Sick Oscar?

[susan5467]

We have 2 oscars and one is acting strange. It looks healthy and is normally very active however 2 days ago it started acting differrent. It stays near the bottom in a position almost like it might be laying eggs. At first it was towards the front of the tank and for the last 24 hours it is behind the bubbler. It has not eaten in over 48 hours. I know bass act like that when spawning. I do not see any eggs other than she does seem to maintain the same position. Is this normal?

[delmore]

How bout posting tank specs (size, tankmates, etc) and result of water tests - nitrate is the most important.

[susan5467]

20 Gallon / 2 Small oscars one tiger and one red / One Placastomus thats all.

The Ph levels are all good and I added stress coat.

They look healthy \ good color, the tiger oscar is eating normally and active. The placastumus looks good.

The red oscar the one acting like this was the more active of the 2 prior to this. She acted like she was scratching her belly on the bottom or laying eggs and she is staying real close to this one area.

I am not familiar with the way they act when they lay eggs / Spawn etc... this is how it looked but I have not seen any eggs or anything just her actions. The not eating is what concerns me.

[delmore]

Originally posted by susan5467
20 Gallon / 2 Small oscars one tiger and one red / One Placastomus thats all.

The Ph levels are all good and I added stress coat.


How many inches long are they? What are the nitrate levels? If you don't have a nitrate kit, go out and get one. Oscars can adapt ot most pH levels, as long as it is consistent, so that shouldn't be a factor.
Your oscars will outgrow your tank within 6 months or less, depending on size. Plan on getting a 55g, or better yet 75g very soon.

The best thing you can do for now are big (50%) water changes daily. This is a cure all for just about everything that can go wrong. I'm not big on giving meds. Is the red oscar eating? What is the water temperature?

[susan5467]

When I get home tonight I will clean it again. I will have to get a nitrate kit we do not have one. Years ago I had a 20 gallon and had 1 oscar for about 5 years. I was divorced and he was still doing great when I left. We never had trouble with the fish or the tank. But all we had was a placastous and the one oscar. he was a blast.

At the rate this is going we may be down to 1 soon. They are maybe 3 inches in size. Its to bad because this one was the most fun. Ate right out of the hand cichid pellets. Now it eats nothing.

Hopefully this will work.... Thanks:rolleyes:

[delmore]

Do the big water changes, and remove the gravel from the tank for now.
Don't do less than 50%. The first big change could be 80% assuming your filter is in good shape. Keep us posted and good luck!

[susan5467]

Okay I did everything you said. We cleaned the tank and trsted for Nitrates and it is at 0 pp so is the amonia. PH level is 78 according to all I read all this is good. We changed the filter. Added the dechlorinator and stress coat.

Now this morning I thought she was a gonner for sure. She is still behind the bubbler does not eat. I went to move her with the net and she and moved her more towards the surface so I could check her out. The other Oscar then went to the spot where she was hanging out and acted like he was protecting it. Anyway when I looked at her she looked healthy other than her lack of spunk and not eating. I tried to entice her but she had no interest. When I let her (gently) go she went right back to the corner behind the bubbler and the other one moved away.

I am at a loss. I guess we will have to just wait and see. Anyway thanks for the advice and hopefully it will work itself out. Temp in Tank is at 78.

:argh

[Lila]

If you put your hand near where she's at (outside of the tank) does she move?

Has she ever kinda rested at the top of the tank?

Is there any kind of feces hanging out the anus? Is there bloating from her stomach?

Lila

[susan5467]

She does not look bloated and I did not notice any thing hanging. She moves very little unless bumped or puhed and she does not go at all to the top of the tank.

Its baffaling because her color is good. She doesn't eat. she acted like she was looking for a nesting place. But something is definetly wrong. She rolls on her side and then is up and down. but right in that same area. It is obvious she is getting weak. I thought she was a gonner however this morning when I tried to net her. she moved pretty good but obviously weak.

I have done all the test the water quality is good the other Oscar is fine and eating well with good color. Its to bad because she used to be fun to watch and the one that interacted the most.:confused:

[Lila]

I was wondering if she may be constipated. I had an oscar get that once.

Here are the symptoms:

Reduced appetite, minimal or no faeces, the fish may have a slightly swollen abdomen and/or rest on the bottom of the tank.

I think it may be your problem.

Treatment: half a tsp. of espon salt per gallon of water.

Cause...incorrect diet or over feeding.

This does work too.

Lila

[susan5467]

Thanks I will try it!!!!!:D

[Lila]

Good luck. I hope your oscar gets better.


Lila

[daveedka]

We cleaned the tank and trsted for Nitrates and it is at 0 pp so is the amonia

Is it safe to assume that this is a typo and you meant Nitrites.

I can't imagine your tank has zero nitrates with 2 oscars in a 20g.
Another question that hasn't been asked, Is this tank cycled? I can't imagine two Oscars big enough to spawn in a 20g, and even if they lived in there, the chances of happening on a matched pair are very slim So I am sure they aren't spawning. The constipation may be the problem, but there are many things it could be. I know you don't want to hear this but minimum 75 gallons is needed for these fish IMO. You really only have about 3 months if they are 1" long now before you will need a bigger tank.
Keeping even 1 oscar in a 20 gallon is just not conducive to a happy healthy fish.

[DHR]

I agree with Daveedka. 0 Nitrates seems strange. How are nitrites? Think bigger tank real soon. It'll be hard to keep 2 full grown O's healthy with less than 90 gallons. Good Luck!

[delmore]

She did an 80% water change, so nitrAtes could indeed be zero. Also test for nitrItes as well to determine if the tank is cycling.
It would be nice to know what type of filter an media you have.

[daveedka]

Just a quick thought, so you understand where we are coming from, I know that an oscar will live in a 20g tank, I used to raise oscars in 55's, Over the years I have realized that they need more space to see the true beaty of these fish, I am dissapointed every time I see a pair of full grown o's in a 55 because when you have seen them in a bigger tank, the difference is amazing. Look at it this way, one of you children could live in a closet, and be ok, but watch them in a backyard for a while and you relize how much more there is to being happy. (I don't reccomend trying this an an experiment, my children and my wife are still more important than my fish tanks :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: ) We are not scolding, only trying to help.

[susan5467]

Okay now we did the epsom salts. She is more than likely going to be dead by the time I get home as will the other one. We did a full test again last night. Amonia was at 0.25 Nitrates were 0 pp PH was 78.

It looks bad!!! Her eye is clouded and she is laying on the bottom but amazingly still alive barely. The other one is showing similar signs. If they die we are completely beaking it down as much as we can and keep the Placastomus alive and buying bottled water.

We will not buy oscars again. Man its pathetic and frustrating the poor thing is a fighter.:argh

[susan5467]

Just a note. I was trying to help the fish. I got the tank as a valentines gift from my spouse these oscars are babies maybe 2 &1/2 to 3 inches long. We did not know!!!!! We have spent almost $100.00 trying to help this fish. That fish cost less then 6 dollars each

We appreciate the advice we just wanted a nice fish tank and somthing neat to look at. We don't want a huge one just the 20 gallon.

Plus at the rate this is going the fish will not live much longer. I came on this forum to assist the fish and provide the best care I could within my means and to get the bast advice I could. I did everything that was suggested and it diddn't work.

Thanks for the insight

[daveedka]

I really wish we could have helped, and I hope you stick with the hobby, we have all been in and dealt with situations we look back on and wish were different. We have all (I think) lost fish. It is very possible that your Oscars came with a problem that couldn't be seen or dealt with. try to save the pleco, and enjoy him as much as you can. I only posted my last thread because Sometimes it seems people get bombarded with do's and don'ts, when they are asking for help. Once the situation is in place it is good that you did everything you could to make the best of it. Good luck with wahatever happens, There are always better days.

[susan5467]

Thanks for the assistance. We will look at getting more realistic fish after we correct whatever is wrong in the tank. Hopefully the petstores will give us better education on what we can and cannot have. We have 4 Ferrets and 2 cats and truely enjoy them and they are all healthy and very happy. The fish Tank will get there eventually. Thanks for the help!!!

[daveedka]

Something that may help, I use the species profiles I find on the web extensively, Some LFS's are good about aducation, other only educate you out of your money. Species profiles will vary but if you check two or three, you can usually derive the real picture. I usually window shop and when I see a fish I think is interesting I go research it and the find out if it will fit into my plans. I basically loved Oscar's so much that I have continued to upsize over the years, and now have a 115 and trying to talk my wife into a 155 bowfront or a 180g. Pets can be addictive, but if you have four Ferrets, you already know about that.

[susan5467]

About pets being addictive (4 ferrets) We have a regular Jungle jim. They are a blast!!! And very misconcieved!!! I will take your advice the one Oscar died last night and I think the other will today. So we will break it down (most of it ) clean it as you stated. It baffles me as to what happened though. We had these fish for about a month and they seemed fine and all the tests came back within the correct range. I just wonder what went so wrong. I know Oscars do not belong in a tank that size but they were still quite small. :confused: Oh well its like crying over spilt milk. Hopefully we can get the tank in order and be able to enjoy it. I may contact you for assistance on the process if you do not mind. By the way your tanks sound neat. I would like to see some photos.

[susan5467]

Hey everyone,

The Tiger Oscar is eating again and swimming. I thought he was going to die like the other one so last night I took the tank down to like 2-3inches of water and cleaned everything and started anew thinking he was a gonner and I had to prepare to get the tank in order for new fish. I added some stress coat and in a couple hours he was swimming and this morning he ate for the first time in a couple of days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D YIPEEEEEEEEE!!!

[Lila]

So glad to hear that! Congrats Susan!!

http://www.yatoula.com/gif/smiles/smiley_387.gif


Lila

[daveedka]

We had these fish for about a month and they seemed fine and all the tests came back within the correct range.

It isn't uncommon IMO to get fish that already have damage done or internal parrisites etc, There are still a lot of very questionable capture and housing methods used on the commercial side of this hobby, not every fish death is forseeable or preventable, and it isn't unheard of for a fish that has been properly cared for for an extended period to suddenly get sick and die.


I added some stress coat and in a couple hours he was swimming and this morning he ate for the first time in a couple of days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YIPEEEEEEEEE!!!

This is wonderful news, keep us posted


I may contact you for assistance on the process if you do not mind. By the way your tanks sound neat. I would like to see some photos.

I'll be glad to help in any way I can, I don't reccomend taking my word as gospel, I have a lot of experience with these fish, but at least feel very limited in my actual knowledge (I come here a lot)

Pictures will be here someday, tank is still coming together, but looking better every day.