hexamita ulceration

[oenology]

Has anyone had successful healing of lateral line ulceration caused by hexamitosis? I've treated with metronidazol of over 10 days now and the fish is active and eating well but the leisons don't seem to be healing. In fact they seem to be getting wider.

[Julie]

I've never had a fish with hith; but I have read that earthworms or earthworm flake is an effective treatment.

[BigDaddy]

I had one ram that had hole in the head recently.

Dosing with metro at the recommended levels cleared up the pockets in his head rather quickly.

I think the garlic laced diet probably helped too...

[oenology]

I had an esterae with the 'white pimple on the forehead' stage and that has cleared. But this other fish has it along the lateral line and it's not responding to treatment. I really looking to see if I should sacrifice it (although at the moment it is behaving just fine), keep on treating or wait and see. At the present moment I'm tking the wait and see approach since I just did a water change and don't want to reload the water with medication again. BTY, there's breeding action with a pair of fronts going on at this very moment! First time! She should be spitting just about the time I leave for France  :?  if she holds...

[dpatte]

could the vet in the house please explain the disease of hole-in-the-head disease? I had some buffaloheads that seem to have gotten it,  though I seem to be passed the problem now, but I dont understand it - is it a virus or parasite or what.

[BigDaddy]

Haha... .oenology IS the vet.

From everything I have read (which has been extensive since I keep cichlids prone to it)... no one really knows for sure.  I know it isn't the answer you are looking for, but its the true.

There are currently a few arguements.... but as of lately, last I checked, water quality/husbandry has been the leading factor.

Now, in my case... my most recent experience seems to support that cause.

I had some new ram additions, and it was slightly overcrowded.  All the rams were getting a little stressed, but one in particular I noticed getting the "pimples" on the top of his head.

I removed him (out of a batch of into a hospital tank.  I dosed a single dose of Metro (didn't follow up having forgotten to/busy).  Within days, in his own tank with no aggressors and primary access to available food, he was fine.

The other 7 fish (still aggressive amongst themselves) never showed signs, even though there are daily challenges in the tank.

If hex was a primary cause of HLLE, then I would think the other 7 fish would have displayed symptoms of some type... a single fish removed from a community of 8 doesn't have a huge impact on husbandry/water quality or aggressiveness among tank mates.

[BigDaddy]

PS - I like this article.... very well rounded

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/spironucleus.php