Weird spot on forehead...

[jwcarlson]

Any thoughts on this? This fish is always a "daredevil" and is scuffed up after every water change because it is constantly wedging itself into things and being generally wild. About 10 days ago I noticed this after a water change and have been monitoring. It hasn't increased in size, but this white spot thing was not there until this morning (or maybe yesterday, I didn't do a WC yesterday and didn't really pay much attention to them).

Fish is behaving totally normally, eager to the food, happy to see me. Being friendly and all that. I haven't tested the water, but I will do that and report back if anything is abnormal. Normally the tank is 0-10 nitrates, zero everything else.

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Thanks for looking!
Jacob

[Iminit]

Looks like the start of a node. Maybe a scratch? I’d add some salt to the water and up your water changes till it goes away.

[LizStreithorst]

I'm afraid it looks a lot like hole in the head.

[jwcarlson]

HITH was my concern as well, Liz. I can do a course of metro easily enough.

Tom, I probably will kick back into nightly ones for a couple of weeks.

Thanks you two!

[jeep]

I would add 3-4TBS salt per 10g. This looks like more than simple HITH to me and I would hate to see this abscess.

[jwcarlson]

Just salt to start and see how it progresses? Or would you jump in with metro as well? Or see what the salt does first?

[Iminit]

Well from the first statement that the fish is known for accidents. I’m thinking it’s a cut and not hith. I’d start with the salt. I like to start slowly that’s why I said 1tbs and daily water changes. Which I think Jacob does already. More salt won’t hurt and will probably heal it quicker. If a cut it should heal quickly.

[Second Hand Pat]

There is no real reason to start salt slowly. It is very beneficial and the fish tolerate it well. I would suggest going with Brian's recommendation of 3-4TBS salt per 10g.
Pat

[brewmaster15]

Jacob,
I'm going to be more aggressive here than everyone else. All the advice you got was good advice for simple hith or minor infections or scrapes.
But you noticed it 10 days ago. That rules out alot. When I look at the pics I see white center.. and I see a hole that starts to crater at the margins.. that means its probably bigger underneath. Theres a good chance theres an abcess there.

I think a hospital tank and antibiotics would be better. I dont think metronidazole alone will treat this kanamycin would be good or maracyn 2. If neither are availible..

https://www.tetra-fish.com/products/...d-tablets.aspx

Contains nitrofurozone.. a good alternative.

I think its likely that hole is going to get bigger and more infected otherwise.

Al

[jwcarlson]

Tested water today. Nitrates less than 5 ppm. It's HITH, another has a worse spot that's kind of camouflaged. Really discouraged. What's the metro dose again? I have 16 grams left and need to order more to do a full 12 day course.

[seanyuki]

Usually dosage for metronidazole is 500 mg per 10 gallons for 12 days.


Usually QUOTE=jwcarlson;1380455]Tested water today. Nitrates less than 5 ppm. It's HITH, another has a worse spot that's kind of camouflaged. Really discouraged. What's the metro dose again? I have 16 grams left and need to order more to do a full 12 day course.[/QUOTE]

[jwcarlson]

Thanks, Francis!

[brewmaster15]

Are any of the fish passing white feces?

[jwcarlson]

No they aren't, Al. Had hex kill one a few months after I got them and the two with HITH look were the two ones that survived it. (Who were also showing symptoms, I mean, I treated the whole tank).

Big water change this AM and salt at Brian's dose level. Gotta find some metro, I thought I had a ton, but I have a ton of levamisole not metro. I don't want to start metro and run out so will probably wait until I knew new powder will be here.

Checked for stray current also (with my hand is all)... no sign of that.

[brewmaster15]

Jehmco.com for metro. They ship fast.

Im going to go out on a limb here.. this isnt "HITH" caused by hexamita/spiro. Its a hole that happens to be in the head and to me its probably bacterial.

The fact that theres no white feces from any of the tank occupants really goes against this being hexamita causing "HITH"..


Classic HITH doesnt affect a single pit on a fish.. its something that erodes away multiple pores over an extended period time. The rapid onset of your fishes hole.. its size .. the puss all indicate to me localized bacterial infections. If it is this, Metro will not work. Having a second fish with only one sore again indicates bacteria. ..not protozoan. Metronidazole only treats protozoans and a small number of anaerobic bacteria (gut bacteria).


I really think you need an antibiotic.. these can be dosed with metro in case my guess here is wrong but I really dont think metro is the answer.

I think theres a good chance that white spot will rupture soon and there will be a larger hole.