Discus with hole by eye

[niggit]

I have a new discus (that i am luckily quarentining!) that developed a deep "pinprick" hole just behind his eye.

[when i bought him, i borrowed the tank he was in at the store and brought it home until i can get my new, larger tank set up for him and the two other discus i have. when i got the tank home (i saved 75% of the old water) and set it up, i was shocked to find that it will very dirty (tonnes of uneaten brine shrimp). i have since cleaned it up and brought the parameters to where they should be, as well as offered him a more varied diet.]

anyhow, the holes were at first very deep and "clean." after a day, they grew to be white and almost "pus-y" looking. today, they look like they've healed a little, and resemble pimples.

my question is: do you think this is hole in the head? if so, should i treat for it, or is simply reversing the poor diet and conditions enough?

sorry about the long post, but i would really appreciate any advice!!

 

[vega]

Yeah, is hole in the head. The 'hole" sometime appear outsidethe head area and discus often get them 1st when the environment or the food is not right.

 

[lmw80]

Sounds like HITH to me. This starts out as a small hole, or scrape-like appearance around the head and sometimes even the lateral line. Discus are very prone to this disease, and it will get worse if you don't treat it. I have not personally dealt with this disease, however, I know one medicine is Metronidazole. I don't know if it has a common name or not.

Anyone else know about treatment?

 

[BrianNY]

You can find tons of info on Discus @ www.daah.com. It's discussion board just like this one, but strictly for discus keepers.

 

[Terry]

It sounds to me going by the way you discribed the tank that he was in at the lfs, that he was not kept very well.
I am not an expert when it comes to Hole in the Head, but i think keeping the fish in poor conditions and a bad diet can be one of the main reasons cichlids get it. I think i read once that minaral deficiency can cause this, but i think that i read once as well that a paracite is the cause. I can't really remember, but i am sure someone will help you very soon.

Good luck with your task, going by what you have said, you are giving him a better home now and i hope it works out well for you. Just by giving him better water conditions and giving him a varied diet will help him a lot.

Good Luck.