Care library / Health

Health guide, not a diagnosis · Serious if left

Hexamita (Spironucleus)

Also called hexamita, spironucleus, hole in the head parasite

Signs

White stringy poop
Weight loss
Sometimes pits on the head (cichlids, discus)

Cause

A gut flagellate, common in cichlids, discus and gouramis when stressed.

What to do

Metronidazole in the water or soaked into food, with clean water and a varied diet.

If a fish is badly ill, talk to an aquatic vet.

Prevention

Quarantine, clean water, good food.

Medicines used for it

Always read the label first

MetronidazoleParasite treatments

Species often affected

195 species

Honey gouramiTrichogaster chuna

Easy5.5 cm22–27 °C

Pearl gouramiTrichopodus leerii

Easy12 cm24–28 °C

Three-spot gouramiTrichopodus trichopterus

Easy15 cm24–30 °C

Kissing gouramiHelostoma temminckii

Moderate30 cm22–30 °C

Sparkling gouramiTrichopsis pumila

Easy4 cm24–28 °C

Giant gouramiOsphronemus goramy

Moderate70 cm22–28 °C

Paradise fishMacropodus opercularis

Moderate6.7 cm10–22 °C

AngelfishPterophyllum scalare

Easy15 cm24–30 °C

German blue ramMikrogeophagus ramirezi

Moderate4.2 cm27–30 °C

Bolivian ramMikrogeophagus altispinosus

Moderate8 cm24–28 °C

Cockatoo dwarf cichlidApistogramma cacatuoides

Moderate7.5 cm24–28 °C

KribensisPelvicachromis pulcher

Easy10 cm24–27 °C

Convict cichlidAmatitlania nigrofasciata

Moderate10 cm24–28 °C

Jack DempseyRocio octofasciata

Moderate25 cm22–28 °C

Firemouth cichlidThorichthys meeki

Moderate17 cm24–28 °C

SeverumHeros efasciatus

Moderate20 cm22–29 °C

Green terrorAndinoacara rivulatus

Moderate20 cm20–24 °C

Electric blue acaraAndinoacara pulcher

Easy15 cm22–28 °C

Electric yellow cichlidLabidochromis caeruleus

Easy10 cm24–28 °C

Peacock cichlidAulonocara stuartgranti

Moderate13 cm24–28 °C

FrontosaCyphotilapia frontosa

Hard33 cm24–27 °C

Cobalt blue zebraMaylandia callainos

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

Red zebraMaylandia estherae

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

Kenyi cichlidMaylandia lombardoi

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

Rusty cichlidIodotropheus sprengerae

Easy10 cm25–29 °C

Demasoni cichlidChindongo demasoni

Moderate8 cm24–28 °C

Powder blueChindongo socolofi

Easy12 cm24–28 °C

Yellow-tail aceiPseudotropheus sp. 'acei'

Easy15 cm24–28 °C

Saulosi cichlidChindongo saulosi

Moderate8.6 cm23–27 °C

Elongatus mbunaChindongo elongatus

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

Johanni cichlidPseudotropheus johannii

Moderate10 cm23–27 °C

Auratus cichlidMelanochromis auratus

Moderate11 cm24–28 °C

Maingano cichlidPseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos

Moderate7.5 cm24–28 °C

Hongi cichlidLabidochromis sp. 'Hongi'

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

CobueCynotilapia afra

Moderate10 cm25–29 °C

Red cheek mbunaTropheops sp. 'red cheek'

Trewavas' mbunaLabeotropheus trewavasae

Moderate11.7 cm24–28 °C

Fuelleborn's mbunaLabeotropheus fuelleborni

Moderate17 cm24–28 °C

Greshake's zebraMaylandia greshakei

Moderate13.4 cm24–28 °C

Zebra mbunaMaylandia zebra

Moderate13 cm24–28 °C

Sunshine peacockAulonocara baenschi

Moderate13 cm25–29 °C

Freiberg's peacockAulonocara jacobfreibergi

Moderate15 cm25–29 °C

Emperor peacockAulonocara nyassae

Sulphur-head peacockAulonocara maylandi

Moderate15 cm25–29 °C

Kadango red-finCopadichromis borleyi

Moderate15 cm25–29 °C

Jackson's hapCopadichromis jacksoni

Moderate18 cm24–28 °C

Red empressProtomelas taeniolatus

Moderate17 cm24–28 °C

Livingstoni cichlidNimbochromis livingstonii

Moderate25 cm24–28 °C

Venustus cichlidNimbochromis venustus

Moderate25 cm24–28 °C

Polystigma hapNimbochromis polystigma

Moderate23 cm24–28 °C

Malawi eye-biterDimidiochromis compressiceps

Moderate25 cm24–28 °C

Electric blue hapSciaenochromis fryeri

Moderate17 cm24–28 °C

Hap mdoka white lipsPlacidochromis phenochilus

Moderate16 cm24–28 °C

Deepwater hapPlacidochromis electra

Moderate12 cm24–28 °C

Pelican cichlidFossorochromis rostratus

Moderate24.4 cm25–29 °C

Blue dolphin cichlidCyrtocara moorii

Moderate20 cm25–29 °C

Tropheus mooriiTropheus moorii

Hard14.5 cm24–27 °C

Duboisi cichlidTropheus duboisi

Hard12 cm24–27 °C

Princess of BurundiNeolamprologus brichardi

Easy9 cm23–26 °C

Multi shell dwellerNeolamprologus multifasciatus

Easy4 cm24–27 °C