Tag Archives: oscar

3 1/2 yr old Tiger Oscar, 8″ from tip to tip, living alone in 40 gal tank. Water slightly acidic and hard. Partial water changes done about 6gal every two weeks. Undergravel filter w/ powerhead and Aquaclear 300 outside filter. Fed Hikari brand Oscar tablets, occasional frozen bloodworms and frozen brine shrimp. He gets live feeder goldfish every now and then, but only after they’ve been quarantined for at least a week.

Recently Oscar has developed symmetric pock marks about the size of a BB and grayish-white in color about 1/16 ” apart around his whole jaw (from one side of face to other.) Doesn’t seem to be in any discomfort, and he eats well, but the marks resemble the “hole in the head disease” from the ’80′s. But I believe that was parasitic and was generally one lesion only.

Does anyone think I should be concerned?

BTW…I’ve had freshwater tropicals all my life; have successfully bred angels and have kept many happy, healthy discus; so I’m not a noob.
Detail…now I’m kicking myself for not Googling ‘hole in the head disease’, but it was just a wild stab; I didn’t think it happened anymore. But that’s almost certainly what he has after seeing the pictures. Damn I hope I can save him.

If you return here, please tell me what you can about the carbon affect…I rinse it occasionally but change it even more less. Thanks.

Thanks Copperhead. 11 points ASAP.
Edit 2: That comment about the carbon should have read “less often,” but apparently you can’t fix additional details once you hit submit.