I have a young severum with what I think is HITH. I noticed what I thought was a scratch on his head about a week ago.... now I'm more concerned that it's not a scratch.



I've read as much as I can on the forum about HITH but couldn't find anything to indicate if it's contagious or not? I'm worried about my O's coming down with it.

Water conditions are "pristine" - and have been for some time. Ammonia 0, Nitrate 0, Nitrite 0. I haven't had negative readings on these parameters for almost a month. I do 25-30% water changes every 4-6 days.

The Severum doesn't seem to have any 'stress' - he swims along with the O's and 2 clown loaches - even seems to sleep along side the O's when it's nap time.

The only thing I can think of is a varied diet. He eats enthusiastically, but it's hard sometimes for him to get food because the O's are such pigs. He gets blood worms (that the O's puke out of their gills because they shove so much into their mouths), and some flakes - only because the O's won't eat the flakes. His mouth is too small to eat the pellets that the O's eat.

Since the treatment is pristine water - and that I have under control. what should I do? should I be worried about the O's catching it?

not contagious. other fish may develop it at the same time, but thats from a singular cause, not from interaction with other fish.

If your water conditions are very good then it is very unlikely that your fish will develop serious disease. However, I'm going to ask you to carry out a nitrate test again because it is virtually impossible to maintain a nitrate of zero. What tests have you got. Many of the liquid nitrate test require you to shake the second bottle for a period of time, normally 30 seconds, and then to shake the vial for one minute, failure to do this can sometimes give you false readings, in many cases, a nitrate level of zero, done it myself.

The mark on your fishes head doesn't look very bad at all. However, please test your water again to doublecheck that all is good. By the way, what size tank have you got, on what type of filtration have you got

HITH is not contagious however if one fish developes it in a tank then other cichlids in the tank could get it. This is because the most common cause is poor water quality. Did the sev have it before you got it and as OFL says retest because it is pratically impossible to get a nitrate reading of zero. How long have you have the fish, and how long has the tank been running? How often and how much water do to change

OFL wrote:

tank is US 55 gallon with a Eheim Pro3 (which is rated for 320 gallons). Just so I don't get scolded - I'm awaiting delivery of a 135:) I know I'm overstocked at the moment but the new tank will be here by mid-Jan. Thus, I'm very diligent about water changes.

delboybully wrote:

I purchased the Sev on Nov 13. I noticed what I thought was a scratch about a week ago, but after close watch; the scratch isn't healing and I think the scratch is actually a hole. He was fine when I got him - this "hole" is definitely under my watch

Tank running since 1998; filter has been running since Nov 2. Water changes are every 4-6 days and usually 30% (sometimes 25%, sometimes maybe 40%).

I have API liquid tests - I just replaced them within the past few months; so they're new. I just did the tests twice and followed the instructions very carefully.



It's kinda hard to get a good photo - but the nitrate is definitely yellow - no tint of orange. The last time I had a nitrate reading was on 12/7. Am I changing the water too much?

Have you only got one fish in the tank? I'm finding it very difficult to believe that you have a lot had a nitrate reading · December 7. You are definitely shaking the second bottle for 30 seconds, and the vile for one minute?

I am going to suggest that you do not carry out the water change for a week if your ammonia and nitrite are Zero, and you keep getting a nitrate reading of Zero. If you still have Zero nitrate at the end of a week then I would suggest getting another test kit?

This is a stupid question but you are testing the water in the actual aquarium?

thanks for helping me figure this out - I'm now very perplexed as well.
OFL wrote:

Sorry if that wasn't clear in my posts/replies- I'm definitely overstocked at 2 young O's (about 5" each), 2 clown loaches (also about 5" each) and the Sev (he's pretty small - I'd say a bit bigger than the diameter of a golf ball). They are all in the same tank together.
OFL wrote:

I'm following the instructions - Yes, I shake bottle #2 for 30 seconds. I'd say I more rock the vile back and forth for a minute - not really a vigorous shake...maybe that is the problem??? I just tested again and shaked vigorously (instead of rocking); I relied on the second-hand of my watch to ensure the full 30 and 60 seconds. Still the same result = 0 (Yellow, no tint of orange).
OFL wrote:

Since I'm concerned about the HITH and keeping my water pristine - perhaps it's not worth risking 7 days of no water change? Perhaps I'll try and take some aquarium water to my LFS for a test instead? or do you think I'm changing the water too much at 25-50% every 3-6 days?
OFL wrote:

I'm sure you've seen it all:) thanks for covering all the bases. Yes, I'm testing the aquarium water

The only other thing I can think of is I'm using "ChemiPure" as a chemical filtration - which promotes itself as "ammonia and nitrate scavenging, promoting aerobic bacterial growth and nitrification" - I can't find any info on whether or not in has carbon. perhaps it's a miracle product of some sort??

www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4177

who knows.... maybe I do have a defective test kit. or maybe it's not really HITH??

I'm really not sure about these chemicals that you posted, I've never used them and I've never seen them before.

Fish develop hole in the head disease details of factors such as poor water conditions. If your ammonia and nitrite are Zero, and on my traits is also Zero, you don't get much better water conditions than that. However, I'm very sceptical about your my trait level so this is why I was suggesting leaving it a little longer between water changes. But if you are usingchemicals that may remove nitrate, this could be the reason why you are not getting any readings when you test the water.

I have never used or seen them before. I just did a search and a bit of reading. they do seem to be saying less water changes some as long as 5yrs?
www.aquacon.com/boydchemipure.html

I find it hard to believe myself but I wished I had water readings like yours meghanR. can you test your tap water for nitrates to see what if anything that shows. most tap readings show some nitrates. could it be something in the chemical that is giving a wrong reading with the test kit? or may be it is helping keep your nitrates very low. i would be tempted to leave the water change a little longer to see if the readings change.

using chemicals can mask your actual water parameters, thus i can not give any
opinion on your water issue.....

HITH is not contagious but if one fish got it inside your tank, there is a big
probability that others may catch it too since they are in the same tank. drastic
action must be taken to keep the water pristine without mask.

Marcus - thanks for the site you found.

The up to 5 year water change is probably Marine only (?) - in a properly balanced marine aquarium with live rock and corals you can go a long time between water changes. Definitely not recommended for any fresh water, especially with Oscars!

I decided to use the ChemiPure product from some advice from a very trusted friend who said it really does an amazing job of eliminating amm and nitrates. The research I did on Drs Foster and Smith (a source I rely and trust) confirmed. I guess it does!

When I change the tank over to the 135 (hopefully next week, just waiting on the stand to be completed) - I'll remove the ChemiPure. In the mean time, I'll continue my diligent water changes. Do you think I can then blame the HITH in the Severum on the activated carbon in the ChemiPure?

It might not be hole in the head. How old is the fish?