Treating Hexamita aka Spironucleus

midasman714 · Nov 26, 2012

Same pellets minus the solution, 2/3 times a day.

Seems like he's getting tired of the Epsom dipped pellets.

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RD. · Nov 26, 2012

Give his gut a day of rest, then go back to your old routine - although I would only feed twice a day, once in the AM, and once in the PM. Just feed sparingly for the next several days & allow his system to recuperate. Good luck.

midasman714 · Nov 26, 2012

RD. said:
Give his gut a day of rest, then go back to your old routine - although I would only feed twice a day, once in the AM, and once in the PM. Just feed sparingly for the next several days & allow his system to recuperate. Good luck.

will do, thanks. I'll update with any signs of improvement.

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heatherbeast · Jan 29, 2013

I'll be trying this out with a gold severum with SERIOUS HIH that I've been given to 'fix'. I've been told that he hasn't been eating the past few days. I'm going to attempt to give the epsom salt soaked food to him tonight. If he doesn't go for it, though, can you give a few more pointers or details about force feeding? I have access to soft pipettes and solution, but I really don't know how much would be considered 'enough' or hwo to ensure that the fish is actually swallowing.

RD. · Jan 29, 2013

Hi Heather,

Did you read the article in the link that I posted with regards to force feeding? Basically just make sure that it goes down the fishes esophagus and it will be forced to swallow. Make sure to feed a very nutrient dense feed that is known for high levels of vitamins/minerals. This is very important when a fish is under stress & fighting off infection/bacteria, etc.

To be honest I have no idea how easy/difficult it is to treat spironucleus once it has become systemic, and traveled into various organs and/or the blood stream such as the case when a fish has HITH. For a severe case of HITH I would also give the fish a bath in Metronidazole while force feeding. Instructions for bath duration & amounts can be found in the following link.
http://www.extension.org/sites/defa...gement_of_hexamita_in_ornamental_cichlids.pdf

If you see no improvement by next week, I would consider using Metro in the food for an additional week. The holes will take a long time to completely heal, and in severe cases there will be long term scarring present.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

heatherbeast · Jan 29, 2013

I can tell that he is going to have permanent scarring on one side of his head, yeah. I skipped the 200 page dissertation, and I'll go read the Israeli article right now.

I'm currently at work, but my fiance says the fish seems more alert than last night (gave him a 30 min epsom salt bath at a strength of 1 tbsp/gallon while dripping him in). I am hopeful that he'll be interested in normal feeding tonight. Thanks for the direct link to the UoF caresheet that has the instructions on metronidazole baths, it will come in handy if he decides he doesn't want to eat!

Miguel · Feb 3, 2013

I have followed this method more than once.

As to force feeding, i mash the pellets in the epsom solution and then inject the whole with a syringue down the fihe's mouth. To avoid harming the fish with the syringue pointy end i insert a little piece of rubber piping.

Pellest need to be very liquid and mushy, if not they will not go down the syringue and the whole system gets blocked.