Help with my oscar plz

[Guro]

My oscar has what looks like a drill hole, two on the left side and one on the rightside of his chin. I have talked to someone at the LFS who says my oscar doesnt have HITH. If you know of any diseases/illness that might be contracted commonly/rarely for oscars I would be very grateful to know. NOTE: my nitrite and ammonia levels are with in optimum range, Thanks

 

[Mystix212]

Ammonia within OPTIMUM range? Ammonia and Nitrite should be 0. Nitrate around 15-30ppm. Post some pics of your oscar. Hexamita (Hole-in-the-head) is very common is oscars and is caused by bad water quality. Do 50% water changes every 5 days. Treat with Metradonzial.

 

[Grief]

In the UK Metradonzial is only available from your vet. Try Waterlifes Octozin.
But you will have to be patient now as it can take a long time to get rid of.
That said it is possible.

What are you feeding your Oscar as diet can also be a factor. You will need to medicate the food. Heximita is a parasitic problem.

Fish can live a long time with this so its worth treating it as any other cichlids you add or have will now also be prone to it.

But water quality and diet are the key factors. Best of luck

 

[Guro]

Thanks for the replys, to answer your questions I feed them krill, shrimp, and floating cichlid sticks. I do a 25% water change twice a week since I noticed the holes. Would a 50% water change once a week be more effective?

 

[Mystix212]

50% would prove to be better. Guro is not in the Uk, he's in the southern island of New Zealand.

 

[Guro]

we are very imaginative its called the south island, is it a positive id of hole in the head?

 

[bigspizz]

Yes he has hith.....too much carbon(running it at all times) Will also cause hith. Only use carbon for 24-48 hrs in your oscar tank!

 

[Guro]

carbon? do u mean the same as charcoal in the filter?

 

[bigspizz]

carbon? do u mean the same as charcoal in the filter?

Yes. It is good for short times....And I have heard it gives O's hith if you "over" do it with activated carbon.

 

[santoury]

Hello
Yes, it is HITH, and yes, carbon is the charcoal. Remove it, so that it doesn't remove the medications as well..

Metronidazole can also be sold as Flagyl, or Tetracycline. Most fish stores have one or the other name on the same package - small blue pills I believe, if I remember correctly. It will say "For HITH" on the front.