We have a small black and white calico Ryukin. On his head, there looks to possibly be a wound. Been like that since we got him, but thought it was part of his unique coloring. But now I am starting to wonder. I am going to take him out of the tank to examine tomorrow. But here is a picture if anyone can help.

Notice the tan mark above his eye.



Cappy

I don't know much about hole in the head and what too look for there. Could this possibly be it? Maybe an open wound? Or maybe nothing? I know I have to take him out to know for sure, but don't know exactly what to look for other than if it looks like a wound.

Anyone help please? THANKS!!!

hi, what a pretty fish, and nice color

i would have thought it was his color too,
you are speaking the "kidney bean" shaped area to the left of the gold-ish circle.

you said "been like that since we got him" ... how long have you had him?

in looking at the picture, it doesnt appear red or "angry"

after you examine him closer (remove rings, no lotions)
if it is not just his coloring:

it may be a spot that is healing.
you dont know how he was handled before you got him.
if he was netted, sometimes the slime coat or scales can be damaged.

because it doesnt look "open" bleeding,
with good water conditions, he will heal

if its just his coloring,
with good water conditions, he will thrive

If you do find "something" post back your finding, trying to include answers to the questions listed in the red box. If he does need treatment this will help other members to give more accurate diagnosis.

you have a really pretty fish,
-Tooter

hole in the head disease (from what I have read) starts off as a gray discoloration on the head. Does the spot look "lower" than the other parts of the head? I'm no expert, but it could be hole in the head disease - which is really a parasite and a bacterial infection.

Hi tooterfish,

Ya, the kidney bean shape.

We have had him for about a month and a half.

That spot has never been red or looked bad.

We took him out and looked. Now, first time we have ever held him so don't know if I did good enough. But it didn't look like it was indented or anything. My girlfriend held him out and I looked. But we were both a little nervous taking him out the first time. So I might not have looked good enough or known what to look for.

Ammonia is 0. Nitrites 0. Nitrates about 40 (doing changes every other day trying to get those down). PH seems a little high at around 8 but doesn't change so probably not bad, I guess. There are a total of 3 GF and 1 weather loach in the tank. The other 2 GF had a few white, fungus looking spots on their tails but are now gone. Tank is 44 gallon. Do water changes on average of once a week, but now every other day (20%) trying to get nitrates down. I have an Emperor 170. He doesn't do anything unusual. He eats extremely well (he is the smallest, so he actually puts too much in his mouth so he can get a lot of food). He is always swimming around and seems fine.

So I still am not 100% sure. I guess I was worried about if it could be hole in the head. Since he is gray mostly already, I don't know for sure. Hopefully I am just overreacting and it is nothing.