eradicating Hexamita from planted tank possible?

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  • Sec86
    Registered Member
    • Jan 2025
    • 3

    eradicating Hexamita from planted tank possible?

    Hello,

    I am having a recurring issue with Hexamita on a planted tank.
    Has anyone had any success eradicating the parasites without stripping the tank?
    If so can you please share a protocol to refer to?
    I treated it with metro (I think) and Epson salt but the med I used isn't the real deal (chinise product called :Big Fish Hexa Clear) as in Australia, it needs a prescription it's annoying to source.
    I have some metroplex and Flubendazole on their way, hopefully, the other product hasn't created any "resistance".
    Also wondering up to how many days after treatment is considerable normal to see stringy poop?

    Thanks


  • Jandiscus
    Registered Member
    • Jan 2012
    • 218
    • Midland Michigan
    • JC

    #2
    Hi Sec86 - in my opinion and experience, unless you are able to treat with Metronidazole using the approach documented here on the forum you will be out of luck no matter what your tank setup is. Unfortunately, "the protozoan organism Hexamita is free swimming" (quote from link below), which I believe means not needing a host to survive, which would indicate that treatment in a planted tank will be difficult. Best of luck!

    SimplyDiscus.com: Hexamitiasis by Al Sabetta

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    • brewmaster15
      Administrator
      • Apr 2002
      • 30095
      • Northford,CT,USA

      #3
      Originally posted by Jandiscus
      Hi Sec86 - in my opinion and experience, unless you are able to treat with Metronidazole using the approach documented here on the forum you will be out of luck no matter what your tank setup is. Unfortunately, "the protozoan organism Hexamita is free swimming" (quote from link below), which I believe means not needing a host to survive, which would indicate that treatment in a planted tank will be difficult. Best of luck!

      SimplyDiscus.com: Hexamitiasis by Al Sabetta
      oh Wow! Thats an old article from back in 2002. I need to update that a bit. The diy food part is good still but Metro has been so heavily used and abused over the last 20 years with discus the dosing often needs to ve higher and longer.

      I would suggest if adding to water go for a dose of 500mg/ 10gals metronidazole (pure) .. metro plex isnt pure btw. You can use it but you need to use 30% more.
      Dose daily for 7-10days after large daily water change.Temp does not need to be elevated.

      Your problem with eradicating it probably isnt because its a planted substrate tank. Hexamita is a protozoan and do not lay eggs...It is not something fish pick up from substrate but only from eating live Hexamita in the waste from other fish. Metro is water soluable so it will kill hexamita in the column and will get absorbed by fish. Probably your treatment was not long enough or high enough or both .

      hth,
      al

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      • brewmaster15
        Administrator
        • Apr 2002
        • 30095
        • Northford,CT,USA

        #4
        oh and also.. if you can get waterlife Octozin there where you are..its a source of dimetronidazole.
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        • Sec86
          Registered Member
          • Jan 2025
          • 3

          #5
          Originally posted by brewmaster15
          oh and also.. if you can get waterlife Octozin there where you are..it’s a source of dimetronidazole.
          Thank you very much for the info.
          just another couple of questions:
          - is dimetronizadole effectiveness comparable with metronidazole?
          - would the protocol change with application in the water column?

          Comment

          • brewmaster15
            Administrator
            • Apr 2002
            • 30095
            • Northford,CT,USA

            #6
            Dimetro is just as effectice as metro... if not possibly more effective.

            The protocol I gave was for metro at certain concentration. We dont have waterlife octozin here in the USA so I have no experience with it ..it really depends on the concentration. I would start by following their instructions. I dont think it would hurt to dose dimetro the same as metro though.
            AquaticSuppliers.comFoods your Discus will Love!!!


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            • Sec86
              Registered Member
              • Jan 2025
              • 3

              #7
              Originally posted by brewmaster15
              Dimetro is just as effectice as metro... if not possibly more effective.

              The protocol I gave was for metro at certain concentration. We dont have waterlife octozin here in the USA so I have no experience with it ..it really depends on the concentration. I would start by following their instructions. I dont think it would hurt to dose dimetro the same as metro though.
              Thanks once again for your reply.
              After searching for the Octozin I realized it is available but only in small packs making it expensive.
              Before placing an order, I wanted to ask where Fluebenzadole and levamisole stand in knocking Hexamita on the head?
              These two are easy to source and more affordable in Au.
              I've used Lavamisazole previously and saw a couple of fish passing white feces but didn't solve the problem as I lost a few fish a while after that treatment as they kept fading away.
              I saw improvement only after using a product that I believe contains Metro (Big Fish BF108 Intestinal Hexamita), now I'm out and waiting for delivery of Metroplex and Fluebendazole from overseas and what to make a plan on how to move forward if I see any of the fish showing lack of appetite and unusual behavior.
              I don't want to throw the kitchen sink at them but just be geared up with the right tool for the job.



              Comment

              • brewmaster15
                Administrator
                • Apr 2002
                • 30095
                • Northford,CT,USA

                #8
                Originally posted by Sec86

                Thanks once again for your reply.
                After searching for the Octozin I realized it is available but only in small packs making it expensive.
                Before placing an order, I wanted to ask where Fluebenzadole and levamisole stand in knocking Hexamita on the head?
                These two are easy to source and more affordable in Au.
                I've used Lavamisazole previously and saw a couple of fish passing white feces but didn't solve the problem as I lost a few fish a while after that treatment as they kept fading away.
                I saw improvement only after using a product that I believe contains Metro (Big Fish BF108 Intestinal Hexamita), now I'm out and waiting for delivery of Metroplex and Fluebendazole from overseas and what to make a plan on how to move forward if I see any of the fish showing lack of appetite and unusual behavior.
                I don't want to throw the kitchen sink at them but just be geared up with the right tool for the job.


                Unfortunately,
                Levamisole and Flubendazole are dewormers, and have no effect on protozoans, so for Hexamita, they aren't a good option, They are good dewormers though.

                Since you can get it, look for Octozin 200 doses., It may be possible for you to find it cheaper, I would contact waterlife and see if you can find other distributors near you.
                AquaticSuppliers.comFoods your Discus will Love!!!


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                Al Sabetta
                Simplydiscus LLC Owner
                Aquaticsuppliers.com


                I take Pics.. click here for my Flickr images

                Comment

                • Mazain
                  Registered Member
                  • Dec 2024
                  • 15
                  • Colombo
                  • Mazain

                  #9
                  It's normal to have hexamita in a planted tank when plants decay, debris and detritus from the substrate. I usually siphon the gravel every wc, clean the glass walls for pathogens and add effective amount of garlic in the bh mix. The things to watch out in planted tanks are when your discus isolate and turn pale or lose color. This is when the parasites attack your discus fish. So regular wc, more garlic in food and healthy plants are the key.
                  if the discus continue to hide you need to hospital tank them with metronidazole and raise the temperature to 32°c with daily 30% wc for 10 days. Hope that helps. Good luck.

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