Male or female hongsloi?

[toltinghorse]

Got this supposed pair of a. hongsloi about 2 months ago. Not convinced the supposed female is really female as there has been no willingness to breed shown by the female. Tank is 6.6 pH 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 5 nitrate.

 

[MacZ]

Is there a definitive male for comparison? And what size is the fish?

Edit: If I see that right the fish has Camallanus-worms. You should treat that.

 

[toltinghorse]

Is there a dfinitive male? And what size is the fish?

Yes there is a definitive male- I attached a picture. The male is about 2 - 2.5 or so inches and the other roughly 1.5 inches.

 

[MacZ]

Allright, not the wild form.

I'm pretty sure the other one is a female now.

Nonetheless, the fish has a potentially deadly parasite. Explains why breeding is not happening.

 

[toltinghorse]

What tells you that it has camallanus worms? I've seen no signs of them- no worms hanging or anything. The thing seen "hanging" in the images is part of her ventral fin. No other fish in the tank show symptoms either.

 

[MacZ]

Potentially because if you don't treat the fish will die. They hang from it's anus obviously, which is also a bit swollen. Sometimes the worms are reddish, sometimes clear.

Here you find a list of meds: https://apistogramma.com/forum/threads/list-of-meds.25067/

I recommend Praziquantel if the fish still eats, and Levamisole-based meds if it doesn't. Please treat the whole tank, the parasite is contagious.

 

[toltinghorse]

Potentially because if you don't treat the fish will die. They hang from it's anus obviously, which is also a bit swollen. Sometimes the worms are reddish, sometimes clear.

Here you find a list of meds: https://apistogramma.com/forum/threads/list-of-meds.25067/

I recommend Praziquantel if the fish still eats, and Levamisole-based meds if it doesn't. Please treat the whole tank, the parasite is contagious.

The fish eats normally- I have fritz paracleanse on hand which I believe it is praziquantel based.

 

[MacZ]

The fish eats normally- I have fritz paracleanse on hand which I believe it is praziquantel based.

Allright, make sure it does and treat as per instructions. It should clear up in some days. Repeat the treatment 2 weeks after the first to make sure the worms are done for.

 

[toltinghorse]

Allright, make sure it does and treat as per instructions. It should clear up in some days. Repeat the treatment 2 weeks after the first to make sure the worms are done for.

It contains both praziquantel and metronidazole, don't think the metro helps with internal parasites though.
Not sure where the worms would have come from.

 

[MacZ]

don't think the metro helps with internal parasites though.

It works against Protozoans (Flagellates), but Metronidazole is also an antibiotic which I find not very useful as it breeds multiresistant strains of bacteria over time.

Not sure where the worms would have come from.

Usually they are present at purchase. It can take months until it shows.