Need some 2nd opinions, HITH or Love dance wounds?

[Err]

Hey folks I have a pair of 6+" O's (not inc fins) that I'm 95% pos are a pair. They have cleared the same spot 2x so far and every once in a while I will catch them in some very intense lip locking/fighting but they are otherwise very doscile and they never fight except for those rare occasions. Well I was looking my fish over closely today and noticed the tiger had a head wound on the right dorsal area of her head, as well as just under her left eye. There are some scales missing on her right side (not too worried bout that) but could these wounds on the head be HITH? they recive 40% W/C's every weekend and a 5G quick vac just about every night. The NO3 has never been higher than 30 ppm in this tank. They eat gut loaded bugs, NLS/Danichi blend pellets, shelled peas and they rip on my pleco's algae wafers. The Red Oscar has no wounds and both are behaveing and feeding normaly.

NH3/4 -0ppm
NO2-0ppm
NO3- 10-20 ppm
PH- 7.0
GH-8
KH-6
Temp = 77-79 F

Here are some pics of what I'm talking about.

 

[ScoobyRacing03]

The one by his lip looks like HITH, as does the one closer to his eye. I've been fighting HITH on one of my O's since he got to the 4-5" mark and he's up to 9+ now and still has it.

 

[Err]

IS HITH contageous? b/c if its infectious homegirl is getting a 1st class ticket to a QT tank.

 

[ScoobyRacing03]

No it's not. I honestly feel it's genetics that cause it but no real proof other than what I've seen with Oscars I've kept over the years. I have 2 Oscars currently in the same tank since day one one has it the other doesn't. Both bought from the same place at the same time. There's a ton of different options on how to treat it but none seems to be 100% full proof to cure it. there's always going to be some signs of them having it.

 

[Err]

ahhh poop, ok well the general concensus is up the temp, add salt, and treat with metro in case there is a hex infection. =( So I suppose I will give the temp+ salt a try first before I go off doseing the tank with all kinds of chems.

 

[ScoobyRacing03]

good luck hopefully you can get it taken care of quickly.

 

[Sarah88]

yeah some Os are just more prone to it than others, some can be in 20ppm and get HITH while others can be in 70 and look fine (though rarely lol) but yeah its very rare for HITH to be actual infection and so normally is not contagious just treat like your planning and then make sure NO3 stays below 20 and remove any charcoal if you have it in your filter as some say dust from this can be cause as well (there are so many "causes" for HITH its ridiculous lol hopefully those scientists in their fishy labs will find out the actual sure fire cause of HITH some day soon)

 

[Otherone]

One cause of HITH is higher levels of CO2 due either dosing planted tanks or poor water circulation - Don't know if you add CO2 or not - a powerhead would help with CO2 transfer.

 

[Err]

yeah some Os are just more prone to it than others, some can be in 20ppm and get HITH while others can be in 70 and look fine (though rarely lol) but yeah its very rare for HITH to be actual infection and so normally is not contagious just treat like your planning and then make sure NO3 stays below 20 and remove any charcoal if you have it in your filter as some say dust from this can be cause as well (there are so many "causes" for HITH its ridiculous lol hopefully those scientists in their fishy labs will find out the actual sure fire cause of HITH some day soon)

Yah, I have never used carbon....I only use it to pull meds out of the water if need be. Which I still might do a full metro treatment just in case of a hex infection. So I will just stay on top of w/c's and get quick vacs in any time I see poo starting to collect. Hopefully it all heals up pretty quick.

One cause of HITH is higher levels of CO2 due either dosing planted tanks or poor water circulation - Don't know if you add CO2 or not - a powerhead would help with CO2 transfer.

Nah, no CO2 man, and I have a surface skimmer+ my FX5 churns the surface pretty good so O2 levels are pretty good. I think I'm just going to have to hunker down and keep my tank super clean with the vac's and WC's.