Hole-in-head disease: New method of treatment in flower horn ornamental fish

In this study we generally describe the hole-in-head disease and introduce a new method oftreatment that called cupping. Cupping is important and old treatment for specific diseases in human,used by Iranian and Chinese medicinists in the past. This disease, often called hexamitiasis, is causedby a member of the genus Hexamita or Spironucleus. This parasite has two forms of infection one ofthem is external and cause hole-in-head disease and the other form is internal that cause intestinalproblems. Hole-in-head disease cause death in flower horn fishes which are expensive and verypopular members of Cichlidae family. Flower horn fish is a genetically improved hybrid betweenAmphilophus labiatus and Amphilophus trimaculatus. This simple method of cupping combined withstress factors removal was applied by us for the treatment of external hexamitiasis resulting in morethan 50% cases of fish health recovery. The first signs of heath in treated specimens become visibleafter 4-6 days of treatment.