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Hi All

my adult male Tiger Oscar has hole in the head, just starting. I know why. We went on holiday and the water change was a little late.
What concerns me now is the best treatment. I have put in the methanol/formaldehyde stuff from the petstore but is there a more effective prescription antibiotic and if so which one is it. Also the dose would be helpful!

Cheers
Chris

Miscellaneous
Head and Lateral Line Disease (also known as Hole-in-the-Head disease)

Symptoms: Begins as small pits on the head and face, usually just above the eye. If untreated, these turn into large cavities and then the diseas progresses along the lateral line.

Head and Lateral Line Disease is attributed to a nutritional deficiency of one or more of: Vitamin C, Vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus. It is thought to be caused by a poor diet or lack of variety, lack of partial water changes, or over filtration with chemical media such as activated carbon.
HLLE has been reversed by one or more of the following treatments:
Increase frequent water changes.
Add vitamins to frozen foods.
Add the addition of flake foods, as they are enriched with vitamins.
Add greens, either frozen or in leaf form, to the diet.
Decrease the amount of beef heart as it lacks many critical nutrients.
Remove activated carbon filtration.

(This disease is often confused with another disease called 'Hexamita', because both these diseases are often seen simultaneously in the same fish. Hexamita is a protozoan disease that attacks the lower intestine. Discus and other large cichlids, especially Oscars, are especially e to Hexamita.)

info

This is where I obtained the above info I hope it helps you. As far as using meds they can vary from country to country also their availability.
Where are you as this will help in giving you further med info?

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

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Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Hi Keith

thanks for that info. I followed your link and found the dose for metronidazole (in case it is Hexamita).
I am an Australian also, but my family and I live in Worcestershire in the UK.

Cheers
Chris

Glad I could help, there are plenty of meds in LFS in Aust but I dont think you can buy antibiotics unless you know them extremly well or know a Vet or a Dr who will get you some.
What part of OZ are you?

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Before treating with Metro, i'd suggest you try the other options:

1. Water changes - get Nitrates back down below 20ppm.
2. Adding vitamins to the diet - get a good quality liquid multi vitamin from a health food store. Soak the fish food in this until just soft, and feed the pellets one at a time. I did this with my Oscars when they started showing signs of HLLE. One would eat the pellets, and the other would not... so i moved onto 3.
3. Pea's - get frozen pea's and shell them. This is easiest while they are still frozen. Break them in half, if required, and feed them to the fish. They contain vitamin B and D, which are believed to be the 2 primary difficiencies that will cause HLLE. Most Oscars seem to love pea's, so they're a great regualr part of the diet anyway
4. Med's - Only if the symptoms seem to get worse should you treat with another med. The options above should have a noticable impact within 4-5 days. Only after this time consider treating with med's directed at hexamita. If you do a google on hexamita you'll find options other than Metro to treat it. If you're really stuck and want some Metro, i have 40mL in liquid form left from when my Moorii was sick (not from HLLE... and he died ) Otherwise, i may be able to point you to some places to get Metro if you are in NSW. I got mine from a vet, but in my search located a couple of shops that would help out if you could show them you know what you're doing

Thanks a lot for the info. I have some metronidazole and I have started with the rest also.
Cheers
Chris
ps he seems to be well on the mend!