My female Kribensis seems to have HITH.
I've had her for about a year, she was half of a mated, breeding pair, but I lost my male to secondary infection after they went through a messy "divorce and custody battle" when I cleaned the tank while they had free-swimming fry (I do a weekly 25% water change) about 4 months ago.
My female was initially a bit subdued after this, but was soon back to normal. About 3 months ago, she suddenly was pale, with stress bars showing. The tank was unheated at that time and a bit cool (70F), so I plugged the heater in and brought it up to 79F, and she seemed to get better.
About 2 months ago, I added a new mate for her (after QTing him). He was a nice juvenile male, about an inch long (she's full grown at 2" long). She initially beat on him, but then they seemed to pair up.
Suddenly, a month ago, she started failing. Always hiding and bottom sitting, and again pale with stress bars showing. I noticed two missing scales on her side, and some pitting around her head/face. No other signs of injury or disease - fins look great, no redness or white spots on the body or anything.
My water quality is perfect and stable (ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 5-10, ph 7-7.2). All the other fish are fine. I treated the tank with prazipro ('cause it can't hurt!), then with erythromycin (as I had a stubborn case of BGA and it's a planted tank). No change in my female.
I've been reading up, and it seems that HITH (which it sounds like she has) is sometimes caused by hexamita. I also read that the way to treat this is with metronidozole-soaked food.
Here's the problem - she's stopped eating.
Is there anything I can do? I hate watching her slowly waste away, especially when she was such a beautiful fish
I've had her for about a year, she was half of a mated, breeding pair, but I lost my male to secondary infection after they went through a messy "divorce and custody battle" when I cleaned the tank while they had free-swimming fry (I do a weekly 25% water change) about 4 months ago.
My female was initially a bit subdued after this, but was soon back to normal. About 3 months ago, she suddenly was pale, with stress bars showing. The tank was unheated at that time and a bit cool (70F), so I plugged the heater in and brought it up to 79F, and she seemed to get better.
About 2 months ago, I added a new mate for her (after QTing him). He was a nice juvenile male, about an inch long (she's full grown at 2" long). She initially beat on him, but then they seemed to pair up.
Suddenly, a month ago, she started failing. Always hiding and bottom sitting, and again pale with stress bars showing. I noticed two missing scales on her side, and some pitting around her head/face. No other signs of injury or disease - fins look great, no redness or white spots on the body or anything.
My water quality is perfect and stable (ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 5-10, ph 7-7.2). All the other fish are fine. I treated the tank with prazipro ('cause it can't hurt!), then with erythromycin (as I had a stubborn case of BGA and it's a planted tank). No change in my female.
I've been reading up, and it seems that HITH (which it sounds like she has) is sometimes caused by hexamita. I also read that the way to treat this is with metronidozole-soaked food.
Here's the problem - she's stopped eating.
Is there anything I can do? I hate watching her slowly waste away, especially when she was such a beautiful fish
