Re: [GSAS-Member] Hole-in-the-head

[steev ward <steevward@mac.com>]

The site Susan mentioned (see below) should NOT be considered reliable.
It is one of a multitude which assembly questionable material helter
skelter. There are just too many innaccuracies in there.

Joe Blasiola wrote an article in FAMA may years ago relating
Hole-in-the-head disease and Lateral line Erosion to vitamin
deficiencies. His work has been accepted as accurate by anyone who has
kept up on recent developements in this disease.
It seems to be most common in fish that don't get enough vtamin C, but
probably would get Vitamin C in the wild. There may be other
deficiencies involved. Very often fish with Hole-in-the-head disease
will have NO Hexamita/Spironucleus in or on their bodies.
Angelfish often have hexamita (Spironucleus) and treating them with
Metronidazole is generally a good idea if you take the notion. This is
one of the few preventative treatments that I would endorse (for
Angelfish or Discus) even when the fish seem healthy. However it has
been my experience that it is  not the flagellates (Hexamita or
Spironucleus) that are responsible for hole-in-the-head in Angelfish.

It is best to assume that the "hole" or pimple-like spots on an
Angelfish are caused by bacterial infections. These will usually go away
as soon as the water is cleaned up biologically (decaying material) and
chemically (nitrates).

It doesn't hurt to use Metronidazole because:
1. Infections by Hexamita or Spironucleus can exascerbate the vitamin
deficiencies we are concerned with.
2. Metronidazole may kill some of the bacteria involved in making the
Holes.

Increasing the mineral content of the water helps alot. Adding salt
helps as well.

Flagyl is the same as Metronidazole, just a brand name and so more
expensive.

Steev

Susan Welenofsky wrote:

> Here's a good treatment link for hole-in-the-head disease.
> http://www.todaydiscus.com/disease.htm
>
>
>
> Susan
>
>

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