatening at this point. Just an issue that I'd like to fix. Though the part about not using meds is a help because I didn't know that was a rule with gar.

 

[xander]

that was the main point i wanted to put across as it's not a very well known thing

 

[E_americanus]

interesting case here and thanks for posting pics as they definitely help. i have seen some degradation in the head of gars before, but not as "deep" as these appear to be. we often see it with captive fish, and i have not yet seen it in any wild gars. it may be due to water quality at it's previous owner's place (Gar Keeper take note, this pertains to "keeping your gar tough in mediocre water quality...but that is a whole other post response) OR it may have picked up some bacterial infection.

either way, i would just treat with salt, raised water temp (82F), and increased water changes (i would double the frequency and change at least 50% of the water each time). another thing that seems to help similarly-looking lateral line erosion in lungfishes is adding vegetable matter to the diet. gator gars are basically garbage disposals and will eat just about anything. if you can get him to eat algae wafers this may help (i have had gators/tropicals, and the croc II eats them)...if not, feed some pellet food with spirulina in it along with other meaty components. New Life Spectrum makes a large "stable wafer" which gars seem to like (i currently feed those as part of the diet). i believe even massivore has spirulina, but possibly not as much as New Life.

We may have to wait and see how things progress. keep up with the basic treatments mentioned above, and try to get him to eat some veg matter. the problem to should begin to clear up, but keep us posted on its progress. good luck!--
--solomon

 

[cichlaguapote]

interesting case here and thanks for posting pics as they definitely help. i have seen some degradation in the head of gars before, but not as "deep" as these appear to be. we often see it with captive fish, and i have not yet seen it in any wild gars. it may be due to water quality at it's previous owner's place (Gar Keeper take note, this pertains to "keeping your gar tough in mediocre water quality...but that is a whole other post response) OR it may have picked up some bacterial infection.

either way, i would just treat with salt, raised water temp (82F), and increased water changes (i would double the frequency and change at least 50% of the water each time). another thing that seems to help similarly-looking lateral line erosion in lungfishes is adding vegetable matter to the diet. gator gars are basically garbage disposals and will eat just about anything. if you can get him to eat algae wafers this may help (i have had gators/tropicals, and the croc II eats them)...if not, feed some pellet food with spirulina in it along with other meaty components. New Life Spectrum makes a large "stable wafer" which gars seem to like (i currently feed those as part of the diet). i believe even massivore has spirulina, but possibly not as much as New Life.

We may have to wait and see how things progress. keep up with the basic treatments mentioned above, and try to get him to eat some veg matter. the problem to should begin to clear up, but keep us posted on its progress. good luck!--
--solomon

Wow so much good info! I will continue to treat with salt/raised temp(temp is currently about 84) and keep up the frequent large water changes he's already been getting. I was actually pretty sure it was a water quality issue or some sort of degeneration. When I got him he was in a tub and I merely checked to make sure he was there. Not overall condition. His nose was pretty chewed up(which I knew at the time and is currently almost healed 100%) but didn't know about these wounds. The only thing I know is that when I got him home two weeks ago he had these marks on his head right out of the tub as I went to add him to the tank.

I will also look for that NLS Stable Wafer starting tommorrow. Right now he's eating raw market shrimp but I would like to get him on a pellet/wafer to add to his diet if I can.

Solomon you're awesome and thanks for all the info! Xander thanks for the info you added as well.

 

[all_or_nothin]

is it hole in the head disease? doesnt quite look like it but the closest thing i can think of

 

[dpk2313]

Yeah I dont know much about gars but it does look like HITH to me

 

[Polypterus]

This is a bit of an unusual case. I've seen and treated many a gar with similar issues but never quite seen one like this. Can't add much more as Solomon covered the bases.

Do keep a running log on treatment and condition as this really is a bit different case. There is an additional treatment than can be used if the traditional Heat, salt and water change method (As well as additional diet material) does not stop or reduce the erosion. Above is safer though and tends to work 90% of the time.