MissMTS

I set my 80 gallon oscar tank up about two weeks ago and used filter media from another tank, so it was cycled instantly. Water Parameters are great:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate:10
The day after I got him I noticed that he has a little indentation between his eyes that could be the beginning of hole in the head. Usually though, this can be remedied through good water conditions and a good diet. I have been really good about water changes (twice weekly) and have been feeding him Hikari Cichlid Gold Pellets with the occasional blood worms and brine shrimp. I also ordered some vitachem from Dr. Foster and Smith to add to the tank to boost his health.

Yesterday he came down with ich. I raised the water to 84 degrees and added rid ich. This medication worked well with the case of ich on my neon tetras, so I am hoping it will work with him. This morning I did a 25 percent water change and added a 2nd dose of the medication.

I just walked over to the tank and noticed that Baloo (my oscar) was moving his mouth open and close rapidly (I don't know if this is normal behavior or not, but I thought it was wierd). I then noticed a wierd poop (or parasite) hanging out of him. It was about 2 inches long and white (almost transparent) with a dark red end of about 1 cm on it. I do not know what this was or if it was normal. Please, if you can, help me to figure out what is wrong with him.

I guess I just had bad luck and adopted a sickly fish that was not yet showing any symptoms. I am really attached to him and hope that I can figure out a remedy to his illnesses. His appetite is great and he eats a ton. He is about 5 inches long and I feed him twice daily.

What am I doing wrong? I am thankful to any and all advice I can get.

Thanks, Kate

Shawnie

Im sorry for your sick baloo...what test kit are you using?? for an 80 gallon to be cycled within 2 weeks just from a filter media, seems fast to me..not impossible just fast...id try some melafix and maybe a lil bit of aquarium salt with baloo and keep up with the water changes..if its a parasite, they dont like the salt or warmer temps...the food you feed him is great...so if he has HIH, its from something else...goodluck!

MissMTS

Thanks Shawnie I am using the API Master Test Kit. The tank did cycle fast, but I guess that's a good thing. I have had good luck cycling a tank this way in the past, so I am glad it worked this time. I have heard that Melafix won't do anything for hole in the head. I have heard that by keeping the water parameters good, the temp constant, and feeding them a nutritious diet, HITH will often go away. I am more concearned about the parasite (type thing.......I'm not really sure what it was). I just can't believe my bad luck getting such a sick fish. I may add some parasite clear into the tank, but I am not sure if I can mix that with the ich medicine.

Shawnie

not much will help HIH at all..just time and lots of water changes...and change of diet but yours is great....keep the temps up to 84ish and that will cure ich without meds...the melafix is if he has parasites...as is the lil bit of aquarium salt...poor guy ...hope it gets better...

MissMTS

Oh, I misunderstood you on what you were suggesting the melafix for Sorry about that. Thanks for the advice. I hope he gets better as well.

MissMTS

Actually, I just realized that melafix is for bacterial infections, so I think that I will dose the tank with Parasite Clear tomorrow after a partial water change to get the Rid Ich out of the tank.