CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

Hi everyone.

First time post, so be kind. My oscar has been through a bit of bad times recently, he had a nice ick outbreak, hoth, and then some more hoth. I think he is on the mend though. Hopefully the picture i have attached works, so you can let me know if i should go another round with the hoth meds.

THanks for all of your insight

this should be easier to see., sorry

Hole in the Head, or HitH I belive is caused by a lack of proper nutrition, along with poor water quality. There are as many thoughts on what cause HitH, as there are cures. I am glad to hear yours is recovering. Could u tell me what size is your tank. The type of filtration you use. How offten and the amount of water you change in the tank. The ammonia level, nitrite, and nitrate levels, ph gh kh ect if you test for them. Do you use activated carbon in your filters. AS much general tank information as you can. The more info, the better we can help you.
I didn't wait to load the picture you posted before I replied. Upon viewing it, that is a very bad case, also the fins seem to be eaten away, there are a couple of problems going on in your tank I suspect. Please reply prompty, and add as much info as you can, like how long u have had the fish, all the problem that have happened, if there are others besides the ich. ect ect

I have had him for two months. He is in a 10 gal quarantine tank for obvious reasons.

amonia is zero, ph is at 7.0, nitrates are near zero, temp around 80-82.

ran out of nitrite test kit, going today.

Do you think i should start a salt treatment for the fins?

oh , forgot water changes. I do 40 percent three times a week.

Salt is good for fin rot, as well as some meds, Melaflex comes to mind. I do have a couple more questions though, what size is the main tank, and were the figures you posted from that tank, or the hospital tank. Also how big is the O currently. Did the fish have HitH when you got it, and were the fins like that as well. I also would like to know if in the main tank the O's has company. The fins may have been damaged by other fish, and not via another problem. Your current levels seem ok, and you appear to be on the right track. Try and keep the stress down. Post back I will check again later today. I forgot to ask, what type of filters do you have on the main tank, and do you use activated carbon?

i have hob filter for a 50 gal tank on the twenty (his normal home) he is being moved to a 75 this weekend. their is activated charcoal which will be taken out tonight when i get home. there is also a fluval 3 in with it. plenty of water movement, plenty of water changing, but it could be stress due to tank size. ill take some new pictures soon to see if he is improving. he is all alone in his reg tank.

Add salt to the tank, if for nothing else as a good cautionary measure. it is very inexpensive, I use it , have for as long as I have been keeping fish, and I have not had any problems with fungus, ich ect ect. I use 1 tbl spoon for every ten gallons keep in mind do not use table salt, it has been treated. HitH has been associated with activated carbon, I use carbon, and have never had a case of it. Myself I belive it is a combination of poor tank mainance, and diet, as the main cause. However, poor installed carbon, ie, not properly rinsing out the filter bag, when first used I am sure can lead to the problem. Feed him/ her lots, there is a very good recipy here on the site for homemade beefhart, I woudl recomend you try it. Keep away from feeding feeder fish, they bring nothing but trouble. You can try earthworms, from bait shops ect, just give the O a varried, well balanced diet, good tank filtering, which should be 750 gph for the 75 gallon tank with a hob, or 400 for a canister type. You can do 30 % water changes weekly. I hope you first cycle the 75 with some filter medium from the other tank, gravel , some water ect ect. Seems like your are doing ok, keep us posted.

with the 75, i will use the same hob filter i have now, plus another two fluvals (cant be to careful with my buddy)/ I will check out the beef heart recipe as well as dumping the activated charcoal. I will keep you posted.

thanks again

Just keep an eye on the new tank, to make sure the cycle is complete. It is not extremly critical with O's, they are very hardy and can survive through the cycling process, but with yours already fighting of a couple of problems, I would not want to add high ammonia levels, right now. It could worsen the problem.

My oscar has a big scar on well lets say his forehead lol anyways their seems to be this stuff on it im not sure if its hoth or not what do yall think i should do?

http://www.cichlidfish.com/Adam/hith.html

http://www.cichlidfish.com/oscar2001/ich.html

Also, my personal fave -- http://www.worldcichlids.com/diseases/Adamhith.html:thumbsup:

--Mark:cool:

Originally posted by Mark Stone
Also, my personal fave -- http://www.worldcichlids.com/diseases/Adamhith.html

Which, after clicking on Joe's links, is identical to one of his suggestions -- sorry for being redundant! That Adam's got his head on straight when it comes to HITH!:)

--Mark:cool:

im confused why doesnt no body know how it happends thats a little wierd