![]() ![]() Many HITH fish have fish TB (mycobacteriosis) in granulomas in their organs.Necropsies done on fish that have died of HITH show the following conditions:.Hang-on-back or sponge filters which have inadequate biofiltration capabilities will give “dull”, cloudy, bacteria filled water which contributes to hole-in-the head through several means.High bacterial counts in the water both compromise the immune system of the fish AND directly attack the neuromasts “bad water quality”) are found in the water of most fish with HITH. Hole in the Head SyndromeĪnother way to look at these causes is to look at the interrelationships: This is EIGHT separate but interrelated root causes of HITH. 100% have “secondary” bacterial infections in the lesions.20% have internal bacterial attack such as aeromonas.30% have hexamita (“internal parasites”).70% are being filtered with hang-on-back or sponge filters (i.e.80% are swimming in water with high bacteria counts.Fish with HITH typically have two or more of the following problems: This syndrome is very complex with lots of factors which contribute to it, what scientists call a “multifactorial aetiology”. Hole in the Head Syndrome Causes of Hole-in-the-head Syndrome So a 50% water change which drops the bacterial count from one billion to half a billion won’t help anything. A fish will have problems at one billion bacteria but not be better till one million bacteria. Note that bacteria count is a logarithmic scale. Contrary to popular mythology, hole-in-the-head is not ALWAYS the result of “poor husbandry”. ![]() What is confusing for some is that sometimes an Oscar or a discus can get hole-in-the-head in very well filtered crystal clear water. If a South American cichlid such as an Oscar or a discus is swimming in water with a high bacterial count, it will invariably get hole-in-the-head syndrome. Oscars and discus are the two species most often attacked.
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