Do I need to worry?

[janma]

Two of my new hillies seem to have something that looks like skin being shed, both have it on the right side of their head. Heres two pics (not the best).


Is this an injury or what is it? Their behavior is normal, they eat and have small territorial disputes and don´t seem to be ill. HELP!

-Janne

[janma]

Forgot to mention that the affected area has been the same size for 2-3days.

-Janne

[LoachOrgy]

It may be some type of fungal infection or hole in the head disease. if so treat immediately. I lost a few fish overnight to hole in the head disease.


here is a link with some disease pictures. hope this helps. it is hard to tell what it is sometimes.

http://www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html#Growth

[Martin Thoene]

This is definitely of concern Janne. Read here:
http://www.loaches.com/disease-treatmen ... am-loaches

Martin.

[LUVaLOACH]

sounds like it needs attention according to Martin's link...good luck to you and your hillies, keep us posted.

Krista

[janma]

Thanks, this is so depressing. I´ll keep you posted.

-Janne

[Jim Powers]

Yes, this is disturbing. If you have access to antibiotics such as those mentioned in the article, use them.
I would also separate these fish from the others if you can.
Did you notice these patches on the fish when you bought them?

[Martin Thoene]

Janne E-mailed me some pics of these fish before purchase. The pictures weren't large, but the fish looked uniformly colored.

Martin.

[janma]

Ok, after an operation that really wasnt that hard I caught the two. I was supposed to get them to the store to show so I can get the correct medication, but it was closed. Then I noticed that when in transpot bag the colours dissapear and you hardly notice the patches so I think they had it at arrival. I got one sort of medicine, sera costapur. The symptons and how it looks matched that medicine, but don´t want to use it until Im sure. So i got better pics.




As you can see the white is gone and now it looks like the skin has only been rubbed of. But the hillies are now in an own tank.

[janma]

Need I worry more? Since I put them in the new tank they swim around close to the surface and sometimes hoist themselves up from the water almost 100%. Only the tail is beneath the surface. Dont think its for air since I´ve got an aquaball with diffusor there. Hopefully they are only scouting out the new surroundings.

[LUVaLOACH]

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you and your hillies, I would wait for some feedback from some of the others on the board who know more about this before I medicate them, IMO. There are MANY members here who have hillies and breed them and I am sure you will get lots of input. Martin is wonderful about doing research and is a great help.

Krista

[Jim Powers]

What is in this medicine? Hillstreams can be very sensitive to chemicals.
Also, I have seen them slide up the glass as you discribe. I have also seen them go straight up the side and jump out of a small holding tank, so be aware of this. If there is no "lip" around the top of the tank, make sure it is covered.
Keep us posted and good luck!!

[janma]

Costapur is medication against parasites and contains: malachite green oxalate, formaldehyde solution, aqua purificata. Both tanks have "lips" so shouldnt be able to climb over.

[Jim Powers]

If it were me, I would not use that on hillstreams. This looks to me to be a bacterial infection and not parasites.
Do you have any access to antibiotics?

[janma]

No access to antibiotics, will have to wait until monday to get correct mediacation.