Hole in the Head - treatment? Need specifics

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S

Skyla

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 23, 2011
28
0
0
Connecticut
Ok, so I read the sticky and a few other posts as well as whatever I could find through google.

I LOVE MY OSCAR and Im really really upset and I know his condition is completely my fault. I tried introducing a second oscar which definitely didnt work out. The new one kicked his (Frankie's) butt and I pulled him out to put him in a recovery tank. He didnt have any severe wounds but his fins were a bit chewed up and he had scales missing on his sides. I ran a small filter and treated with melafix. I have since removed the other oscar and when I saw Frankies fins and scales were looking much better, I put him back in the big tank. Now the lighting over the recovery tank wasnt very good so when I saw him under a good light I immediately saw poc marks all over the dome of his head.

Now I know the water quality is good. I do regular water changes and test each time. I suspect the stress Frankie went through is the main cause. Should I be treating for hexamita anyway? What are some products that contain the metranidozol that treats it other than Flagyl?

What other things should I be putting into the water? Aquarium salts?

What should I raise the temperature to?

What are good high vitamin foods that I can feed?

Any and all help is very much appreciated!
 
I got some pharm grade meds that work on resistant strains of Hole in the Head. PM and i can help you out.
 
adding aquarium salt is a natural way to let him heal but a treatment may be better for starters if his case is bad.
 
This been a while, but one of my BP's had hole in the head.. and honestly at the time didn't even know it was called that. And I didn't even ask the forum, but from reading on some other issues.. I just used salt, raised the temp and did more frequent water changes.. it cured her .. although now.. I might add a med to speed up the process.. sorry I can't remember how long it took before she was all better.. GL to you
 
Dont use salt bad advice it will raise cortisol levels and stress the renal system.
 
So Im on day 3 of treatment with metranidozol as well as a changed diet from Hikari Gold to Hikari Staple (staple has added vitamins)

Frankie's behavior hasnt changed at all. He's still giving me puppy eyes when Im close to the tank, begging for food. He still chases the giant danios now and then. He still patrols his "territory" and watches the other cichlids. Dispite the HITH, he's totally himself.

I closely inspect his lesions multiple times a day and I dont know if I should be expecting any improvement yet. He's never had any stringy, mucus like gunk coming from the holes so I doubt he has that nasty parasite but I read that the metranidozol could treat other underlying causes so I still went for it.

How do I know if I have enough minerals in my water? I dont know if this is any indication, but I have rapid green algea growth. Ill scrub the glass walls and withing two or three days I have algea again. Not a ton but enough that it looks bad and I need to scrub again.
 
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