Face Rot On Oscar

[fiske]

When I said that he was about to be torn a new one I was not necessarily referring to liv2padl and was especially not looking for that to be the new subject of this thread and I apologize if it was taken the wrong way. I just saw that the thread could easily go off topic within the next few posts and so answered the question before the basic tank maintenance questions were answered. Liv2padl took offense and proceeded to tear apart my response even though I do not see how any of the info I gave can be proven wrong. Again I apologize, I was just giving a response to the question.

 

[kayla]

that's quite an assumptive leap of faith don't you think?

... Not on this site, it's not.

 

[rosita]

It looks like you are about to be flamed over tank size and lack of care . . .
Some will say you should have a 180+ gallon tank for three oscars and that would have kept your fish healthier. I have read the "how would you like living in a closet" argument on this forum multiple times, but in my opinion oscars and several other commonly kept South American cichlids are really just too big for any glass aquarium. A slightly larger "closet" would have helped you keep your water parameters healthier but the rot was inevitable.

Actually, Fiske, you did set this thread up for conflict by making this statement--it will cause confusion and frustration in the writer when what they are asking for is information, not assumptive criticism of other members of this site/forum.

"When I said that he was about to be torn a new one I was not necessarily referring to liv2padl . . . "

Oh? Then about whom were you referring? When posting on the 'net, one must carefully consider phrase and tenor with the understanding that others cannot hear your tone of voice, or necessarily read your intention. The written word can be limiting for many.

"Why ask for water parameters if all you are going to do is recommend regular water changes and testing anyway."

By now, surely you realize that a complete picture must be made, including photos, to discern where problems might stem from. How do you keep your tanks? Are water conditions clean--and are they important? I ask you these questions just to have you realize that they are indeed extremely helpfulin diagnosing, not assuming.

"I was only answering his question instead of talking down to him, setting him up for the "oh your water quality and fish keeping skills are horrible," and throwing the fix-all clean water answer at him."

Yes, there are some people posting on this site who seem to live to flame (I recall reading one person's statement just to that--and he does it regularly). There are those who may indeed be "talking down" to others--this is an unfortunate practice but exists whereever do humans--I have seen it for years in the academic world, and it generally stems from the person's insecurities. However, for you to second-guess anyone who may be posting in the thread is, once again, ASSumptive. There is nothing that indicates who will say what, unless you are a literal mindreader. You, my dear sir, are the one guilty of "setting him up" to expect harassment and negative responses at this site. Not to forget, people who are trying to help do NOT throw "the fix-all clean water answer"--they methodically gather as much information as possible in order to provide the most helpful recommendations to help the fish. If they aren't actually scientists, they usually follow scientific methodology learned over time working within this hobby.

"Yes clean water will help but what he described is most likely Hexamita, his water parameters will only tell you how fast he can expect his oscars to die from a secondary bacterial infection. A picture is what we need to be fairly certain that it is Hexamita."

Here, you once again offer an assumptive answer without having all the information--they are Oscars, therefore the described "rot" MUST be HITH, therefore. . . what if it's something else? And, finally, what if the needed photo is not possible because: a) no camera available or b) good, clear pix cannot be taken.

This is not written/meant as a flame, call out, put-down, assumption, or psychological summation of who you are. It is simply an attempt at helping you to see how immediately you created a negative situation for the poster and any other newbies who are just trying to learn. This site has been one of the best for rapid assistance with problems, advice on numerous topics, and the folks have even tried helping TROLLS before they realize it's a bogus thread. And no, don't assume I am calling you a troll; read it again--I said there had been trolls. And immature people, teenage and adult. Do you treat people in this way at work? or at school, if you don't work? or your friends? Carefully weigh your words and how you use them, please. Most humbly, and thank you for your time. ~r

 

[daveedka]

For some fairly accurate information and treatment of HITH try this Article Oscars need a clean environment, Nitrates below 20 pm is not even close to a requirement. My nitrates run 20-80 ppm depending on situation and Tanks in my past have probably been higher. I do keep clean tanks, and do frequent partials. A larger tank is necessary to keep the fish stress free and healthy. a larger tank is also an aid in maintenance and stability. Diet is additionally a factor IMO there is not enough attention paid to feeders and this disease. I feed Guppies and many other types of live feeders, I have never once had HITH develope in my fish. I do not and never have fed Goldfish to my oscars. If you fish have developed HITH you can treat and control it, but you cannot permanently cure it. Anytime water quality of nutrition lacks, you will see a rebound in the ulcers.


Now as far as the rest of this B.S. I get really tired of all the crap that goes back and forth around here. If someone is not keeping their fish in a decent environment, someone will probably say something about it. If that someone wants to help and asks for more information, that shows some responsibility, one cannot give accurate answers without accurate infromation from which to draw Conclusions. Liv2pdl did nothing but ask for some information, and there was no need to attack, assume, or even bring up anything about it. If you want to go to a board where guesses and B.S. Are prevalent there are plenty of them out there. We don't need it here where we try to give people good information and accurate knowledge. I have not seen Liv2pdl Flame anyone yet in all of his time here, and I seriously doubt that was the intent with the questions. If you don't like the fact that fokks here will state what is and isn't humane then I suggest you take hike, we don't need you kind here. Letting someone know they are in a bad situation is a far cry from Flaming. Pretending that everything is O.K. When it isn't is enabling. And most importantly we still don't know a D@mn thing about the original posters tank except that there are three Oscars with a problem. For all we know this is a 300 gallon tank with 2" fish in it.

dave
Dave

 

[sirfunsun2]

Thanks!

It looks like you are about to be flamed over tank size and lack of care but Hexamita (hole-in-the-head), a parasitic cause of head and neuromast rot, is not completely understood and you are probably not to blame. Most likely your oscars or at least one of your oscars was infected while in the crowded conditions of the breeder or fish supplier and the outward signs are just now showing. The parasites are thought to be taken in with food, multiply in the intestine, spread to internal organs and then cause the outward rot. Metronidazole is used to treat Hexamita but it is usually too late by the time rot is occurring and if treatment is successful the scarring is permanent.

If only one of your fish was infected, then yes you did cause your other two to become infected by keeping them in crowded conditions but the only way to have avoided that is to have kept only one oscar. Some will say you should have a 180+ gallon tank for three oscars and that would have kept your fish healthier. I have read the "how would you like living in a closet" argument on this forum multiple times, but in my opinion oscars and several other commonly kept South American cichlids are really just too big for any glass aquarium. A slightly larger "closet" would have helped you keep your water parameters healthier but the rot was inevitable.

Hi All,
Thanks for all the great info! I really appreciate the speedy replies.

I think my fish are too far gone for me to save. :sad: I will give these three oscars away, to anyone willing to try and rescue these fish from HITH. I will also give away 2 plecos....one is a 5 inch mango pleco, and the other is a regular brownish/black 7 inch pleco. Is there anyone close to me interested? I live in Marin County, California.

 

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

I have successfully treated HITH and do concur that the causes are not all known... From what I understand it can occur due to a myriad of factors including everything from genetic predispostion to poor living environment...

I tried every available treatment out there... nothing made a lick of difference... Metro is only useful if you can get them to ingest it... Good luck.

The only thing that worked and I DO NOT ADVISE THIS, was iodine applied to the open sores. I removed them from the tank and applied iodine with a cotton swab.. Rinsed them off in a clean pail of water and returned them to the tank... It worked beautifully and they recovered with barely a scar.
Mind you this is very much a "kill 'em or cure 'em" approach... It is not for the feint of hart BUT my fish never had a re-occurance....