Hole in head disease on Oscar

[Angel Chicken]

Ok I will divide the tank.

Thank you a gain.

Stop, stop now. Please do not take any more of Borzoimom's advice. She is going to kill off your fish if you do.

There is no need to divide the tank. If the oscars are a pair, they will be fine. They mate for life, so generally they won't kill their mate.

The white covering the hole isn't healing... it's the parasites.

 

[borzoimom]

Stop, stop now. Please do not take any more of Borzoimom's advice. She is going to kill off your fish if you do.

There is no need to divide the tank. If the oscars are a pair, they will be fine. They mate for life, so generally they won't kill their mate.

The white covering the hole isn't healing... it's the parasites.

:rofl1: obviously you do not know fish.. lol.. You do not know me- you just think you do.. :rofl1:
Perle- you can check my advice with any fish expert at any store or fish breeding and they will tell you the same I just did.

 

[4dogs3cats]

my neighbor had two HUGE Oscars and one got hole in the head.. he didnt make it but the other one did.

I just wanted to wish your guys the best of luck

 

[borzoimom]

my neighbor had two HUGE Oscars and one got hole in the head.. he didnt make it but the other one did.

I just wanted to wish your guys the best of luck

yea probably parasites..
Oscars are predatory in nature and if one fish is acting like its ill, mates or not, they will go after the sick one. Its nature..

 

[drmom777]

I would go with AC's advice. All I know about hole in the head disease is that it is caused by a protozoan--so metronidazole seems like an appropriate treatment, and the fish that die, die of secondary infections because of the breaches in the skin, not the original infection.

Overmedication kills a lot of fish too, accordinto what i have read. Never had oscars.

 

[DanL]

I always thought hole in the head was a parasite and was carried by feeder fish. It also takes a long time to get to the point where it makes big holes in their heads. What you see now could be from an infection from months ago, or even longer. They could have had it when they were small and being fed live fish at the store where you bought them, and only now are the parasites numerous enough to cause visible damage. They are little worms, and sometimes you can even see them coming out of the holes.

Oscars by nature have a lot of pores on their heads that are very visible when they get big so don't mistake a natural thing for a disease. When I've seen hole in the head it looks like a big gouge of flesh taken out, like someone used a drill bit on them.

Water conditions and size of tank will come into play only because clean water is going to help them heal faster.

 

[4dogs3cats]

yea probably parasites..
Oscars are predatory in nature and if one fish is acting like its ill, mates or not, they will go after the sick one. Its nature..

no sorry I typed that wrong. They both got it, one survived and the other didnt. the one that didnt was a smaller albino oscar, the one that did survive was a lrger, regular oscar. hes fine now. that was a year ago.
They kept them both in the same 75gallon along with their pleco and jack dempsey. They all survived but the albino oscar. The one didnt kill the other. he just died.

 

[Angel Chicken]

:rofl1: obviously you do not know fish.. lol.. You do not know me- you just think you do.. :rofl1:
Perle- you can check my advice with any fish expert at any store or fish breeding and they will tell you the same I just did.

No, I don't know you, but what I do know is that you don't know jackshit about anything, and your almost ALWAYS giving bad advice to everyone you see.

You think your an expert on everything from dogs to humans. Hate to tell you honey, your NOT.

And as for this...

:rofl1: obviously you do not know fish..

I know fish, I've been in the hobby a long time now. I have spent MONTHS, not days, not minutes, but MONTHS doing research on anything and everything cichlid. I've dealt with some of the best of the best in the cichlid business, so yes, I know my fish.

I'm trying to save her fish, whereas you are trying to kill them. Good job Borzoi-idiot!

I'm done with being nice to you. I'm done overlooking what you say. You know ZILTCH. Shut your mouth, and go on.

Perla, I'm sorry for mucking up your thread, I really, really am. I'm just trying to prevent the death of your oscars. I hope you can accept my apology

 

[borzoimom]

I always thought hole in the head was a parasite and was carried by feeder fish. It also takes a long time to get to the point where it makes big holes in their heads. What you see now could be from an infection from months ago, or even longer. They could have had it when they were small and being fed live fish at the store where you bought them, and only now are the parasites numerous enough to cause visible damage. They are little worms, and sometimes you can even see them coming out of the holes.

Oscars by nature have a lot of pores on their heads that are very visible when they get big so don't mistake a natural thing for a disease. When I've seen hole in the head it looks like a big gouge of flesh taken out, like someone used a drill bit on them.

Water conditions and size of tank will come into play only because clean water is going to help them heal faster.

Yea and to get treatment fast as fish will die fast, you treat both parasites and bacterial. Since she stated she never gave feeders its probably bacterial. ( unless she added a new fish in the tank lately..) Hole in head in oscars is not as prevelant as say Orandas, but can occur. I had it from feeders- hince why I seperated feeders for over a week to make sure before feeding.

 

[perla123]

No, I don't know you, but what I do know is that you don't know jackshit about anything, and your almost ALWAYS giving bad advice to everyone you see.

You think your an expert on everything from dogs to humans. Hate to tell you honey, your NOT.

And as for this...

I know fish, I've been in the hobby a long time now. I have spent MONTHS, not days, not minutes, but MONTHS doing research on anything and everything cichlid. I've dealt with some of the best of the best in the cichlid business, so yes, I know my fish.

I'm trying to save her fish, whereas you are trying to kill them. Good job Borzoi-idiot!

I'm done with being nice to you. I'm done overlooking what you say. You know ZILTCH. Shut your mouth, and go on.

Perla, I'm sorry for mucking up your thread, I really, really am. I'm just trying to prevent the death of your oscars. I hope you can accept my apology

What ever you and AC have is your problem.

I just want to figure out how to get rid of the Hole in head. so if you have any advice on how to cure it feel free to let me know.

Edit: I ment to say borzoimom

 

[borzoimom]

What ever you and AC have is your problem.

I just want to figure out how to get rid of the Hole in head. so if you have any advice on how to cure it feel free to let me know.

YOu can consult any fish expert and they will tell you what I told you. YOu come at from two directions as with fish you do not have much time. Parasites and bacterial. I also had orandas with this condition a few times and when they start to heal you see white around it. I know you know this already but the carbon must be removed as stated above or it will neutral the meds. Remember your ph may drop on meds so keep an eye on it. Let me know what your ph is when you get home.. And ammonia will rise on " decaying flesh or meat" so add ammo lock to your water during the process if your ammonia rises.

 

[Angel Chicken]

Here's a GREAT site for HitH!

http://www.aquariumfish.net/information/hole_in_the_head.htm

 

[perla123]

OK the hole in head that mine has looks like the one in this website. the picture with 2 oscars on it, but more white.

http://www.worldcichlids.com/diseases/Adamhith.html

 

[Angel Chicken]

OK the hole in head that mine has looks like the one in this website. the picture with 2 oscars on it, but more white.

http://www.worldcichlids.com/diseases/Adamhith.html

Worldcichlids is a GREAT website for info. I suggest you hang onto that link

 

[borzoimom]

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[perla123]

First off, hole in the head will take alot longer to cure than one week.

You see, HitH is caused by generally poor water parameters. This isn't to say that it's you that is making it bad, but it could be your filter.

Do you have a undergravel filter, or is it a HOB (hang on back) filter? If it is a HOB, does it have Bio-Wheels?

How big is your tank?

How many other fish are in the tank?

I ask these because it can give me a better idea about your tank, and what can be done to prevent HitH from coming back. Most times, even when treated, it will come back, and keep coming back. If I know your tank specs then I can help you better.

Borzoi, please, please, please stop giving people advice when you don't know what the hell your talking about. The advice you gave her could potentionally could kill her fish.

I have a HOB filter(no Bio-Wheels), I have a 60 Gallon tank and I only have 2 Oscars (tiger) in the tank.

 

[borzoimom]

I dont care for bio wheels either. I always used whisper and one size bigger than tank.
60 gallon is good size. How deep is your gravel? I use to use a python to clean my gravel and for water changes.

 

[Angel Chicken]

I have a HOB filter(no Bio-Wheels), I have a 60 Gallon tank and I only have 2 Oscars (tiger) in the tank.

Ahh thanks!

Let's see... well, first, you need to get a different filter... it'll be pricey, but it will help keep nasties out by a landslide. Look into getting an Emporor filter, they are the best. they keep healthy bacteria going into your tank... after you have it established it keeps up itself (minus cartridge changes).

About how big are the oscars? If they are still little, then they can stay in the tank for now... but they will need at least 100+ for both of them. They get HUGE and they will become tank busters if not given the proper amount of room.

 

[perla123]

I dont care for bio wheels either. I always used whisper and one size bigger than tank.
60 gallon is good size. How deep is your gravel? I use to use a python to clean my gravel and for water changes.

Its about 3 to 4" deep. I use a reguler gravel vac

 

[perla123]

Ahh thanks!

Let's see... well, first, you need to get a different filter... it'll be pricey, but it will help keep nasties out by a landslide. Look into getting an Emporor filter, they are the best. they keep healthy bacteria going into your tank... after you have it established it keeps up itself (minus cartridge changes).

About how big are the oscars? If they are still little, then they can stay in the tank for now... but they will need at least 100+ for both of them. They get HUGE and they will become tank busters if not given the proper amount of room.

They are about 3" each so not too big. I know they will get about 12 to 13" so I will get a bigger tank latter on.