Can fish get concussions

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Colbyg

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Apr 7, 2003
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2 nights ago my oscar and my jeweled cichlid were chasing each other around. That's what I'm guessing was happeing because all of a sudden I heard a lot of spashing and saw those two spinning around the tank like crazy. My oscar ended up with a gash on his head and knocked off my heater. He hasn't been acting the same ever since. He normally comes up to the top and gets really excited when I feed him and never seems to be able to get enough. He also used to swim really fast when he'd see me. Now he just swims around randomly and either acts like he doesn't see me or hides some times. And he's only eaten a couple of flakes. My dad suggested putting some feeders in to get him excited. Any other ideas. Oh I forgot to mention earlier that I am adding Melafix too the aquarium too for his head.
Thank you
 
I would assume fish can get concussions. A concussion is trauma to the brain from being banged around inside the skull. You should let the fish rest and keep excitement to a minimum. At the same time you should wake up or carefully get the fish to move every couple of hours for a couple of days. If there are any rowdy fish in the tank you amy want to try a divider for a few days.
Just reread and you said you have a jewel cichlid in the tank. You really should remove it or use a divider until the oscar heals.
 
Its a hexagon aquarium so I'm not too sure about how to get a divider for it. The jeweled cichlid and my oscar get along great. Last night I checked in on them a couple of hours after I turned off their light and they were both sleeping right next to each other. I also have a hoplo catfish and a pleco. I think those 2 guys may keep them up a little at night but I don't have anywhere to put them. How do I keep the excitement to a minimum?
 
You have an oscar in a hex? Thats prolly the reason he hit his head. Hex aquariums are not really good for cichlids because most of their volumn seems to be "tall" This does not give your Oscar the room he needs to "stretch his legs" How big is this aquarium and how big is the oscar? I would assume he must still be pretty small. once he hits about 10" he prolly will just be able to turn around and not much more. imho if you do not get a longer tank you will face this problem again, and again....
 
If you can't do a divider or put the other fish in another aquarium then you will just have to hope for the best. Your oscan will probably be fine as long as the other fish don't get too rowdy. Dave is right, you should be thinking about upgrading to a larger aquarium that has a larger foot print. As your fish get older they will not get along as well as they do now. More bottom space will give them more territory to call their own. Then there will be less head bumping or either kind.
 
Its a 55 gallon. My oscar is about 5-6 inches. I know I need a rectangular aquarium but that won't fit into my dorm room. I just have to wait a year until I rent a house.
 
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