I currently have an Oranda dying from the illustrious hole in the head disease. Does anyone know how this disease occurs? I read on a website that poor water quality and a bad diet are to blame. I do 1/4 tank water tank changes once every week and i give him a varied diet. I don't think this is the problem with my fish.

This disease is awful for those who know what its like. It looks like something is eating away the top of the fish's head. I also read that the disease primarily only affects Cichlids, Oscars and tropical fish; but an Oranda? Any info would be much appreciated. Also, are goldfish with Wens at a greater risk? Thanks so much

I'm so sorry to hear your fish is not doing well...I don't know anything about hole in the head but I found this.Hope it helps....

http://www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/...showtopic=12749

Thanks for the help. He just recently died though Hopefully I'll be able to prevent this in the future

I'm so sorry Hope you feel better soon s

on the topic of hole in the head disease; is there medication out there that assists in mending injured flesh and also acts as an antibiotic? but specifically for fish?

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. It is upsetting to lose a fish.
Hope you feel better soon

At goldfishconnection.com they sell a medicated food called MetroMed that is supposed to help with Hole in the Head disease. I don't know that it helps in mending injured flesh though.

Hope this helps.

Sorry to hear about your fish.

In regards to hole in the head, Neautral Acriflavin is the medication. I also have a url for a article for you but the main page is down over at KV so I can't get the article at the moment and will post it up for you later.

In regards to the Wen, it is fatty tissue, not vascular. It has three cartlidge ray's for support. A wen typically is healed up within day's unlike open wounds (ulcers/cuts).

After reading your other post in regards, the question that comes to mind for me is have any pesticides (carpet powders etc) or spray's been used in house/room around the tank?

I'm sorry for your loss Alex!

now that u mention it kathy, my mom did use carpet cleaner around the tank. The tank also had a very fishy smelly odor coming out of it durign his last days its really weird. I'm guessign its not contagious because the pleco is still alive.

HI Alex,
I'm sorry I didn't get back sooner. The pages where down for several days and it seems the article in regards is gone along with some things! Then I suffered a power out on top of it all....

Ok, here's the thing in regards. Toxic chems can cause a WEN to litterally disinigrate. I'm so sorry! Not all things are bad, just some. Tanks need to be covered while treating carpets with anything that can cause a dust/mist as it can & will get carried into tanks.

I would say it wasn't hole in head as in regards to the article, its not common in goldies, but more so in tropicals. (can't remember, but I think it was Discus???)

We had a member over in KV last year that had similar, turned out a neighbor had sprayed outside for a party she was having useing a illegal to boot product meant for inside use only by a licensed contractor and anyway, it was a really bad scene. But one of the things going is that the wen's on her fish melted away..... It was very heartbreaking and there's nothing much we can do in regards to poison's of such nature.

If your ever in doubt in regards to a product and the toxiticy, PAN database and Etox net will provide the information on the contents.

Thanks for all your help everyone. The tank has since been flushed out with bleach and totally revamped. I put 100 watt lighting in, a marineland bio wheel filter and a bubble wall to aeriate the tank and to make sure this never happens again. I've got a baby Ryukin and a iddy biddy lionhead now