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

[RD.]

I run three AC 110's on my 125 gallon tanks, and as they sit in my basement that is approx. 68F year round, I heat with two 200W Aqueon Pro heaters. They keep the water at approx. 78F, while not producing enough heat to boil the fish in the short term if a heater fails and sticks on.

 

[duanes]

I feed him Hikari Cichlid pellets and frozen Omega One cichlid formula. I am hesitant to feed him feeder fish as many do not look healthy at the local store.

Sounds like you're feeding the right stuff, so its obviously one or a combination of the other stress types.
That 125 sound perfect for an oscar.

 

[Chinnavar]

I'm sorry if hijacking a thread is considered bad forum etiquette, i'm not really familiar with it. But after reading your post I thought my O might also have HITH.

I've been feeding him hikari staple as his main food source while also rouletting hikari cichlid gold & excel. They also get some frozen shrimp 2-3 times a week and they get their occasional massivore pellet which are actually meant for my polys.

I do weekly waterchanges of roughly 50-60%

He's in a 180G with the following tankmates:

5x Firemouth
3x Severum
1x Polypterus Delhezi
1x Polypterus ornatipinnis

My water parameters:

GH: 7
PH: 7.5
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20 (Still need to do my WC after this post)

When it comes to behaviour he's the most chill cichlid in the aquarium, doesn't really like confrontation and just swims away when another fish annoys him.

Thanks in advance and sorry for the hijacking!

 

[tlindsey]

I'm sorry if hijacking a thread is considered bad forum etiquette, i'm not really familiar with it. But after reading your post I thought my O might also have HITH.

I've been feeding him hikari staple as his main food source while also rouletting hikari cichlid gold & excel. They also get some frozen shrimp 2-3 times a week and they get their occasional massivore pellet which are actually meant for my polys.

I do weekly waterchanges of roughly 50-60%

He's in a 180G with the following tankmates:

5x Firemouth
3x Severum
1x Polypterus Delhezi
1x Polypterus ornatipinnis

My water parameters:

GH: 7
PH: 7.5
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 20 (Still need to do my WC after this post)

When it comes to behaviour he's the most chill cichlid in the aquarium, doesn't really like confrontation and just swims away when another fish annoys him.

Thanks in advance and sorry for the hijacking!

Yes looks like HITH I suggest hi-weekly water changes of 50%% or fin level weekly.

 

[kno4te]

Yes looks like HITH I suggest hi-weekly water changes of 50%% or fin level weekly.

+1. Also look at reducing ur water hardness if able.

 

[Chinnavar]

Yes looks like HITH I suggest hi-weekly water changes of 50%% or fin level weekly.

Did a bigger WC yesterday just to be sure. Nitrate clocks in at <5 right now, i'll try to keep it below 10 from now on.

+1. Also look at reducing ur water hardness if able.

What is the best way about doing this? I can get some peat for in the filtration and put in some leaves. A r/o system is not really an option for me right now. I hear everybody say that reducing hardness is a pain in the behind, so i'm doubting I should even keep SA cichlids to begin with and just look for cichlids that require harder water because I want to give them a comfy long time home.

 

[tlindsey]

Did a bigger WC yesterday just to be sure. Nitrate clocks in at <5 right now, i'll try to keep it below 10 from now on.


What is the best way about doing this? I can get some peat for in the filtration and put in some leaves. A r/o system is not really an option for me right now. I hear everybody say that reducing hardness is a pain in the behind, so i'm doubting I should even keep SA cichlids to begin with and just look for cichlids that require harder water because I want to give them a comfy long time home.

I personally have 2 smaller setups that I add leaf litter to lower the hardness and I have been successful in keeping Apistogramma for longer periods of time. I currently have a group of 8 WC Browntail Pencilfish in the 20 gallon. I have a 29 gallon with a group of 6 Rummynose Tetra Emerald Corydora and Bristlenose Pleco. I have hard water with PH of 7.6 so the Tannins help tremendously imo. I also agree with most that say keep fish that can thrive in the PH range of the water in your area.

 

[Chinnavar]

I personally have 2 smaller setups that I add leaf litter to lower the hardness and I have been successful in keeping Apistogramma for longer periods of time. I currently have a group of 8 WC Browntail Pencilfish in the 20 gallon. I have a 29 gallon with a group of 6 Rummynose Tetra Emerald Corydora and Bristlenose Pleco. I have hard water with PH of 7.6 so the Tannins help tremendously imo. I also agree with most that say keep fish that can thrive in the PH range of the water in your area.

Ugh this is a such a huge bummer, I bought this tank because I fell in love with oscars. But I know it'll be quite hard and a lot of work to maintain the right water parameters and i'm afraid I simply don't have the time and experience to do it. But I can give it a try atleast, how much leaf litter do you think I need for a 180G to lower the hardness to an acceptable level? And if I see the HITH getting worse i'll try to rehome him to a nice place I guess. I highly underestimated the bond I get with my fish, especially personable fish like O's.

 

[tlindsey]

Ugh this is a such a huge bummer, I bought this tank because I fell in love with oscars. But I know it'll be quite hard and a lot of work to maintain the right water parameters and i'm afraid I simply don't have the time and experience to do it. But I can give it a try atleast, how much leaf litter do you think I need for a 180G to lower the hardness to an acceptable level? And if I see the HITH getting worse i'll try to rehome him to a nice place I guess. I highly underestimated the bond I get with my fish, especially personable fish like O's.

What you will need is a KH testing kit to monitor the water. If you don't want to add the actual leaves you can simply place leaves in a pot with water and boil them until they leach Tannins. Just let the water Cool off to the temperature of the water in the aquarium and pour it in without the leaves. The water will be a tea color.

 

[tlindsey]

What you will need is a KH testing kit to monitor the water. If you don't want to add the actual leaves you can simply place leaves in a pot with water and boil them until they leach Tannins. Just let the water Cool off to the temperature of the water in the aquarium and pour it in without the leaves. The water will be a tea color.

I am fortunate to have Oak tree's near my home to collect every fall. Collect the fallen leaves in a area that doesn't have a high volume of traffic like a park and make sure no fertilizers or bird droppings are not on the leaves as well.