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I have got 2 Eupterus catfishes in my 650L tank among other catfishes, Syno's, Cory's etc.

There are more than enough hiding spots between the plants, rocks and roots.

I do my water changes and feed a proper diet of bloodworm, fish pellets, etc.

Recently the one and now the other has started to show signs of hole in the head. They do however from time to time have a squarrel. The one is always at one side of the tank and the other one in the other corner. They are both about 20cm long.

Will the stress for one another be the cause for the hole in the head, none of the other fish shows signs of hole in the head.

What exactly does it look like?

I would be very interested to see photos.

Here you go

Rudie,

This seems to be a very frequent problem with (especially ).

See these threads....

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... al&start=0
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3422
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... ht=lateral
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... ht=lateral
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... ht=lateral
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... ht=lateral


My theory is that it isn't the same as the cichlid hole in the head disease, as there is no pronounced cratering. It just seems to be a pigment loss that occurs around lateral line and head. In severe case the fins begin to erode.

My started to develop this around January (bought them last October).

They were kept in a 5' mixed community of softwater fish.

The temp was 28C, the pH was 6.0-6.5 and conductivity was around 150us. Weekly (or thereabouts) 50% water changes were carried out with RO water (RO right, buffer and trace elements added). Nitrates were rarely higher than 20mg/l.

The tank was dim, well planted and full of bogwood. They were active and fed well, but were easily spooked by the which could be quite boisterous.

Here are some of my ideas about the possible causes.....





STRESS
Possibly for the more delicate and shy S. robertsi, but surely S. eupterus is one of the more robust and adaptable aquarium catfish?

pH
Both high and low pH is mentioned as a cause in the above posts, but I would think that a riverine synos would only be affected below about 5.5?

DIET
My S. robertsi get a very varied diet of frozen and prepared foods. Perhaps a deficiency in a certain vitamin?

POOR WATER QUALITY
Seems an obvious cause, but in the cases above, the synos seem well looked after with appropriate water changes etc.

MINERALS
As I use RO water, I was worried that a deficiency in a particular mineral was the cause. Other people seem to report the same condition with tapwater though.

DISEASE
A definite possibility, but the fish seem to behave and feed as normal. Not usually typical of an infection.

TEMP
I kept my S. robertsi quite warm, so perhaps high temperatures trigger this condition?


I believe the condition is more likely caused by a combination of the above factors.





In order to address it, I have moved my S. robertsi into a very quiet 2' tank with some labyrinth fish and a small spiny eel. I am gradually increasing pH and hardness, and will switch them over to tapwater soon. I have also reduced temp to 24/25C.

Hopefully this will address possible stress, temp, pH or mineral problems.

I'm sure I can see signs of improvement, but I think it takes a long time to revert back to normal.



Rudie, What are your water parameters/setup/tankmates/maintenance etc? It would be very interesting to compare and work out some common ground.


If anyone else has any ideas please join in, although somehow I think Wrasse, Jools and Shane have heard enough


.

My fish has gotten better, we have been doing 50% water change per week. He's also on a new diet-freeze dried blood worms with nutri-treat,spirulina enriched frozen brine shrimp, and catfish wafers; also added driftwood and plastic plants. We noticed hole in the head back in Nov. Now with these changes you can tell that his side are getting better.It been a month and hope he has a complete turn around.

My fish has gotten better, we have been doing 50% water change per week. He's also on a new diet-freeze dried blood worms with nutri-treat,spirulina enriched frozen brine shrimp, and catfish wafers; also added driftwood and plastic plants. We noticed hole in the head back in Nov. Now with these changes you can tell that his side are getting better.It been a month and hope he has a complete turn around.

Excellent.

Please keep us posted on how he gets on.

Any water parameter information would also be useful.