What's wrong with my Oscar?

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C

celanova

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 15, 2012
20
0
0
Southern CA
Oscar4.jpgOscar3.jpg
I've had the water tested and they say it is hard (normal for our area) but otherwise good. I've treated it with Melafix, Pimafix, added salt (got a little better when added some aquarium salt), etc. but it still looks like the pictures. Does anybody have any suggestions or thoughts? Thanks in advance

Oscar4.jpg

Oscar3.jpg
 
That looks like a really serious case of HITH (hole in the head) or some type of lateral line problem...

Whats you ammonia / nitrite / nitrate levels like?


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Thank you for your quick response. According to the fish store, ammonia / nitrite / nitrate levels are okay and none of my other fish have anything on them. I change out the water at least every other week. Anywhere from 25% to 50% water changes. The Oscar did look a lot worse and has stabilized to this level/point in the pictures.
 
What size tank is he in and what tank mates are there?


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Wow I agree it looks like HITH to me and one of the worse cases I've ever seen. How long has this been going on? How come you let it get to this point before asking for help? I'm not trying to come at you, just genuinely curious how it got so bad. As the others said for him to have that serious a case there has to be some sort of water quality issue. What other fish are in the tank? And how long have they been in the tank? Cichlids(especially Oscars) are more susceptible to HITH than other fish which may explain why the Oscar is showing signs before anyone else. Also if you missed this till it got this bad you maybe missing signs in other fish.
 
Also what type of food are you feeding him because poor food can contribute as well. I agree you should be doing a large water change on the normal weekly and currently every day or every other day replacing the salt you remove. How much salt have you dosed, and as others have asked what tank mates / what size tank?
 
This doesn't happen overnight...this fish has to have been kept in horrible conditions for a long time. was the fish like this when you got it?
 
55 gallon. Tank mates are 2 blue gouramis, 1 larger tin barb, 1 larger silver dollar, 2 paratheraps fenestratus, 1 very large sailfin pleco
 
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