Oscar

[Dearra]

I am not really sure if this is the right place to get some information on my sons Oscar.

The Oscar is probably about 4 years old. He is an albino, White and Orange. For the past 6 months he is starting to get holes all over his head, they started out as pin size and just keep spreading, and his face and body is starting to turn black. He really is not looking too healthy atm.

We are at a loss as to what to do. Does anyone have any suggestions.

Thanks
Dearra

[Creedy976]

yeah sounds like hole in the head.
i dont think there is much you can do about it
but in the end it will lead to death.

im unsure as to what cause it but i have heard people say its from either poor water quality and or
to small tank size.

BTW what size tank is it in????

[Dearra]

He is in a 4 foot tank and has weekly 25% water changes.

Dearra

[Creedy976]

that all sounds pretty good.

hole in the head is very comon with big oscars.
Had a mate who had one for years and his also devolped tiny pin holes in the head of the fish.
later they turned into big holes then the fish died.

ill do some searching on it and ill get back to you.

[Creedy976]

go to this link. and i also noticed you can treat it so not all is lost. :)

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

[samir]

what are you feeding it ? it can be treated by a combination of metronidazole,low ph (not sure how low oscars can take) and a balanced diet.
the holes may take a while to fill up. I'd recommend making a mix of metronidazole 1.5gm / 100gm food, not sure what oscars eat,beefheart veggies etc , add a bottle of sera fishtamins per kg of food mix. make enough medicated mix for about 10 days.

you can make a paste of tetracycline and rub it into the holes.

[Creedy976]

cheers samir ive never had a fish that had it but new a guy that did and that was a while ago.

so i wasnt sure if there was a treatment until my 3rd post.

[samir]

discus get it a lot. there's a bit of confusion about what causes it but it can be cured.

[nicholas76]

I always thought it was poor diet related?

post a picture if you can!