Finally, panduro! But, bittersweet...

[Duffmanj]

Always wanted Panduro, since i discovered Apistogramma. Managed to pick some up last weekend at the BCA convention (look it up, well worth going!). Since getting them home, they took a couple of days to settle in, but have since been flirting and finding caves etc. Today i noticed 2 things, the male can't seem to close his mouth and they both have white marks on them. Just looking for some thoughts on whether you think these are related and what you would do next? Both seem to be eating ok, water is good in a mature tank. Perhaps ich? What would you recommend for it if so? Cheers all.

 

[Mike Wise]

The spots look hard and raised in the photos. This leads me to believe they are Ich. This usually can be cured if not too extreme. The locked jaw of the male, sadly, is something else and not related to Ich. If the male can't eventually unlock his jaw, which rarely happens, then he can't eat and slowly starves.

 

[Duffmanj]

Cheers Mike I'm inclined to agree. He has them on the inside of his mouth too. Do you mean its rare that they can't unlock them or rare when they can? Is there any point in me trying to help him by moving it myself?

 

[Mike Wise]

Such fish rarely are able to unlock their jaw. People who have tried to 'help' have always damaged/broke the jaw and the fish died. I wish I could be more positive, sorry.

 

[Duffmanj]

No problem, thank you for your honesty. I'll see how he gets on the next few days.

 

[Duffmanj]

So the males jaw is still stuck open. Been treating with malachite green and the bumps on him seem to have gone. Females head is getting worse though, hole in the head or something? Sorry if the pic is a bit blurry. Not having much luck with these guys!

 

[Duffmanj]

Just managed to snap a better one

 

[peterclarke666]

yup looks like hole in the head to me

 

[Duffmanj]

Cheers Peter. Any particularly good treatments you recommend?

 

[peterclarke666]

its hard to treat sometimes but i always use waterlife octozin tabs with a good diet of omega 3 and more regular water changes