Head and Lateral Line Erosion

gamedawg

gamedawg

Member
I know there has been a few posts about this, but I want to start a discussion about it, and see what has helped to get rid of it.
I know that it has something to do with diet, stress, overstocking, water quality, and stray voltage. Most of those actually have to do with stress.
I have a FOWLR 55 gal, and I have two fish with this. It is not bad, it is just a small line from head to tail. Around the head is fine. I never thought Nitrates were a big deal unless you have corals and such, but could this be the culprit? I don't remember what my levels were last time I checked, but what can help get rid of Nitrates? I feed frozen krill, Formula One, and Sally's Seaweed salad. The formula 1 claims to have lots of nutrients, and I feed a nice array or things, so could this be the culprit?
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Are you having a problem with HLLE? Yes, if left untreated, a fish can die of the disease.
 
gamedawg

gamedawg

Member
As I said in my post, I do have 2 fish with it, but they only have just a very faint line from head to tail.
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
The problem doesn't have a single solution, as you pointed out, so you have to address it from all the areas you mentioned.
Grounding probe
Adequate diet
zero nitrates
Adequate food that meets the needs of specific species
Are your fish with HLLE tangs?
 
gamedawg

gamedawg

Member
One of the fish is a yellow tang. He's been healthy for a long time. He's about 2 years old, and he's had 2 cases of Ick, and is a trooper. Now, in the last month or so, he's gotten the faint line from head to tail.
The other fish is my Panther grouper. He's still very small in comparison to my tank's size, (55 gal) and is a pretty hardy guy too. He's got the faint line also.
I feed them seaweed salad, formula one, and frozen krill.
Both fish eat all of the above.
I also have a lion, trigger, blenny and 2 damsels, and they are fine.
I checked my nitrites, and it's zero.
My husband is going to get his tool to check for electric current.
I thought nitrates weren't that imprtant unless you had corals and the like.
If the food is the culprit, what else should I try?
 
scubadoo

scubadoo

Active Member
The tang requires a larger system. Since he has been in the sytsem for two years he could be stressed due to cramped quarters. Also, given that stocking list your trates may be higher. You could have a bad test kit.
......feeding macroalgae has been linked to reversing the disease..as well as running a fuge with marcoalgae for natural filtration.....improves water quality.
My advice is thin the herd.....your system cannot house all those animals to adulthood. Perhaps you are seeing the first signs of cramped quarters on some of your fish.
 
T

tizzo

Guest
(I sure hope this shows up), but we have not discussed that all fish have a visible Lateral line and just because you can see it, does not neccesarily mean it's HLLE. I attempted to get a pic of my tang and blow up his lateral line. There is nothing wrong with him, yet you can see his line. Maybe you are looking at a normal lateral line (?)
 
T

tizzo

Guest
And here you can see it on my copperband...It's alittle harder to see cause he has scales, but you get the drift.
 
T

tizzo

Guest
That line will develop obvious holes and craters in the face. In extreme cases, the line will widen also. And usually the fishes colors will get pale making the HLLE stand out even more...
 
scubadoo

scubadoo

Active Member
Originally Posted by Bronco300
so how can you diagnose this disease in your fish??
There are some pics here on a thread that pictures the disease. The disease usually starts in the eye area on the head...then can spread to the lateral line. Usually right above or around the eyes is the starting point. Of course, it can start on the lateral line...no absolutes.
 
T

tizzo

Guest
You improve the fish's environment and diet to reduce it's stress. And maintain optimum water conditions.
 
bronco300

bronco300

Active Member
maybe im just parannoyed right now, but what does it look like on clows, my one isnt looking as perky...and i can see a line going through the middle of his body...??
 
T

tizzo

Guest
The line on a clown is pretty hard to see. My Clarkii's line is visible, but I hafta look pretty hard, and on my oscellaris I can't see it at all.
Clown's have a higher tolerance for unstable/impure water since they are in the damsel family.
Which kinda fish do you have in your tank besides clowns and if your clowns really do have HLLE, iot'd help to know what you are feeding them. That'd be the first culprit, IMO.
 
gamedawg

gamedawg

Member
I just looked at my other fish (freshwater) and my Parrotfish and blue Malawi cichlid has it too. It is real faint, but a definite line. I even looked at my fresh-nano with an angel, and he's got it too. The tang might have it because like a few other people have said, he lately has taken up fighting himself in the reflection.
 
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