Problem with Oscar Fish

Question
Hello,
We are sorry, but Dillon wasn't able to answer your question:

Hello - I'm looking to see if you have any experience with a fungus or other disease that might effect Oscars - I have a 55 gallon tank and 1 albino Oscar (with problem) and 1 African Chilad that does not have the same problem.



The Oscar has a fungus or disease that has left "scaring" on one side of his face.  There are marks in a few places on his head and one through the outside of his gill that actually has shown as a small hole. Fish is about 1 year old and approx 6 inches long - hole is size of tip of a erasure on a pencil. There are no other marks on the Oscar.



Any experience with this type of problem by chance?

Thanks in advance,

-Clyde.


Answer
Hi Clyde,
  It sounds like he has hole in the head. Oscars are very susceptible to nitrogen in the water.  This can often be the result of uneaten food, or just not enough water changes. With an oscar, you need to be changing 25% of the water in his tank, once a week, every week to keep him happy and healhty.  If you do this, this should help the hole in the head. It may not go away completely, but it should stop getting worse.   

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>