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I've fixed my water parameters problem in the last two weeks. Tank is sparkling.... Will this sort itself out and go away if it is the beginning of HITH or should I quarantine him an dose meds? What's a good med to use ? I've never dealt with anythig beside ich so this is new to me
I wouldn't worry about treating with any medication for HLLE, keep the nitrates under 20ppm( 10 would be even better) and feed a high quality pellet such as New Life Spectrum and it will start to heal.
Just ran into this treatment for HITH, if you water is already clean (under 20 ppm nitrates). Epsom salt will not harm the fish or any other inhabitants of the aquarium.
HITH and HLLE are two different diseases that lately due to uneducated aquarist have been blended together into the same disease. Angels and discus commonly get HITH where as larger new worlds such as oscars they get Head and Lateral Line Errosion(HLLE) where there is no parasitic cause such as hexamita or spironucleus flagellates which is far more common that Hole in The Head.
Treatment for HITH would include Epsom salt soaked food, metrozoidale, or even Clout due to being a parasitic infection.
Treatment for HLLE is generally due to poor water conditions or even more commonly a poor diet. This is easily fixed with pristine water conditions and a high quality pellet food, where as this is caused by a immune defiancy from long exposure to nitrates and quality food lacking in the needed vitamins to combat the effects of poor water.
I've rescued dozens of oscars over the years with HLLE and even sent a couple to a biologist at the Shed Aquarium here in Chicago and not one fish had parasitic infections which caused HITH, they were all confirmed to have HLLE.
Here is a good article written by a biologist and former AA member named Fishguy2727.