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What is the species of this Hemiloricaria? It's big, maybe 17-18 cm SL, and unlike the whiptails I've had or even seen in the past.



Unfortunately, it seems to be suffering from some kind of infection on one side. We initially presumed the condition was terminal, but it's hung in there for nine days already and doesn't seem to be in critical condition. It eats well and seem fairly active.




Any advice on a possible diagnosis and treatment options would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Dinyar

Not sure of the infection, but that looks like a species of <I>Loricaria</I> to me.

Jools

Oh yeah? What's the difference?

Dinyar

Hi!

Checking with the Mergus Welsatlas this looks like the whitewater population of Loricaria similima, but i just checked the pics without reading the text. Very confusing matter, they all seem to look alike.
Concerning the bacterial infection i noticed that a lot of fishes pictured in the Mergus have these kind of injuries. I had a similar looking problem with my Doradidae sp. "Petalodoras", they lost parts of the dorsal and one lost the upper half of his caudal. They came in like this at the lfs and they lost their whole batch. I gave them a bath in Nifurpirinol. Which was very effective.
Good luck

Feathery mouth parts is the thing that I am going on in the picture above. In <I>Hemiloricaria</I> these are no where near as ornate. The large size is also indicative as is the shape of the cheek.

Jools

update:
I just checked the desease chapter and they note that bacterial finrot is very "common" with Loricariinae. Caused by water conditions, foul processes in the substrate or just bad luck (as i understand it)
They write that better water conditions can help cure it if it hasnt infected the fin base/muscles. They write the infection is developing very slowly and leads to death if not countered. If the muscles/finbase is infected they advise the use of Antibiotics, Sulfonamids(sp?) or Nitrofurans(sp?). They also write very energic against the improper use of antibiotics (just to prevent another discussion).

Many thanks, Christian! I'll see what I can do to treat. All my Q tanks are full of new fish, which is a problem, but we'll move some things around. --Dinyar

Dinyar,
I am treating the same bacteria infection in the same place on a large recently acquired Sturisoma. Simply catch the fish and hold it still. Dab a Q-Tip in Meth Blue and gently swab the infected area. The treated portion will be stained blue, but the blue will fade with the infection. Works every time.
-Shane

Shane wrote:Works every time.

It seems to! After two swabbings the wound seems to have all but disappeared.

Rusty

Shane wrote:Dinyar,
I am treating the same bacteria infection in the same place on a large recently acquired Sturisoma. Simply catch the fish and hold it still. Dab a Q-Tip in Meth Blue and gently swab the infected area. The treated portion will be stained blue, but the blue will fade with the infection. Works every time.
-Shane

Your Rx has been remarkably effective, Shane. Thanks! Fish is well on its way to a full recovery.

For what kinds of conditions do you recommend swabbing with meth blue?

Dinyar

I vote for Loricaria simillima as well. The fish on your pictures look extremely similar to L. simillima in 'Maulbrütende Harnischwelse' (Mouth-brooding "armoured" catfish) by Hans-Georg Evers and Ingo Seidel.

Dinyar,
I came up with the idea because it just does not always make sense to medicate an entire tank full of water when you are trying to treat a specific wound or infection on a specific fish.
I have used it to treat small bacterial and fungal infections on various loricariids. The main requirement has to be a limited number of specific areas that can be swabbed. It also works great on parasites as the parasite (such as an anchor worm) is poisoned by the treatment, dies, and falls off the fish. The area is also disinfected where the wound was and heals much faster and more cleanly.
I have only ever used it on armored catfishes (callichthyids and loricariids). It might work on true naked fishes as well, but I would be careful. Glad the fish is doing well.
-Shane