Oscar with Hole in Head? HELP!

[rayoddballfish]

Hi guys, does my oscar have hole on the head disease? If so how do I treat it? I have general cure but not sure if should just add it to my tank or put it in food. My oscar has a great appetite eating cut up tilapia so I'm not certain he has it. Also I have a lapreidei bichir in his tank, can bichir get high? Thanks and good night!

 

[tlindsey]

Hi guys, does my oscar have hole on the head disease? If so how do I treat it? I have general cure but not sure if should just add it to my tank or put it in food. My oscar has a great appetite eating cut up tilapia so I'm not certain he has it. Also I have a lapreidei bichir in his tank, can bichir get high? Thanks and good night!

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Water quality is the biggest issue with a SA Cichlid such as Oscars. Nitrates must be consistently at a low level. In the wild nitrates are reportedly 0 ppm .

 

[tlindsey]

Water quality is the biggest issue with a SA Cichlid such as Oscars. Nitrates must be consistently at a low level. In the wild nitrates are reportedly 0 ppm .

Keep filters maintained and perform large water changes weekly .

 

[rayoddballfish]

Water quality is the biggest issue with a SA Cichlid such as Oscars. Nitrates must be consistently at a low level. In the wild nitrates are reportedly 0 ppm .

Okay so I will do a water change. Is that all? No need to use meds? And thanks!

 

[tlindsey]

Okay so I will do a water change. Is that all? No need to use meds? And thanks!

You will have to maintain a consistent weekly water change routine. A Freshwater test kit is a must have so you can monitor the aquarium water parameters. Also as the fish grow water change percentage may increase. I personally wouldn't add meds.

 

[Gourami Swami]

I agree with Tlindsey, large water change schedule will be the key. Also I would make sure that your source water does not have high nitrates. I have also read that these fish develop this condition, and get it more intensely, in harder, higher-pH waters.
I used to have a rescue Oscar I got which had bad HITH. It never recovered, but with clean water, the holes stopped appearing and growing.

 

[Predatorykeeper]

You can use meds but myself I’d only use metronidazole. But water changes is key. HITH is a sign of poor water chemistry.

 

[Tony A.]

Oscars need to have a good cichlid pellet as their #1 diet. No need to feed it cut fish all the time . Oscars are bug eaters . poor diet can cause hith also. Good diet and water, a little on the soft side. And I don't use any carbon . carbon dust may also cause it.