Apistogramma with possible hole in the head disease?

Dear all,

Today I noticed that my apistogramma cacatuoides male has developed a white spot on his head between the eyes. He's looking rather lethargic and is spending most of his time at the bottom of the tank. Also his mouth is in a half open position all the time. I've never encountered this issue before. Does this sound like hole in the head disease? I need to have a diagnosis before I can treat him.

If it is indeed hole in the head disease would flagellex work?

Thanks so much for helping out.

Cheers

 

Dear all,

Today I noticed that my apistogramma cacatuoides male has developed a white spot on his head between the eyes. He's looking rather lethargic and is spending most of his time at the bottom of the tank. Also his mouth is in a half open position all the time. I've never encountered this issue before. Does this sound like hole in the head disease? I need to have a diagnosis before I can treat him.

If it is indeed hole in the head disease would flagellex work?

Thanks so much for helping out.

CheersView attachment 639419

I use API erythromycin, API general cure, and ich-x with all of my fish. General cure will take care of hole in head disease. You can get both API products from your local petsmart. I wouldn’t worry about the ich-x since that’s not your issue, from my understanding that does indeed look like hole in the head. Best of luck for you and your fish!

 

Hey thanks for the reply! I'm from the Netherlands and it's almost impossible to get antibiotics here without a doctors recipe. I've bought flagellex, which is actually available from fish stores and on the package it says it's for hole in the head disease.

One more question: he's in a community tank with 2 female apisto's and a bunch of other fish. I would prefer to not treat the entire tank so I'll move him to a quarantaine tank. Should I move the females with him and treat them even though they don't show any symptoms? Since this is mainly a ciclid disease I'm reluctant to treat all my fish with it.

Cheers and thanks again

 

That sucks to hear about your restrictions, I would move all your apistos to a QT tank just in case. I would hate to hear he does fine then one of the females gets it. Even though he’s sick he still looks beautiful! Best of luck!

 

Good luck.
I got that hith in my tank from a apisto as well.
I didn't have any success treating it.

I'de like to hear what you do, if you can tx it successfully.

 

Just for some extra info and a better understanding here’s a link explaining what HITH is as well as how it’s contracted. If you have access I would does API slime coat to help relieve some stress from transportation and disease.

Treat and prevent hole in the head or hexamita disease | Velda

 

Actually Epsom Salts is an alternative treatment to using Metronidazole.
Treating Hexamita aka Spironucleus

Not sure about Flagallex, not much info in english, but it says it deals with holes in the head.

To me, holes are a secondary symptom of Hexamita or a symptom brought on by sub par water conditions. In the latter case, the remedy is to improve water conditions and diet. For Hex, you'll want to treat the Spironucleus parasite.

So if you treat your fish outside the tank, I would also treat all the apistos. I would also suggest some supplementary vitamins. Boyd Vitachem is the best, you can dose the water or the food before feeding.

 

Thank you for your responses! I'm giving him mostly flakes and frozen foods and sometimes when I put cucumber or other vegetables in the tank I'll see him pick on some of that too. I think it's a pretty varied diet. I'll move the females in the quarantaine tank too and just hope this med works for me. If it doesn't work I can try the salt method but since I already paid 20 euro's on the medication it better work!!! x)

thanks! And I'll keep you guys updated.