Hole-in-head disease

[fischkopp]

One of my fish has what I think is the so called hole in head disease. The fish is still doing great, and the hole isn't that big yet, but it is definitely growing. I really want to safe him. Does anybody know what can I use to treat them and where I can get it eventually locally?

[Fishnut]

I read somewhere that lots of water changes will help.  I also remember something about Melafix being good for that.  What kind of fish is it?

Cheers

[KLKelly]

Don't use melafix.  If you research HITH it is actually something that needs to be treated.  Pure Metronidazole is the drug of choice.  If your fish is still eating please order metromeds.  This can be ordered from fish sempai.  If your fish isn't eating you can use pure metro which can be purchased in five gram bottles from Mops.ca.  Feeding the fish is the best way to get drugs into them.

HITH is actually a protozoan parasite called Hexamita.  It affects more than just the head with significant impact on the internal system.  Its always in a system but something brings it on like poor water quality, insufficient diet, stress.  Some fish are more susceptible than others.

If you buy the 5g tube you can make a gelfood also.  250mgs of metro per 25grams of gel food.  Metromeds though has other antibiotics that can help deal with secondary infections.

[KLKelly]

If its an emergency I have extra metromeds here but I'm out in Rockland which is a trip for most people.  No trips to the city planned.  Fish Sempai and Mops.ca are both very good organizations to deal with.  Metro+ in Big Als I wouldn't recommend if you are attached to the fish.  Others have had success but its mostly salt and they don't list the amount of metro ingredient.  You also can't make it into a medicated gel food.

[dan2x38]

I have some pure Metro. I have one unopened tube which I got from MOPS. You'd need to replace but can get this one right away. No rush to replace I have 1/2 a tube so can wait to replace on a group order. I used Grain Alcohol, Fish Food, & Metro. You mix the food & metro together than dampen it with the alcohol. The alcohol allows the meds to be absorbed into the food then evaporates. I also have some of the alcohol. Your welcome to a few mils of that for a couple bucks it is tough to get and expensive - $24 for 250 mils we could just do the Math... If he/they are eating get the treatment started ASAP. Once they stop eating treatment success decreases big time.

[KLKelly]

I wouldn't use alcohol.  I've used the medicated food for bloat and the fish recovered.  His scales were stretched out he was so swollen.  As long as it gets into the fish it will be digested.  It doesn't disolve easily in the tank but does after an hour.

Just getting the metro into the fish should be sufficient.  I can ask some of the GAB gurus.  We have access to aquatic veterinarians.  Also one of the moderators is a second year vet student at Cornell and is a fish guru also.

[KLKelly]

Here is a link to an extremely easy medicated gel food:
http://thegab.org/Articles/MedicatedGelFood.html 

Babyfood peas, sardines, gelatin and metro.  Acidophilus isn't necessary but a nice to have.

[fischkopp]

Thanks so much KLKelly! This is great info!:)

Dan, PM is on the way ...

[markw]

Hey Robert, Good Luck treating the HITH. As everyone says, it is a disease that need immediate attention. If you can't get any metro let me know. You saw my "medicine cabinet"! In future here is an excellent article on HITH. http://www.worldcichlids.com/diseases/Adamhith.html

[fischkopp]

Thanks to Dan I am all set and started the treatment last night.

Thanks for the offer Mark! The article is great!

[dan2x38]

Keep us posted... crossing fingers for her!

It always amazes me how passionate fish hobbyists are. We'll spend a fair amount of money to save a $5-$10 fish.