turtlechick Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 I believe that one of my red parrots has the beginning stages of Hole in the Head Disease....I couldn't find a layman's answer thru my research on how to treat it.......can somone help? He has a pin hole sized hole starting...no fungus or anything yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happeboy Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 It can simply be under feeding/lack of nutrients and stress, there are other causes though but at the moment I can not recall them. Assuming your water conditions are good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegrandpoohbah Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 As stated, usually caused by improper nutrition. Make sure to feed a high quality food. If you choose to treat with meds, metronidazole is about the only thing that actually works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtlechick Posted August 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 What would be a good high quality food to go with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegrandpoohbah Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 I like Omega One myself, mostly because the first two ingredients aren't fish meal and wheat flour. Most people here swear by New Life Spectrum as well. What do you feed now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtlechick Posted August 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 The fish guy here recommended Tetra and Nutrafin...I didn't know there was any others (small town girl, gimme a break, k? LOLOL) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegrandpoohbah Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 The fish guy here recommended Tetra and Nutrafin...I didn't know there was any others (small town girl, gimme a break, k? LOLOL) If you can't buy decent food locally you can always order it online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtlechick Posted August 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 Where can I order it from? I need to learn these things. I am LOVING the fish hobby. I want to know EVERYTHING!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted August 16, 2008 Report Share Posted August 16, 2008 (edited) Click on the Cichlid Food Canada banner or send RD a PM for info on how to get NLS to your door. Edited August 16, 2008 by jvision Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qattarra Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 You can also buy it through Nature's Corner Store online. I believe for some orders over a certain price it's free shipping. HITH is often caused by water conditions. Increase your water changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtlechick Posted August 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 I tested again after I posted this and had a HUGE ammonia spike......I think I've got it under control now. The hardware store here sold me some ph adjuster and it helped. I also did a small water change at the time.....we'll see what happens. Thanks guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2manytanks Posted August 18, 2008 Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 In my experience, I would suggest exactly the same as others here. Good food and clean water. Forget the meds and certainly forget the PH adjuster - I don't know how the guy figured that would help with an ammonia problem. I don't know anything about your tank, your water conditions, filtering etc., but if you're having problems with ammonia in a tank that is already cycled then something has happened to cause the problem. How often are you doing water changes? How about the filter - what is it, how often do you clean it, how do you clean it - many people wash their filter parts in tap water : bad idea. Go ahead and wash the impeller and other hardware in tap water if you want, but you have to wash the bio-media in tank water, if you wash it in tap water the chlorine will kill off the bacterial colony and you'll be essentially cycleing the tank all over again. I would also suggest washing the sponges etc. in tank water too. Medication as often causes problems as it cures them, including killing off the aforementioned bacterial colonies in some cases, Avoid them if possible. Your food does leave something to be desired, I would strongly suggest taking the others suggestions and ordering some NLS, Omega One or another higher quality food. But definitely water is the biggest thing, change it in small amounts every week or more often until he starts improving and the tank water parameters are not only good, but stable. Do lots of reading, you can find pretty much anything on the internet now, and learning how evrything works is half the fun. And don't feel bad, experience and persistence will win out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtlechick Posted August 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 (edited) Well, it seems you hit the nail right on the head....I was told it was okay to wash the sponges and such in tap water as long as I don't wash the "bead" things in it......sounds like every time I clean the tank, I'm having to start my cycle over again.....thanks for the help!!! What can I do now about the ammonia problem? I have a large bottle of Cycle. Will that help now that the damage is done?..... Edited August 18, 2008 by turtlechick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qattarra Posted August 18, 2008 Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 Do uou have other tanks? If not you could borrow a batch of good bacteria from someone else's filter. If you trust your store keeper you could ask for something from them to seed your tank and filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtlechick Posted August 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 I don't trust him anymore.....The first thing he told me when I asked him about his tanks was "My ammonia is ALWAYS high"....and then the Ph adjuster thing.......I think he's just there to sell me stuff that I don't need.....I might make a run to Lethbridge today...anything I could pick up there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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