Red Spotted Severum

[kewpiefishypewpie]

Hello all, my red spotted severum has me confused. The poor thing is losing weight and looks like it's peeling? Behaving normally and eating though. I took the best pics I could on my phone. Let me know what you guys think?

75 gallon grow out tank
Water parameters are in check: ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 10ppm
All other tank mates are fine

See the vertical streaks? That's all over him, it looks like peeling. Sorry about crappy pic

 

[Woefulrelic]

Got any better pics of the fish?

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

I don't think my phone is capable of getting a better picture, I tried. Ever hear of anything like I described?

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

 

[Woefulrelic]

It looks like normal Heros stress bars. It's just rare to see them so prominently on a red severum. It looks like some green hybrid its kinda tripping me out, but I have a limited sample size with these. An example of what they look like on some other species.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

The weight loss is what's troubling me, it's more than just the vertical bars. It's red is fading to gold and white

 

[Woefulrelic]

I'm not really a diagnostic expert, but I'm guessing it's just so emaciated the bars show. IP would be my first guess, hexamita would be my second. RD. and Charney could help you more than I. For internal parasites prazipro can be effective, and hex you can use NLS hex shield if he is still eating.

 

[Charney]

looking at his head he looks very skinny. I would treat for IP as well.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

looking at his head he looks very skinny. I would treat for IP as well.

He's very skinny, that's my concern. Still eating normally though, you would still recommend treating for an internal parasite despite good appetite? I have some prazipro I can use. One problem I've had with this guy since day one is he only eats flakes. Perhaps I can mash up the pellets until he eats them.

 

[Woefulrelic]

He's very skinny, that's my concern. Still eating normally though, you would still recommend treating for an internal parasite despite good appetite? I have some prazipro I can use. One problem I've had with this guy since day one is he only eats flakes. Perhaps I can mash up the pellets until he eats them.

IP are by far the most likely reason a fish can eat and not gain weight. The IP just take over, the more the fish eat the more the IP have to consume. Prazi is very low risk and I don't hesitate to add it to my ray system, I'd start it as per bottle directions. I believe epsom salts soaked flakes could help as well, though I'm not certain.