Are Hole In The Head Scars Permanent?

[jeebus]

I've got two discus that had pretty bad cases of hole in the head. I think they are cured, but the crater like scars remain.

How will I know when they are safe for return to general population?

[Darbex]

I have read about HITH and it can be caused by lack of proper nutrition as well as parasites. The only way to know the difference is if you actually see the parasite in the rupture, which will look like a little snake. From what I have read the tissue can be regrown with proper vitamins and nutrients. The following article is a pretty good one. http://www.worldcichlids.com/diseases/Adamhith.html

[Darbex]

By the way I use vitachem as a supplement. http://www.marinedepot.com/Boyd_Vita...ADTESF-vi.html

[mark razmandi]

im almost positive that the scars, if craters, are permanent. Ive seen many cases on oscars and FHs and they never seemed to heal their scars

[jughead]

they can heal

[fshfrk]

Just like us they should slowly fade. But not quick enough!

[myjohnson]

Depends on how bad the case of HITH was. And how old the fish.

I have seen aros with HITH and it never went totally away.

[Mzungu]

I agree with the consensus so far. Really bad cases will always have those crater-like scars. But if you "nip it in the bud," so to speak, they won't completely go away, but will look better over time. If it's a really advanced case, the scars will be permanent.

I'm of the philosophy that as long as you take care of the problem and give them high quality H20, it shouldn't get worse, and/but you will have a less than perfect but well-loved fish. :)

[Kiovo]

We're not so much worried about the scars, we just want to make sure they're completely healed (in terms of the disease) before we put them back into the main tank. They have been quarantined for almost 2 months now and have been eating and acting normal for the past month.

[Darbex]

Are you sure its disease HITH and not nutritional/stress HITH?

[Kiovo]

Not sure which one it is, when we got them neither one was eating and it took several doses of metro and finally formalin to get them eating and healthy again. But they look and act healthy now, we just want to make sure they are completely healthy before putting them in with our other discus.

[mark razmandi]

my geos almost all have HITH right now due to a mini cycle that sent my tank into a frenzy a couple months ago....mine never acted funny and eat like pigs but they have the pin holes in their heads, im treating the whole tank with metro, salt and high temp for now.....hope it works out for you

[myjohnson]

pictures?

[Darbex]

I am going to bet that was nutritional HITH but if they have been eating fine for 2 months and the HITH doesnt appear to be worsening and no other signs of infection I would say it is fine.

[Darbex]

By the way is it 2 months of healthy eating and looking healthy or 2 months since getting them and starting treatment? If its the first one then go with what I said originally if they havent been eating and looking healthy for 3 - 6 weeks I would wait around that amount of time