HOLE IN HEAD!

[Loshmitchell101]

I bought a red devil/midas cross from petsmart last week its only around 2.5''-3'' He has tiny holes about 6-8 of them on the front part of its head. I have two questions:
question 1: Can this be cured without major uglyness?
question 2: Can this be spread to my other small cichlids in my grow tank?

 

[BlackShark11k]

If the holes are not deep, if they're bad it may not heal at all and if it does it will scar... sounds like its not in the worst stage so you should be able to heat with minimal aesthetic damage Try and pick up some metrodonizole (sp) a HITH battling medication found in some different products, jungle makes HITH product containing it and make sure your water is within good parameters stress from poor water quality weakening the immune system is the #1 cause of HITH. Clear water quality then is your best weapon to battle it.

HITH is not known to spread when HITH infected fish are introduced to a stable environment with HITH free fish.

 

[preston5321]

I bought a red devil/midas cross from petsmart last week its only around 2.5''-3'' He has tiny holes about 6-8 of them on the front part of its head. I have two questions:
question 1: Can this be cured without major uglyness?
question 2: Can this be spread to my other small cichlids in my grow tank?

Are you 100% sure they aren't the sensory pits?

 

[Loshmitchell101]

yeah theyre even over its eyes

 

[Snowflake311]

People act like HITH is the end of the world it's not. It can and will heal if you know how to care for fish. Even deep holes will heal up but the deeper it is the longer it will take. And yes if it is bad enough you fish might Never look the same again but will still look good. I have rescued a few fish now with hith. One had a very light case of it it cleared up in a few weeks with good food and extra wc. Then my uaru I just rescued had a pretty bad case it's been a month and they are 90% healed. I will get some new photos to show before and after. I need to update that thread.

But if it's a few small holes keep the water perfect daily water changes and if you can get vitamines they work wonders.

No it will not spread. Most hith is caused by poor diet, stress, poor water and even carbon dust has been linked to it. Yes a parasite has been thought to cause it but that is not the common cause.

 

[sigaru]

Are you 100% sure they aren't the sensory pits?

i was going to ask this as well. my O has very visible ones due to his coloring [i just posted a thread on it...he has a light metallic looking overlay of color on top of his other colors, but his pits don't have the metallic color quite so much so they stand out more. but you said you're sure it's not those..i'd say listen to snowflake. keeping the water in pristine condition is the most important thing you can do for your fish. water changes are a must and try to keep him as not stressed as possible.

though to comment on another part of snow's post, oscar "look good"? lol. oscars are such a beautiful ugly fish. i love them. mine's getting to the point where he's starting to get that ugly oscar look in his face rather than the cute little baby fish look. so pretty!

 

[Otherone]

HITH is one of the more common diseases associated with Oscars and probably the easiest to cure. Good clean water in a low stress enviorment and a healthy diet. You could even add salt the stimulate slime coat regeneration. Odds are it won't spread under healthy conditions. Another leading cause of HITH is excessive CO2 if your using it for live plants - stop.