Could this be Hole in the Head on my Oscar??

[coleifer]

I am not sure if I should treat him with medication or try something else. I first noticed this about two days ago. I have done a water change and he is in a 40 gallon tank alone. His appetite is fine, he loves to eat! The water quality tests all are in normal ranges. Please help!

 

[tlindsey]

I am not sure if I should treat him with medication or try something else. I first noticed this about two days ago. I have done a water change and he is in a 40 gallon tank alone. His appetite is fine, he loves to eat! The water quality tests all are in normal ranges. Please help!

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Welcome aboard
Yes it looks like HITH. Please list your water parameters so we can get a foot hold on why the Red Oscar has HITH.

 

[coleifer]

Thank you for your help!

Nitrates 20 mg/L , Nitrites 0 mg/L, pH 7.2, KH 40mg/L, Hardness 120 mg/L

The hardness is high. I am not sure how to bring it down. Should I treat with metronidazole?

 

[The Morning]

I don’t keep oscars but from everything I have read it is so difficult to maintain water quality for them, something that is only exacerbated in a tank that seems to be too small. Is there anything else in the tank with him?
Good looking fish by the way.

 

[coleifer]

I don’t keep oscars but from everything I have read it is so difficult to maintain water quality for them, something that is only exacerbated in a tank that seems to be too small. Is there anything else in the tank with him?

He is alone in the tank. And thank you.

 

[tlindsey]

Thank you for your help!

Nitrates 20 mg/L , Nitrites 0 mg/L, pH 7.2, KH 40mg/L, Hardness 120 mg/L

The hardness is high. I am not sure how to bring it down. Should I treat with metronidazole?

How often do you do water changes?
What % of water do you remove each water changes? I personally wouldn't use meds but do larger fin level water changes. Oscars are very susceptible to HITH in hard water.

 

[coleifer]

How often do you do water changes?
What % of water do you remove each water changes? I personally wouldn't use meds but do larger fin level water changes. Oscars are very susceptible to HITH in hard water.

I change about half of the water every 2 weeks. Should I do this more often? Fin level changes - as in most of the water? Should I get a water softener?
My student gave me this fish because he was getting beat up by another oscar. I have had him since October.

 

[tlindsey]

You could setup a R/O Unit or Tanins can be added such as boiled Dead Oak leaves or mix distilled water with your tap. Most will say put fish in that aquarium that comes from a hard water environment.

 

[tlindsey]

I change about half of the water every 2 weeks. Should I do this more often? Fin level changes - as in most of the water? Should I get a water softener?
My student gave me this fish because he was getting beat up by another oscar. I have had him since October.

Do the weekly fin level water changes and keep filter free of crud. Also suggest upgrading to minimum 75 gallon aquarium. Oscars are one of the biggest producers of waste so that and the hard water doesn't make it healthy for Oscars.

 

[tlindsey]

What test kit are you using for testing your parameters?