This the right place of questions about Oscars?
- Thread starter GovnaAndy
- Start date
some more info
55 gallon tank. steady @ 80 degrees. 1 bio-wheel 350 (rated for 70 gal.) and 1 magnum 350 (canister @ 100gal.). One albino oscar and one red oscar and one pleco. I am new with oscars and i know there is controversy with regards to feeding live (feeders). That has been all they want. I thought I was just starting to notice "Big Red's" sensory spots but hadn't noticed them before and I do watch them a lot. After some internet research I think it is very early stages of HITH. Don't have a test kit of liquids except for amonia and that is @ 0. everything else tests within what most say the oscars need. Do I cut out the live food and say what us parents say in regards to the fact that they won't eat pellets, "if they don't like em, eventually they'll get hunger and eat"? Haven't found a good aquarium store and you all seem to know more than the big chain stores. please help
55 gallon tank. steady @ 80 degrees. 1 bio-wheel 350 (rated for 70 gal.) and 1 magnum 350 (canister @ 100gal.). One albino oscar and one red oscar and one pleco. I am new with oscars and i know there is controversy with regards to feeding live (feeders). That has been all they want. I thought I was just starting to notice "Big Red's" sensory spots but hadn't noticed them before and I do watch them a lot. After some internet research I think it is very early stages of HITH. Don't have a test kit of liquids except for amonia and that is @ 0. everything else tests within what most say the oscars need. Do I cut out the live food and say what us parents say in regards to the fact that they won't eat pellets, "if they don't like em, eventually they'll get hunger and eat"? Haven't found a good aquarium store and you all seem to know more than the big chain stores. please help
to small a tank is the problem id say. how long have you had them? those 3 will require a 125 gallon b4 long
more info
Had the pleco for a little over a year. I know that eventually i'll need a bigger tank but have a lot of filtration going and vac it constantly. guess i need to switch them off the live? what about hith treatment? they are messy but the tank is vac'd 2-3 times a week. Startin to think that the HITH from too much live food is correct. Any suggested alternate diet? I givem the frozen blood worms. Pleco likes em too. I just don't want big red to get that nasty advanced HITH. Thanks to the replyers already. this seems like a great site. Now to track down a cheap enough bigger tank. Love these little big guys!
Had the pleco for a little over a year. I know that eventually i'll need a bigger tank but have a lot of filtration going and vac it constantly. guess i need to switch them off the live? what about hith treatment? they are messy but the tank is vac'd 2-3 times a week. Startin to think that the HITH from too much live food is correct. Any suggested alternate diet? I givem the frozen blood worms. Pleco likes em too. I just don't want big red to get that nasty advanced HITH. Thanks to the replyers already. this seems like a great site. Now to track down a cheap enough bigger tank. Love these little big guys!
Poor water quality is the first thing to consider when treating HITH/LLE. You also are causing stress to them by having 3 in a 55. You need at minimum a 75 for just 1 Oscar. Ideally you should have a 125-150 to house 2 Oscars and a Pleco. Plecos can get very long and since they are great poo makers in too small a tank I suspect your water isn't what it needs to be.
I suggest that you get rid of the Oscars if you cannot house them properly. I'm sorry to say that but unfortuneately wrong /bad information is more prevelant than correct is. Although you have enough filtration, that is not all you need for them. They need space as well. The bio-load being placed upon your system right now is very high.
Feeding live food can bring contaminates into the tank. Hikari Cichlid Gold is a great food to feed an O. Nothing wrong with occasional treat fo frozen beefheart or shrimp. The only live food should be that which you have raised yourself.
I suggest that you get rid of the Oscars if you cannot house them properly. I'm sorry to say that but unfortuneately wrong /bad information is more prevelant than correct is. Although you have enough filtration, that is not all you need for them. They need space as well. The bio-load being placed upon your system right now is very high.
Feeding live food can bring contaminates into the tank. Hikari Cichlid Gold is a great food to feed an O. Nothing wrong with occasional treat fo frozen beefheart or shrimp. The only live food should be that which you have raised yourself.
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Cheers for the article Krytan - I don't keep cichlids but it was interesting. Seems from the article that diet is the key. A diet of goldfish sounds extremely lacking in vitamins, minerals and micronutrients.