Ailing Oscar

[Talleyrand]

I have a 8"-9" Oscar in a 100 gallon tank. Between the holidays last year with work and family, I neglected the tank for probably 3-4 weeks. The water was bad when I cleaned it, but I saw nothing wrong at the time. No harm no foul. Not more than two or three days later I noticed the beginnings of Hole in the Head on the Oscar. He wont eat medicated pellets unless I hide them inside blood worm cubes, like feeding pills hidden in cheese to a dog. I have done water changes more frequently than usual for the last 6 weeks, water quality has remained excellent and stable. Yet the Oscars condition continues to slowly decline.
I have two Penguin 400 bio-wheel power filters, I put four new cartridges in every few weeks to keep the water especially clean. Any evidence that the carbon effects Hole in the Head?

A feeding question also. The Oscar refuses to eat anything but frozen blood worms or live earth worms. Hikari pellets, Cichlid Chow, etc float until water logged then sink to the bottom where I suck them out with the Python. Any advice on getting him to eat anything else?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

I have a 8"-9" Oscar in a 100 gallon tank. Between the holidays last year with work and family, I neglected the tank for probably 3-4 weeks. The water was bad when I cleaned it, but I saw nothing wrong at the time. No harm no foul. Not more than two or three days later I noticed the beginnings of Hole in the Head on the Oscar. He wont eat medicated pellets unless I hide them inside blood worm cubes, like feeding pills hidden in cheese to a dog. I have done water changes more frequently than usual for the last 6 weeks, water quality has remained excellent and stable. Yet the Oscars condition continues to slowly decline.
I have two Penguin 400 bio-wheel power filters, I put four new cartridges in every few weeks to keep the water especially clean. Any evidence that the carbon effects Hole in the Head?

A feeding question also. The Oscar refuses to eat anything but frozen blood worms or live earth worms. Hikari pellets, Cichlid Chow, etc float until water logged then sink to the bottom where I suck them out with the Python. Any advice on getting him to eat anything else?

Well, HITH is normally caused by poor water quality and/or lack of a healthy diet. I would try adding some Metrondiazole to the tank. I believe 250 mg per 10 gallons is a good base dose. Repeat this everyday. Add some of the medication into a cup of water and drop the blood worms in. Let it sit in there for a good 10 minutes and feed.

Try getting some red food pellets. You can either squish them a little if they are big and mix them with blood worms or just simply add them to the blood worms. Start with a 1 part pellet to 3 or 4 part blood worm ratio and slowly ween him on to the regular pellets. You can then start doing this with more foods.

 

[Tolak]

Let the blodworms thaw, and mix a little metro in with them. If he is eating normally this will be more effective than adding it to the water. Besides keeping the water immaculate, you can also add some vitamins to whatever food he likes. Liquid Centrum, found at most any drug store, works well, just add a few drops & let it soak into the food before feeding.

 

[england]

as the others have said, ,,,but remember daily water changes,,,clean fresh water is paramount,,,do about 100 litres- 150 litres daily

as the others have said, ,,,but remember daily water changes,,,clean fresh water is paramount,,,do about 100 litres- 150 litres daily

 

[cheesy feet]

as the others have said, ,,,but remember daily water changes,,,clean fresh water is paramount,,,do about 100 litres- 150 litres daily

as the others have said, ,,,but remember daily water changes,,,clean fresh water is paramount,,,do about 100 litres- 150 litres daily

Yup, thats how I cured my oscars HITH

 

[england]

well yes i have heard alot about carbon contributing to hole in the head,,,,but its not fully proven,,,,if i was you as i have done and remove the carbon and replace for ie sponge/filter floss