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Hole in the Head Internal Heximita (Fish thin, not eating and wasting away)

Discussion in 'Fish Diseases & Cures' started by LemonDiscus, Aug 18, 2009.

  1. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Thread Starter Active Member

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    Internal Heximita is the bane of a Discus Keepers existence. In my experience over keeping Discus the past 2 years this disease has the highest morality rate and has been the cause of death for 90% of the discus I have lost.

    Other fish than Discus also do get it and have the same symptoms but it tends to be more common in Discus.

    Symptoms (many are related to Discus):
    White Stringy Poop
    Dark and Hiding
    Swims away from food not eating / Refuses to eat
    If it eats it spits it back out and grazes on the bottom
    Thinning of fish

    The thinning symptom is usually too late when you see this. Bone structure will begin to show.

    I go into this some because I have one Wild Heckel that has came down with this a few days ago and I treated it in the bucket with the HITH patient. It is today back in the bucket being treated again....

    Treatment
    Again Heximita is the cause (kind of like HITH although this is a debate of its own that should NOT be argued on this thread)... So treatment is again Metronidazole / Flagyl. Preferably getting the fish to EAT the medicine is the way to go BUT with a fish that is refusing to eat that could be VERY hard to do...

    Day 1 of re-treatment (morning)     This one has had 4 days of treatment again before this post..

    It has been in the bucket for over 12 hours now with the heater and a HOB filter to provide aeration like done with the HITH patient. Fish is alive still... I predict less than 5 days til it dies. I DONT expect it to live as I have had NO success at this stage bringing back a fish in this condition... But I will try, what have I got to loose?

    I also attempted medicating Live Blackworms and the fish is NOT eating them
     
    LemonDiscus, Aug 18, 2009
    #1
  2. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Thread Starter Active Member

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    I added 1 Tbsp of Epsom salt to the bucket in addition to help clean the fish out. Epsom salt works as a laxative for fish. 1-2 Tbsp per 10 gallons is the proper dose.
     
    LemonDiscus, Aug 18, 2009
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  3. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    confused...are you re-treating the fish that were just added back?
     
    MOD_Dawn, Aug 18, 2009
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  4. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Thread Starter Active Member

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    One of them... it was a side treatment with the one with HITH... this is NOT the one "featured" in the other thread... it was just mentioned as being in the bucket... If that makes any sense... if you read on day 2 I think it was I added another fish to the bucket with the one with HITH... its that one...

    Trust me... I know, its been crazy here with sick fish and pairing fish.... I had 2 sick fish... the one with HITH and one that was not eating... this is the one that was not eating... I did not really say much on this one while treating the one with HITH. I am trying to keep all of the postings clean and not mixing 2 fish in the same thread... so that is why I started this one for the other fish...
     
    LemonDiscus, Aug 18, 2009
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  5. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    oh, okay..following (now that you said the one that was not eating).
    Proceed. Lol! j/k
     
    MOD_Dawn, Aug 18, 2009
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  6. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Thread Starter Active Member

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    :) Yeah its been a mess at home... thank goodness Im on "vacation" :confused:
     
    LemonDiscus, Aug 18, 2009
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  7. KingKedros452

    KingKedros452 New Member

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    Can you give a discus an injection? Too thin?
     
    KingKedros452, Aug 19, 2009
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  8. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Thread Starter Active Member

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    an injection of what? The Metro? It needs to get into its digestive tract.
     
    LemonDiscus, Aug 19, 2009
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  9. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Thread Starter Active Member

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    Too thin... this particular specimen you can see its skeletal structure outside... its belly looks pinched and squeezed out.... this is a NASTY illness! I would not wish it upon my enemies fishes!
     
    LemonDiscus, Aug 19, 2009
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  10. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Thread Starter Active Member

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    Late day 2.... I fed it a feeding of Live Blackworms and they were gone from the bucket.... still I dont have much hope in it but I continue treatment...

    1 Tbsp Metro
    1 Tbsp Epsom Salt
     
    LemonDiscus, Aug 19, 2009
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  11. KingKedros452

    KingKedros452 New Member

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    If you can deworm a dog with an injection, maybe you can de-protazoa a fish? I was just taking fish care to the next level of craziness.
     
    KingKedros452, Aug 20, 2009
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  12. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Thread Starter Active Member

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    Wow! That is crazy.... It does make you wonder though.... :confused:

    Im not THAT crazy! :) But it does sound good in theory....
     
    LemonDiscus, Aug 20, 2009
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  13. cooltow1

    cooltow1 Member

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    they make an injectable form of Metronidazole


    METRONIDAZOLE INJECTION USP
    Usual dose:
    Note: Reliable dosing information is not available for the use of
    parenteral metronidazole in animals. However, for situations
    in which oral administration is not a viable option, injectable
    forms are used by following dosing regimens similar to oral
    dosage forms.
    Strength(s) usually available:
    U.S.—
    Veterinary-labeled product(s):
    Not commercially available.
    Human-labeled product(s):
    500 mg (base) per 100 mL (Rx) [GENERIC].
    Canada—
    Veterinary-labeled product(s):
    Not commercially available.
    Human-labeled product(s):
    500 mg (base) per 100 mL (Rx) [GENERIC].
    Withdrawal times: There are no established withdrawal times since
    metronidazole is not approved for use in food-producing animals.
    Packaging and storage: Store below 40 ºC (104 ºF), preferably

    Giving your goldfish an injection of medicine
     
    cooltow1, Aug 20, 2009
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  14. angelLuver

    angelLuver New Member

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    any better today lemon?
     
    angelLuver, Aug 20, 2009
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  15. KingKedros452

    KingKedros452 New Member

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    Leave it to another goldfish enthusiast to help confirm that fish can get injections. I think that confirms who the crazy fish keepers are. But if I had money for the $7500 koi I would die to have, I'd sure wouldn't think twice to get it injections when it gets sick.
     
    KingKedros452, Aug 21, 2009
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  16. LemonDiscus

    LemonDiscus Thread Starter Active Member

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    Wow! Very interesting!

    Maybe one day... I dont keep syringes and dont have the inject-able version of Metronidazole.... Something for future knowledge though.

    Can the powder be turned into an injection somehow? I am sure there HAS to be a way... :) And if anyone knows I think it would be you cooltow!
     
    LemonDiscus, Aug 21, 2009
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  17. cooltow1

    cooltow1 Member

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    Depend on the Metronidazole product that you have, many pqwdered forms have extenders in them, to make it easier to dose, so those cannot be injected.
    Pills are out because of water soluble polymers used.
    If you have pure Metronidazole no reason you can't make a stock solution an inject it.
    Mardel at one time sold 100% Metronidazole but they have been sold so not sure now.


    Rick
     
    cooltow1, Aug 22, 2009
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  18. KingKedros452

    KingKedros452 New Member

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    It'd take a lot of research to learn where to inject and how to make a solution, but if this disease has such a high mortality rate it might be worth a try if you can find a way to save future fish.
     
    KingKedros452, Aug 22, 2009
    #18