Well it looks like my Oscar has HITH, I just spotted it today and watch him every day, he didn't have it the day before and I didn't pay too much attention yesterday but hes getting an immediate 90% water change. Its exactly where he hit his head and got a nice scrape from the lid =/ he dings himself up frequently on the lid and still insists on jumping at night. Also I have non iodized additive free table salt should I add some, if so how much?
HITH
- Thread starter Zari
- Start date
Ty, I will risk life and limb to make sure he gets better hes my best fish ever, Had him since march when he was 1" and now hes a good 7"
Hole in the head is a disease of tropical fish which starts with smalls sore on the head above the eyes. These sore grow and eventually penetrate through the outer layer of skin.
Hole in the Head is most often seen in large Cichlids or other large fish. Oscars are large Cichlids and are often infected with Hole in the Head.
It is also the result of poor water quality over a long period of time. It's best to prevent Hole in the Head by doing the proper maintenance schedule. Usually it occurs in aquariums with under-gravel filters, and sometimes in aquariums with canister filters, but rarely in aquariums with a BIO-Wheel filters. To treat HITH you should immediately begin the recommended Maintenance Schedule and get the properly size aquarium filter with a BIO-Wheel. Then begin cleaning your gravel with a gravel washer. When the gravel is clean, remove most of it and remove the undergravel filter. Since you have an Oscar be sure it has a large enough aquarium. One large Oscar 8-inches in length needs at least 80-gallons of water. Two 8-inch Oscars need at least 150-gallons of water. More Oscars and larger Oscars need even bigger aquariums with more water. However, the Recommended Treatment usually will not cure Hole in the Head. It's worth a try, and it may work, or it may arrest the disease, so the fish can survive. p.s just raise temp and add salt.
Hope this helped.
Hole in the Head is most often seen in large Cichlids or other large fish. Oscars are large Cichlids and are often infected with Hole in the Head.
It is also the result of poor water quality over a long period of time. It's best to prevent Hole in the Head by doing the proper maintenance schedule. Usually it occurs in aquariums with under-gravel filters, and sometimes in aquariums with canister filters, but rarely in aquariums with a BIO-Wheel filters. To treat HITH you should immediately begin the recommended Maintenance Schedule and get the properly size aquarium filter with a BIO-Wheel. Then begin cleaning your gravel with a gravel washer. When the gravel is clean, remove most of it and remove the undergravel filter. Since you have an Oscar be sure it has a large enough aquarium. One large Oscar 8-inches in length needs at least 80-gallons of water. Two 8-inch Oscars need at least 150-gallons of water. More Oscars and larger Oscars need even bigger aquariums with more water. However, the Recommended Treatment usually will not cure Hole in the Head. It's worth a try, and it may work, or it may arrest the disease, so the fish can survive. p.s just raise temp and add salt.
Hope this helped.
Feeder fish? Nope. Hes had 3 rosie red minnows in his entire life span. Only thing he really gets is cichlid pelets and raw shrimp when I have it.
actually a hole or a wound in oscar's head is not automatically HITH. Esp a single large one appearing overnight. Most likely it is a wound and will heal in a week or so. Just keep a look out for infection.
^ +1 it could just be a wound. I doubt this would happen over night. + him not eating feeders.. if it lasts for more than the normal healing time of a wound then i dunno, but I would say its a wound. My oscars frequently injure themselves at night, like you said with yours.
It was a wound, but it looks like its turned into HITH but very slight and minor. I could just be over reacting and it could be healing a little funny to look like HITH to an extent but at the very least he got a nice large water change.
Get some bulk metro from angelsplus or kensfish (100g for $14) and treat for 10 days at 1/4 tsp per 40 gallons. Each day do a large water changes and redose the full amount as metro degrades. Keep the water clean after and it should go away leaving scars