dumb move

[ERIC]

hey guys am in a pickle i started out with 12 discus and sold 5 to my friend and today i bought it back from him cuz he didnt want them but the thing i didnt know was 2 of them had hole in the head and 2 of them have the internal infection what should i do

[marg]

Eric read the following:

Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 8:22 am Post subject: Hole in the head

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I have a blue diamond with hole in the head and I have a few questions.

1. Is it contagious to my other discus?

2. If I do not have a quarantine tank is there a way to treat it without harming my other fish?

3. How bad is Hole in the head? Will it eventually kill her? What does this disease do, besides the holes in the head?




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ladyred
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Joined: 23 Jul 2004
Posts: 2578
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Location: Melbourne Vic.
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 8:59 pm Post subject:

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Hi Luis, Your fish is showing early stages of the disease. Treatment is quite effective at this stage.

It can be transmitted to your other fish, possibly thru contaminated droppings, although little scientific work has been done in this area. It is believed that the pathogen responsible for Hole in the Head (also known by a variety of other names such as Hex, head and lateral line erosion and wasting disease) is Spironucleus Vortens.

An infected fish may show one or several of the following symptoms:-

Skin lesions around the head area.
Turning dark.
Refusing to eat.
White jelly like droppings.
Muscle wasting and pinched appearance above the eyes.

The best drug to use is Metronidazole (Flagyl) which you will need to get from your local vet. Ring first to see if he will prescribe it after seeing a photo of the fish, or if he insists on seeing the fish himself.

1. Do a 30% water change.
2. Set the temperature to 30 degrees, no higher.
3. Add 250 mg Metro per 40 Litres of water. Crush tablets to fine powder and mix with water to form a paste before adding to the tank.
4. After 12 hours, do another 30% water change and repeat the dose. This should be done for a total of 3 days.
5. During treatment the tank lights should be left off. Metro is affected by light.
6. A variety of good quality, high protein food with added vitamins and minerals should be fed several times daily. Include prepared dry food, beef heart, brine shrimp, green vegetable matter and blood worms in the diet. Remove any uneaten food and keep the water very clean.

[kalebjarrod]

just a note

you need to retreat the WHOLE AMOUNT of water in the tank every 12 hours not just the 30% you change