Can you help me ID this problem?
- Thread starter MrSugarBear
- Start date
Thank you all. I got caught up in the "catching up" post vacation and didn't visit here the past two days.
The lump in the head did indeed erupt on her overnight last night and has moved inside out as the three of you thought. She still has great color and appetite so I am hopeful for a recovery even at this seemly late stage.
I'll have to read up more on this HITH ailment later tonight and thank you greatly for the helpful responses.
The lump in the head did indeed erupt on her overnight last night and has moved inside out as the three of you thought. She still has great color and appetite so I am hopeful for a recovery even at this seemly late stage.
I'll have to read up more on this HITH ailment later tonight and thank you greatly for the helpful responses.
actually easy enough to fix.. treat tank with metronidazole..I would do a 25% wc then treat..leave the metro in for 24-48 hrs then change water.
find a good flake food or other good food.
there is quite a bit of discussion re HITH/HLLE. some believe diet is the sole source of the issue other feel that protozoa (internal) affect the ability to absorb food(nutrients).. either way metro should kill the parasite if it is the cause and clean water and good food are paramount in fish keeping .
btw if you cannot find metro specific you can use any med like jungle parasite clear.(had metro and prazi)
find a good flake food or other good food.
there is quite a bit of discussion re HITH/HLLE. some believe diet is the sole source of the issue other feel that protozoa (internal) affect the ability to absorb food(nutrients).. either way metro should kill the parasite if it is the cause and clean water and good food are paramount in fish keeping .
btw if you cannot find metro specific you can use any med like jungle parasite clear.(had metro and prazi)
It definitely appears to be HITH. All of the articles that I have read say that the cause is poor water quality, but I'm at a loss on that one. Due to the tank housing discus I have always done a 50% WC weekly using use RO/DI water and I clean any heavy muck out of the filters then as well. My water always tests at perfect with no ammonia or nitrite. All my fish seem quite happy and thrive. My tank is heavily planted with live plants and the only time that it has been "dirty" is when I changed the aquascape and stirred up some of the goodies from the substrate.
As has already been mentioned, some claim that food is the source. I only feed Tetra Bits/Flakes, OSI Shrimp pellets, and Hikari frozen blood worms and never live food. It would be a further relief if I was able to determine what source of the trouble is, but it seems like I might have to live with a mystery. I would however welcome any counsel on alternatives to my feeding regimen since that seems like the most likely source to me.
New Questions:
1) I looked up metronidazole, but was unable to clearly determine if it is safe for planted tanks. Can someone answer that one?
2) If it is safe for planted tanks should I just go ahead and move the ram back to the main tank for the treatment cycle?
Thanks again for all of your help! I can't tell you what a relief it has been to receive your valuable info especially after searching via google proved so inconclusive.
As has already been mentioned, some claim that food is the source. I only feed Tetra Bits/Flakes, OSI Shrimp pellets, and Hikari frozen blood worms and never live food. It would be a further relief if I was able to determine what source of the trouble is, but it seems like I might have to live with a mystery. I would however welcome any counsel on alternatives to my feeding regimen since that seems like the most likely source to me.
New Questions:
1) I looked up metronidazole, but was unable to clearly determine if it is safe for planted tanks. Can someone answer that one?
2) If it is safe for planted tanks should I just go ahead and move the ram back to the main tank for the treatment cycle?
Thanks again for all of your help! I can't tell you what a relief it has been to receive your valuable info especially after searching via google proved so inconclusive.
Well 48hrs after beginning treatment with Jungle Parasite Clear our ram is looking much better. I'm doing a WC and then starting the second leg of the treatment, but so far so good. Thanks for the info!
