How to treat if Hypancistrus zebra (L046) is reddish in colour?

[wllm33]

hi,
can know if any experts can offer what medicine can give an L046 if the body is reddish as if some infection, other than change the water and maintain tank water parameters are ok?
I know salt is out, but any medicine is safe other than putting in black water and heater and water change, which i had already done.
Thanks for your advice.

[khtee]

maybe you can show some pictures for the experts here to view. It might not be any illness.

[darry]

Redness could be due an injury while fighting for caves or it could also be due to poor water quality.

1) observe and note the redness area of the zebra and monitor whether if it grow or reduce over next few days.
2) Check that other zebras are okay and only this one is causing redness, this usually indicated results of injury.
3) Check whether of this redness fish are hiding or out in the open, looking lethargic. If you can use your hand to catch the zebra, something will be very wrong. We are usually not able to hand catch any zebra, unless they are hiding in the caves.
4) Think what have you changed in the tank parameters for the past one months, this is very important as it will help you to determine the source of problem, if it is not fighting.
5) Be prepared to move the zebras to another established tank, if more zebras behave in this way or become redness.

Hence, if only one zebra is red and he is still actively hiding, then it is mostly due to fighting. If one or more zebras are behaving as such redness and motionless in the open, then it is mostly water parameters or some kinds of bacteria building up.

Let us know the outcome when this is over. Cheers!

[celticfish]

Need more information.
Especially what you remember doing before the condition came.

How many fish, one only or more displaying the symptom.
Are they hiding and reacting when you go near the tank or out in the open.
Speed of breathing, normal or "hyperventilating"?
Is the redness a pinkish tone under the skin or an open wound?

[wllm33]

think it is a pinkish tone, as one already died and it was pinkish in colour.
so i shifted the whole lot into another tank with same parameters, but one of them has this pinkish tone.
and of course not so active but still cannot catch it still.
am not adding any medicine yet because i think can still be water problem although WC 3 days ago, but the others are ok.
they live in a 4ft tank with 2 underwater pump and OHF and rain bar as well with some DW and caves, bare bottom and heater.
only feeding BW and hikari carnivours pellets, but they hide and cannot see eating but i feed very little, just 1 to 2 pellets to 6 of them.
thanks.

[celticfish]

Water is a good suspect for the death.
My disaster took a whole month to end...

I cannot comment on the feeding amount as I don't know their size.
But the amount of one or two canivore tabs seems low, even for small fish.
You might want to increase the amount when get comfortable in the new tank.

Your tank is also large so you may want to create a "shadowed" area for them.
They will gravitate to and hang out there.
Then you can target feed the tabs close to the spot with a pincer.

[wllm33]

thanks.
i suspect as well, the water, as on closer look , a lot of uneaten food. Don't know why,but they do not take to carnivours pellets. Although i read in many forums that these pellets are very attractive to most fishes, even rays. but mine refuse them.

So i transfer them to a 2ft tank now and like you said, the 4 footer a bit big to see things well and because of the many hiding places , i really cannot see them properly. Now with the 2footer, i am keeping a closer look on them. So far so good, and the pink colour has disappeared on the weaker fish, so must be the water.

Any suggestions as to an alternative food. I am also giving them blood worms, and tetrabits and pleco wafer to experiment on what is best for them.
cheers.

[Savant]

Hi bro, how big are the fishes? Please note that bloodworms are not suitable for smaller juveniles.

[wllm33]

size about 4cm long.
any advice on alternatives if bw is not suitable as they also do not like hikari carnivorous pellets.
thanks

[Savant]

Try Charmy Gang... they are quite popular with my L46s...

But lack of appetite may also be due to poor water conditions etc

[celticfish]

4 cm is in the "grey area" to feed bloodworms.
If you really must best to "chop" them up first.

As for appetite, I agree with Savant's point.
Also, if they are in a new tank it may take some time for them to feel comfortable and start eating too.
This I notice when I move fry/juveniles about.