Hexamita, help!– 10/5/08
hey,
<Ave,>
i have a 100 gallon (US) tank with 4 juvenile jewel cichlids, 4 juvenile tiger Oscars and 2 Plecos. i have two internal power filters, filtering approximately 500 gallons an hour, as well as a thermostat heating system maintaining temperature at a constant 25 Celsius. I
noticed a pair of my Oscars getting lazy and just kind of leaning by themselves up against the corner of the tank. I noticed their poop had turned a greyish white and researched that a primary cause of that would be internal parasites.
<Can be; does rather vary with the parasite!>
Unfortunately in India, where i reside, we don't have the full barrage of fish medication available so i took a metronidazole tablet meant to be taken thrice a day by a human adult powdered it and let it loose in the tank in the hope it would treat the fish. Any suggestions or Advice?
<Should work, assuming the concentration is appropriate (7 mg/l according to Andrews, Exell and Carrington (1988), potentially several times, repeating every other day, with a 25% water change in between). Do also see here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/metranidazole.htm
>
thank you,
Kaustuv
<Cheers, Neale.>

Ulcers on angelfish, FW    8/12/08
The issue in question is currently isolated to my 29 gallon tank. The tank is about 19 months old and decorated with driftwood and a few live plants including Corkscrew Val's, Ludwigia, Anubias, and Amazon Swords. Despite the presence of plants it is by no means a "planted" tank. The lights are controlled by a digital timer. Filtration is provided by an Eheim Ecco 2232 loaded with coarse and fine filter pads as well as Substrat Pro Bio Media. The water is also passed through Current's 8 watt Gamma UV filter fitted with a Mini Jet 606 pump. The water parameters are consistently 0, 0, and 20 ppm for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate respectively. Inhabitants include 3 angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) and two Keyhole cichlids. They are feed a variety of quality foods including flake, pellet, and freeze dried worms.
<All sounds dandy.>
The infected fish is the most recent addition, the third angelfish. This fish was first quarantined for two weeks with no signs of disease. It had been in the 29 gallon tank for about four weeks before the symptoms were first observed. It may be important to point out that this fish is not being bullied, and has always been able to eat it fair share. All other fish have not thus far and have never displayed any symptoms of disease. As far as I'm concerned they have always been in excellent health.
<OK.>
The first observations of symptoms on this fish were white patches randomly covering the body. These observations were made after a two night vacation. Some were on the right caudal peduncle, one at the base of the caudal fin, another at the tip of an anal fin spine, one spot on the each side's gill cover, and the last just above his mouth. I immediately treated with API Fungus Cure. At the end of the recommended treatment period most white patches were clearing so I continued treatment with Pimafix. At this point I noticed that the white patches left holes or ulcers on each gill cover and the spot just above the mouth. These ulcers are not bleeding or leaking anything, and are not remarkable other than just being present. After this I also added Melafix to prevent possible secondary infection, and to utilize any healing effects that the added Aloe may provide. I also started feeding the only medicated food I had which contains sodium sulfathiazole and Nitrofurazone.
<There's really two things that spring to mind: Finrot (or something similar) or Hexamita. Now, Finrot is almost always associated with water quality, but in this instance that doesn't seem likely. Your tank sounds well maintained, though I'd argue a trifle overstocked for five cichlids of moderate size. But your nitrate level is low and the ammonia/nitrite levels are zero, so that's probably not an issue. Physical damage is the other common cause of Finrot, whether through transportation (careless netting especially) or fighting. Angelfish *are* territorial, and I've not seen many trios work in small tanks. On the whole Angelfish work either as singletons, mated pairs, or groups of 6+. Three specimens is a funny number, because you could easily have a pair who resent the newcomer. Angelfish are impossible to sex outside of spawning (and even then they make mistakes themselves!) so this one is difficult to confirm either way. But I would definitely observe their social behaviour. Things like fin flicking and chasing are typical signs of aggression. Angelfish sometimes even make audible croaks when they're being threatening. Next up, Hexamita, a protozoan probably latent in many cichlids but only problematic if conditions deteriorate in some way. Because this is a slow-acting disease, the fish could have developed sickness at the retailer, and only now are the problems manifesting themselves regardless of how well you're caring for them. Hexamita does at least two different things. Firstly it messes up the digestive tract, leading to the classic white stringy faeces, or it causes pits to appear on the face and body (the symptoms known as "Hole in the Head"). Treatment of Hexamita is difficult, but Metronidazole added daily at 250 mg per 10 US gallons for at least 3 days is the standard therapy. Medicated foods work even better if the fish is eating. Now, I have to admit neither Finrot nor Hexamita seems to fit 100% the symptoms you describe; photos would help.>
Does it seem like I really have this under control?
<Difficult without confirmation of the sickness.>
Can I do anything further to heal these open ulcers and how long can I expect this to heal?
<You should certainly be treating for Finrot/Fungus if only to prevent secondary infections. In the US Maracyn seems to be the drug of choice for this; in Europe I recommend eSHa 2000. Pimafix/Melafix are largely useless and at best unreliable.>
Lastly, what am I dealing with here?
<Not sure.>
I feel Hole in the Head disease just doesn't seem to fit here.
<Agreed, but certainly worth considering.>
Certainly pictures I've seen don't seem to match, whereas HITH seems to form pits these are open wounds or ulcers.
<One possible alternative is "Discus Plague", a nebulous collection of symptoms with no obvious cause and no agreed treatment. It sometimes affects Angels, particularly commercially bred ones rather than wild-caught ones. I don't think is is likely, but I'm putting it out there for your consideration and research.>
Thank you for your time.
<Cheers, Neale.>