Oscar with Hole-in-Head

[evercl92]

My roommate's oscar is about 4-5 years old, about 14 in long. He's pretty much by himself in a 75 gal tank (school of 3 rosey barbs, and a 5 inch leporinus are his tankmates). He goes through periods of having hole-in-head really bad, then it will clear up for a while (couple months) then back again. It improved when my roommate moved him from the 55 gal to the 75 gal (6 months ago), but recently has gotten a big worse. It seems to occur at the same spots on his face / forehead. I pretty much take care of the tank myself, because my roommate is lazy. I've heard varying the diet helps, not feeding feeder fish, more frequent water changes. Anyone have any experience with anything like this: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produ...ll&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004&Nty=1 ?

Any insight is appreciated.

 

[rallysman]

I had an oscar with bad HITH. I increased water changes, cut the feeders out, varied his diet like crazy, and removed the carbon from the filter. The HITH is 98% gone now. I dont think that meds are necessary. Just good food and clean water.

 

[stotty]

I had an oscar with bad HITH. I increased water changes, cut the feeders out, varied his diet like crazy, and removed the carbon from the filter. The HITH is 98% gone now. I dont think that meds are necessary. Just good food and clean water.

I have cured it in the same way but I also added salt to the water. I have read loads of articles on it and people say. Hole in the Head is the result of poor water quality over a long period of time. It's best to prevent Hole in the Head by having a proper maintenance schedule. I have also been told it’s a lack of vitamins and minerals. So I did the same a varied diet without feeders and included putting the salt in putting a dropper of multivitamins in his food. This did clear it up. There is a medication out especially for it. But this worked for me.

 

[CichlidKid]

Mine came down with a case of Hith when i was at school took me 3 months to get rid of it completely now my guys all better.
do more water changes, and take out more water than you usually do each time 50% worked for me.
Vary the diet, look at the ingredients make sure you aren't feeding the same things.
Put mela-fix in the water, it will keep the sores from becoming infected, and help in the healing process.
those three things over an extended time and you will be golden.

also, no more store bought feeders.
find a resevior by your school and go catch some cray fish or something.

best of luck.

 

[fletchercrandall]

Why take the carbon out? Wouldn't that decress the water quality.

 

[rallysman]

Why take the carbon out? Wouldn't that decress the water quality.

the only thing that carbon is good for is removing meds and tannins. I've heard that it can cause hith by leeching the stuff it takes out back into the water if it is left in the filter for a long time. I dont know if there is any truth to that, but I remove it anyway because it isnt necessary. I keep some bags on hand for emergency purposes, but none of my filters have it.

 

[billylee]

My roommate's oscar is about 4-5 years old, about 14 in long. He's pretty much by himself in a 75 gal tank (school of 3 rosey barbs, and a 5 inch leporinus are his tankmates). He goes through periods of having hole-in-head really bad, then it will clear up for a while (couple months) then back again. It improved when my roommate moved him from the 55 gal to the 75 gal (6 months ago), but recently has gotten a big worse. It seems to occur at the same spots on his face / forehead. I pretty much take care of the tank myself, because my roommate is lazy. I've heard varying the diet helps, not feeding feeder fish, more frequent water changes. Anyone have any experience with anything like this: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produ...ll&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004&Nty=1 ?

Any insight is appreciated.

Sorry to hear about the HITH.
My Os are going thru the same thing. Its been 2 1/2 months of every 3rd day water
changes and varied diet. It take a long time to heal.

Would love to see pics of a 14" oscar....

 

[Red Devil]

we rescued an Oscar with HITH and have tried everything - garlic, dipping his food in vitamins,salt ,constant water changes,melafex,all kinds of medicines, no live foods, carbon removed.. ..in his own 75 gal tank and he still has it after two years... we have not given up and otherwise he is healthy but i really do not think we will ever cure him.. all our other Oscars are HITH free.. I would love to put this guy into the 125 gal tank so he could really enjoy himself but fear he would pass this on to the other two.. Anything we have left out that we can still try please let me know. He is such a big gorgeous red tiger and eyes that make u melt..