Water quality was bad but after numerous water chanmges and a few changing of things it is almost perfect now, but he is still sick. I was feeding him only cichlid sticks, but now I am feeding him bloodworms some other kind of tropical fish food, and he occasionally gets a few brine shrimp when I am feeding the other fish. Please help me, if he does not get better soon, I will have to give him to the pet store.
Symptoms
The main symptom of this disease is the small pits, mainly on the head, which give the disease its name. These are usually whitish in colour, and there may be yellowish mucus trailing from them. The fish may also stop feeding and become hollow bellied.
The disease affects mainly cichlids, particularly oscars and discus, but can also affect gouramies.
Causes
The disease is linked with a protozoan parasite, Hexamita (sometimes known as Octomitus ). This may often be present at low levels in fish, but the acute infection does not occur unless factors like poor water quality or poor diet have an influence. Therefore, Hexamita alone may not be the primary cause, and good water quality and a varied diet should prevent this disease occuring.
Possible cures
The fish can be treated by isolating to a separate tank and adding either Dimetridazole (5 mg/litre) or Metronidazole (7 mg/litre). In some countries (including the UK), these are only likely to be available via veterinary prescription. The treatment will probably need to be repeated a few days apart, with a 20-30% water change between each treatment. Medicated food is useful for treatment, but this can be problematic if the fish is not feeding. Direct injection near the affected area is likely to prove very effective, but should only be attempted by an appropriately qualified person. In the UK, Waterlife Octozin may also be used for HITH disease. Early stages of HITH can be healed with regular tank maintenance.
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Go to oscarfish.com, where you will find some great experts. There is no real medicine for this, th ebest cure is ensuring your oscar has at least a 50 gallon aquarium, and doing regular water changes. They can get sick easily if the nitrites and nitrates are high, so get an API test kit and keep checking the water. Hikari(spell?) pellets are very healthy and I believe there is also some kind of vitamin that is supposed to help HITH disease. Ask the real experts on that site, they will be of great help. Good luck! PS< the 50 gallon is if he is alone, he needs a bigger tank if there are more fishies.
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Treating this disease is best done by giving the Oscar the best conditions. Do weekly water changes of 25%. Try raising the temperature slightly to increase your fish’s metabolism. A few spoons of non iodised salt in the water can also help.
http://www.e-aquarium.com.au/oscar_cichlid.htm
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If he has scarring or pitting/holes, those will remain they’re permanent.
Keep the water quality good. I personally think a combination of a poor diet and poor water quality is what causes HITH disease.
The varied diet is good, but I’d still add more to it. A good pellet food should be the main staple-Hikari is a good brand, along with the bloodworms, brine shrimp(both good choices), try some beefheart, cocktail/salad shrimp cut up, krill, etc. At least twice a week, soak some of the pellets in a small bowl with some liquid vitamins(people vitamins). I used to use Poly Vi Sol-the childrens liquid vitamin. Let it soak for about 15-30 minutes to absorb in the pellets, then feed. Also, once a week I’d throw him a pea or two split open. Good for preventing constipation.
A secondary infection to HITH disease is called hexamita. You may have to go with a med that contains metronidazole-an antibiotic to kill that-especially if the HITH was bad and he’s not improving. But, be sure to monitor your water quality, most antibiotics will kill off your beneficial bacteria in the tank.
Also, you probably know this already, seems you’ve done some research…but if he’s not in at least a 55 gallon tank minimum-by himself, give serious thought to upgrading to a larger tank. Or, getting rid of him.
http://www.e-aquarium.com.au/oscar_cichlid.htm
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Good, you have to keep the water quality really good. It will take some time things don’t go right back to normal instantly. For more Information go to these websites!!!
http://www.aquariumfish.net/information/hole_in_the_head.htm
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=16&cat=1791&articleid=2586
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/hdhith.htm
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?dept_id=0&aid=675
Remember Hole in the Head Disease is very hard to get rid of and in some cases even with treatment the fish might not make it. So it is Important that you do everything correctly and carefully when treating the fish.
Hope your Oscar gets better!!!
http://www.e-aquarium.com.au/oscar_cichlid.htm
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