Oscar

[LuciferJonny]

Hi guys,

Earlier today we noticed a dent on my dads Oscar.

My link

A few hours lated it got bigger as seen in the other 2 pictures

My link

My link

I cant decide whether i think its 'hole in the head' disease, or whether its an injury.

What do you guys think? And whats the best treament for either to avoid infections? Stats are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 15 nitrate. Did a 25% water chance today.

Cheers,

Jonny

 

[markandhisfish]

my gut says injury. with HITH the crater wont just suddenly appear that size , it will start smaller and gradually get bigger , often in more than 1 place. hith is usually caused by poor diet/water quality . if youre feeding a good diet and keeping good water its even more likely that its an injury. and for it to suddenly get bigger that quickly as you describe leans me toward thinking that maybe the fish is headbutting something in its tank. what size tank is it in? what diet are you feeding it ? waterchange regime?

also what makes me lean towards injury , is that apart from the crater on its head the fish loks to be in very good condition.

 

[Uriel]

+1 for injury looks like when one of my oscars headbutted the braces on my tank trying to leap out for food.

 

[markandhisfish]

for now all i would do is observe the fish , do extra waterchanges to keep the water pristene and it should heal up quite quickly. i wouldnt bother with any meds just yet .

 

[LuciferJonny]

Cool, we had put a rock cave in there which he would sometimes hide behind, but have since removed it incase he has been headbutting it as he does like to jump around alot when feeding.

25% water change is done weekly, and he is in a 75 gallon tank. He is fed on 'TetraDoromin complete food for cichlids and all other large tropical fish "Special food sticks"'

 

[markandhisfish]

tank size is fine . how big is the fish? i would increase the amount of water you change , ideally to 50% particularly while the injury is healing . the diet sounds ok , he will also appreciate livefood such as crickets mealworms and shrimp . altho these should be given as a treat or you will end up in the position i am in where he will refuse anything else. now i am having to enter a battle of wills to train them back onto the pellets

im sure all your fish needs is extra waterchanges and he will be fine. i would not bother with meds unless a secondary infection forms.

 

[LuciferJonny]

He is 5 1/2 inches long by about 2 inches high/tall.

Cheers for your help

 

[Skins]

I see your in good hands with the advice from Mark, i would just like to say i hope he makes a speedy recovery as he is a lovely looking Oscar.

Keith.

 

[star4]

Definate wound, my Oscar Chops get those sorts of wounds all the time from jumping at the lights, headbutting the spray bar, intake strainer and anything else thats in the tank. Check your thermometer too, its a favorite to be pulled about, if its a glass one oscars that size can break them. Just out of interest is he alone in the tank or is there another fish, he could have been bitten.

BTW he is just gooooooooorrrrrrrrggggouuuuusssssss.

 

[markandhisfish]

no worries . would you post an update with how he gets on?

 

[LuciferJonny]

Hi guys, just thought I'd post an update, before pics again:

http/img714.imageshack.us/i/img5422v.jpg/

http/img406.imageshack.us/i/oscar2y.jpg/


and how he is looking now:

http/img340.imageshack.us/i/img5436ug.jpg/

 

[star4]

Healed nicely, I would be prepared for a few more, oscars do like to get into trouble.