Acoy797 Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 I have had my Oscar for about 6 months now. He started off in a 20 gal as a baby with a severum but they started fighting and came down with a bad case of ICH. I separated them and treated and they were fine. I finally got my hands on a 55 gal but it also came with a 12 inch pleco. I put my Oscar in and he is now about 8 inches. I know I need to upgrade to bare minimum of 75 gal, but saving up money for that. In the meantime, my Oscar had a small hole in his head so I immediately started treating with maracyn and paracleanse and did 50% weekly water changes. He isn't getting better, in fact it has gotten worse in the last two months since I first noticed it. I think he and my pleco do not get along, as sometimes I will hear splashing from the other room. I have Fatty (my oscars name) now quarantined in a 10 gal so I can start a more targeted treatment, but I'm not sure what specific medicine I should be giving him. I am also looking and possibly rehoming his as I dont think I can put him back with the pleco without this reoccurring. Please help!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 Can take a picture of Oscar and what are your water parameters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acoy797 Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 I dont know my water parameters, but if I'm being honest with myself they probably aren't the best. The waste the pleco produces is a lot so I try to use water conditioners to help with ammonia. The white flecks on his side are new, they just appeared this morning leading me to think this is damage from possibly getting in a tussle with the pleco, as plecos have sharp barbs on their sides. He is currently cranky at being put in a smaller tank, but honestly his attitude is pretty normal for how sick he looks. Still loves to eat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acoy797 Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 Also, the smaller specs of white aren't on him, those are bubbles from the freshly changed tank water Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 Is it just the one hole on left side of head Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acoy797 Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 There is a good sized one in the middle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 What I would do is treat with aquarium salt at 1table spoon for 2gallons and redose the paracleanse it could be hole in the head disease 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 (edited) Hole in the head disease can be caused by poor water conditions and nutrition I have read there is a link between active carbon and hole in head disease Edited June 10, 2023 by Colu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acoy797 Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 Thanks! Ill try paracleanse again. Now that he is in a smaller tanknit should be easier to treat. I will better monitor the water conditions. I do have carbon filters but don't know of another type of filter to use Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 Can you remove carbon pad form your filter and replace with different filter pad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenFins Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 Hole in the head is often caused by a parasite called hexamita, Yes as @Colu said is treat with aquarium salt. I would also add in API General Cure. Your Oscar also has popeye, it looks to have gotten quite worse, I would treat with API Melafix as well as the salt dossage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenFins Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 also keep your water parameters pristine, keep up with your matnience and do regular water changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingFishKeeper Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 A lot of LFS's and even some chains like Petco and PetSmart will offer free water testing. There are some at home tests that are fairly cheap. I would treat with what the others are saying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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