Hap with sunken belly

[Steve]

Got an issue with one of my haps that I could use some input on so I can hopefully get him on the road to recovery. For the past 10 days or so I've noticed he has been getting more and more of a sunken belly on him and his color is not what it use to be. I've been watching when I feed them and he takes the food, but he spits back out any pellets and styx. The only thing he keep in him is flake food but you can't get enough flake food in him to fatten him back up.

No real signs of ich or anything else. All the rest of the fish in the tank act fine and look normal so I'm not really sure what to do at this point. Any suggestions?

[Regalblue]

Do you have any metro flakes?

[Steve]

No metro flakes, I do have two tubes of metronidazole powder though. Could I soak some flakes in the metro that way?

[Regalblue]

Yes, sir!

[Steve]

Okay cool. I've never done that before though so about how much metro should I mix in with say half a cup of water, and how long should I soak the flakes?

[Regalblue]

Okay cool. I've never done that before though so about how much metro should I mix in with say half a cup of water, and how long should I soak the flakes?

follow the directions on the meds.  I'm not sure, because I buy it already infused.

[Steve]

Looking at the tube it says "To feed- blend 1 measure with about 1 tablespoon of frozen food paste" ....So I'm guessing maybe just mix up 1 measure with 1 tablespoon of flakes in a little water would be about equal maybe? 

[Motorcity7.3]

Steve,I've got metro flake,your more then welcome to have some.
Are you going to around the downriver area this week?

[Steve]

I should be good with soaking it I think. Thanks for the offer though.

[Steve]

Started treating today, Soaked some food plus added metro to the tank. We'll see how it goes and report back.

[Marty]

Do you have him in a separate tank?  Sometimes it's more effective to have a fish that's not getting enough food or sick in a quarantine tank to reduce competition for food, and if the tank is smaller you end up using less medicine.

[Steve]

He's still in the 55g right now with the others, if he doesn't start to get better soon I think I will move him to a 20g q-tank and see if I can get him fixed up.

[Steve]

Just wanted to update this....


It was for sure Ich. White spots showed up on him a few days later. odd thing was he was the only fish n the tank of 12 fish to show ich, which seemed odd. But I trested the tank with 86f heat and salt for 10 days )still treating for 4 more) and now the spots on him are gone, his color is coming back, and he's eating and keeping food down. Seems he's gonna be okay.

[Regalblue]

The ich was probably secondary.  Good to hear that you got it under control.

[Mastiffman]

Just wanted to update this....


It was for sure Ich. White spots showed up on him a few days later. odd thing was he was the only fish n the tank of 12 fish to show ich, which seemed odd. But I trested the tank with 86f heat and salt for 10 days )still treating for 4 more) and now the spots on him are gone, his color is coming back, and he's eating and keeping food down. Seems he's gonna be okay.

 Good to hear. So being that hexamita is the most commonly found issue with Africans, Wild and Tank raised, the metro bath was most likely what did it!?

 Very good to hear! Pet station (now tail fin) could have used this method a few times. I remember they used to always have Africans with sunken bellies swimming with a wobble. They would always say "oh it's because we don't feed them much when we get them if they are going to be sold quickly"...?

The ich was probably secondary.  Good to hear that you got it under control.

 I agree with you here. Although the Ick parasite is not in every tank, it can pop under times of heavy stress in those that may have a couple floating around. but it's an easy fix. Just glad I haven't seen it in about 15+ years.