Possible Parasite?

[hey_wood1981]

Day 2:

Fed twice today. 6 pellets soaked in salt at each feeding. He’s still eating everything, and very eager to eat. Not spitting anything out, or any food exiting through the gills. I’m wondering if I’m feeding enough?

After this morning’s feeding I noticed he was flashing more than I’d ever seen before. That stopped as the day went on. This evening he’s getting more red coloration back. He’s not swimming super fast back and forth up against the glass. Definitely seems more calm. He also isn’t clamping his pectoral fins as much as he has been previous to treatment. Also noticed quite a bit of colored feces on the substrate, but still white stringy poo right after feeding.

I did notice that the feces looks like it’s coming out in front of his anus. Perhaps this is normal, and I’m just noticing as I’m observing him extra closely? All and all I’m optimistic and think things are going well. All pics were taken after this morning’s feeding - 2nd time feeding salt soaked pellets.

 

[RD.]

Fed twice today. 6 pellets soaked in salt at each feeding. He’s still eating everything, and very eager to eat. Not spitting anything out, or any food exiting through the gills. I’m wondering if I’m feeding enough?

For a 3" fish, that should be plenty enough food/medication.

 

[hey_wood1981]

Day 3:

He’s still eating 6 pellets, twice daily without hesitation, and not spitting anything back out. Today, he jumped up out of the water just far enough to bite the spoon I use for feeding.
This morning he was extremely skittish as I approached the tank - after the room lights and tank light had been on for two hours. Swam around erratically and ran into the heater, filter intake and spray bar.
His overall coloration appears more dark today, but he still acts healthy in general.

I really want to get a light blue background, but I can’t find any in my area. Also, it’d probably be best to switch it out after the 5 day treatment is done, and he appears to be in better health.

 

[HybridFinatic]

Also looks like your flowerhorn has the fader gene.

 

[hey_wood1981]

Also looks like your flowerhorn has the fader gene.

Interesting. I thought it was a combo of dark substrate, background and being sick. He darkened up and got a lot of blue pearl about a week after I got him.
Here he is on day 1 in my tank.

 

[HybridFinatic]

Interesting. I thought it was a combo of dark substrate, background and being sick. He darkened up and got a lot of blue pearl about a week after I got him.
Here he is on day 1 in my tank.

View attachment 1486098

View attachment 1486099

Yeah that's what I originally thought as well. But in the recent pics he looks like a lot of the flowerhorn with the fader gene before they begin to fade. I've been accurate in calling it out in the past but I could always be wrong. Keep us updated.

 

[HybridFinatic]

Yeah that's what I originally thought as well. But in the recent pics he looks like a lot of the flowerhorn with the fader gene before they begin to fade. I've been accurate in calling it out in the past but I could always be wrong. Keep us updated.

Actually I'm almost certain he has the fader gene. It's just confusing timing because he would darken up either way because of the change to dark substrate and dark background. Give it a bit of time. You might not need to change your substrate and background at all if I'm right. A goldenbase fader flowerhorn would look good with the black background and substrate.

 

[RD.]

My FH shown above was on dark substrate, with black background. I think that OP's fish initial darkness was due to illness, nothing else. Could still be a fader tho, but either way I wouldn't worry to much about the background. All of my FH were kept in tanks with black backgrounds.

 

[TexasRanger]

Look familiar?

View attachment 1485819View attachment 1485820

View attachment 1485818

the first 2 picture is exactly what my FH look like, so soak the pellet with epson salt and feed him, that it ? what about water change..... temperture .... api general cure...... ???

 

[hey_wood1981]

Days 4 and 5:

Eating the soaked pellets with no issues. Now, after five days , his anus is still prolapsed. I’d say even more so no than before. Do I keep feeding the soaked pellets?

Also, if you look closely in the pics, I’m thinking he has HITH - tiny pin holes can be seen if pics are enlarged. Thoughts? If more pics are needed I can snap some more today.

For his next water change, should I keep adding salt? I’m going to do water changes every other day instead of one large weekly water change. He seems stressed out after latter water changes.