Fish Tank All Messed Up - Oscar Dieing!

[ConvictKid]

Well, I had 150 gallon tank setup downstairs with a 6 or so inch Oscar, a 2-3 inch Jack Dempsy, and a Convict. A couple months back the Convict got popeye and removed her from the tank into a 10 gallon tank and then later died. Recently we planned to put a new floor in downstairs, so everything had to get out of the way. I had to drain the 150 gallon and put the Oscar and Jack Dempsy in a 20 gallon upstairs. The floor has taken a lot longer then expected. Just this past week I went on vacation to Florida and had my sister take care of the fish - feeding them everyday. I came back a couple a days ago and then my Jack Dempsy died one day after I came back. His eye looked clouded and popped out a little. Now my Oscar is all messed up. Hes swimming on his side, sometimes just nose to the bottom of the tank. What could be wrong with him? I don't think the fish tank water is in tip top shape. Now his skin is coming off. You can see big chunks of it at the bottom of the tank. I was thinking that if I save the Oscar then put him back in the 150 gallon, when its setup, he could just contaminate the water and kill new fish that I get. Any thoughts on what to do?

[ConvictKid]

I have just taken some pictures. Here they are:

http://www.wrestlingwire.net/test/fishpics/DSCF0321.JPG

http://www.wrestlingwire.net/test/fishpics/DSCF0322.JPG

http://www.wrestlingwire.net/test/fishpics/DSCF0323.JPG

http://www.wrestlingwire.net/test/fishpics/DSCF0324.JPG

http://www.wrestlingwire.net/test/fishpics/DSCF0325.JPG

[Oscar_Mania]

Oh dear, that Oscar doesn't look well at all. I don't know exactly what has happened, but perhaps it is bacterial. You could do a water change to make the water cleaner, but I don't know if the fish is going to last much longer. Anyone else have any thoughts

[SomeGuy88]

I was thinking something along the lines of that aswell. It does not look good at all...

Sorry about that :(

[Harry Tolen]

Have you tested the water parameters? From the looks of your oscar, I'd say your water quality is terrible. An immediate, heavy water change is certainly required.

A 20g tank is way too small for your oscar, and my guess is that ammonia is off the charts and the pH is crashing from too much waste in the tank.

[ConvictKid]

Should I try to save him or he doesnt have a chance at surviving? If I save him I dont want him to go back into the 150 when its setup and then just contaminate that tank.

[LongTime]

I think he is not so much the problem as the water conditions he is living in. To be honest, he looks pretty bad. It may be time for the vodka and clove oil. :sad

[ConvictKid]

So should I try to fix his water conditions and try to get him to good health, then he will be okay for the 150 gallon and wont cause any problems? Or he has no chance of getting better? I have some melafix that I had bought before for my convict.

[LongTime]

Since I am a die hard, I would do a water change and try the melafix. You never know but if I did not see some type of improvement in 48 hours, if he lasts that long, I would put him down. He is being skinned alive and that cannot be pleasant.

[daveedka]

So should I try to fix his water conditions and try to get him to good health, then he will be okay for the 150 gallon and wont cause any problems? Or he has no chance of getting better? I have some melafix that I had bought before for my convict.

This is the hardest question there is to answer IMO. I would definately try something, but I wouldn't let him suffer needlessly either. Tough choice I know, and one none of us can really make from a distance. The oscar does look pretty bad, and I wouldn't let things go long without improvement personally.

I would bet that the fish went through a huge nitrite spike, I had this happen in a guppy breeder once, and the fish swam around disoriented bumping into stuff. I got the nitrites back in control and the fish improved almost instantly. Then within two days they started developing white spots, and fin and tail rot, Presumably from the stress created with the ntrite spike.

[ConvictKid]

I'm going to do a water change tonight and put a dose of melafix in and salt. Should I keep doing water changes, or just one? The water most likely isnt in very good condition because I dont have any testing stuff besides pH. Will his skin grow back?

[LongTime]

I would do water changes every day and get some testing stuff. You need to know what is going on with the water.

If he survives, his scales will come back.

[sguthrie]

Good luck to you and your Oscar. I hope he pulls through.

Sam

[N8DOGG]

I think the 20 gallon was way to small for your oscar and Dempsey.... have you been doing water changes?? I'm sure that tank got dirty really fast. I'd give him a few more days and then if no improvment you need to put him down. He can't suffer anymore.

[Gulp]

Put him down...... If he's in that bad of shape, the odds of you getting him to recover are slim....and you are just going to prolong the suffering. :(

[ConvictKid]

I just did about 30-40% water change a few minutes ago. I added a bunch of salt and melafix. I plan on doing the same tomorrow. After taking out the water I checked the pH to see what it was before I added the new water and it was about 6.6-6.8. I was surprised.

[Tightdog1]

seems like the ammonia or nitrate spiked, because ur sister my have fed too much, or sumthing, but it spiked and made the water conditions horrible, unable to live, i had this happen when i used to have pacus, and theyd jsut eat too much and kill the fish in the tank cause of the ammoina they would put out ffrom eating.

If his condition doesnt improve in a few days put him, down cause from the pictures hes not doin that well, and is probably suffering

[ConvictKid]

He died the day before yesterday.

[oscarmommie]

Just looking through old post to learn more about my oscars and what not.

I am so sorry to hear about your dilema. :(

[BumbleFish]

Oh, man. He does look in really bad shape.

I know it's too late, but in the future, you're better off fasting your fish when you travel. Unless you go away for a month, large bodied fish can handle extended time without feed. It can actually be good for them.

Onto your fish. Certainly water change and do some tests with some water you saved prior to water change.

In the photo, it's hard to really see what's up with him. Does he have open wounds? If so, you can actually smear the wounds with Neosporin or similar topical anti-bacterial ointments.

After the water change (I'd do a very large water change, up to 50% in a tank that size) if he doesn't improve in a couple days, it's likely too late.

Also, question the fish-sitter. Don't don't be mean, but ascertain whether or not they had a heavy hand at feeding time. How long were you away? Did your fish-sitter do water changes while you were gone?

Gotta locate the "why" the tank crashed. Obviously, a few of us suspect over feeding thus polluted water as the prime suspect.

Hope it works out.

[BumbleFish]

Oh, I just read that he passed on. What a shame.

So sorry for your loss. Looked like a real nice fish... :sad

[oztun]

Anbody else out there thinking of putting a grown Oscar in a tank smaller than 70 gallons, DO NOT DO IT. Just go to a LFS and ask them to babysit or buy the Oscar from you. If that fails go on forums and try to find someone in your area to take them.

[N8DOGG]

Thats why people come to this and many other boards. The 20 gallon is what killed it. Just like the kid that has a angel in a 10 gallon b/c it to much of a hassle to get a larger tank....that fish will die also. But with education maybe we can save some fish.

[Whistler225]

unfortunately, it seems like Cichlids don't last very long once they get sick. I inherited two 55 gallon setups from my boss, after he lost interest in the hobby and quit doing maintenance of any sort. One tank had a Giant Gourami in it, but you couldn't see him at all unless his face ws against the glass. That's how bad the water was! He is the fish in the picture I use as my avatar, and his name is Popeye, because his mouth ios deformed due to a bacterial infection he had while under the "care" of my boss. I brought everything home and cleaned the heck out of the tanks, the equipment, and the decor, and set it all back up. Now everything is running smoothly and Popeye has been alive for over two weeks. It was touch and go for awhile, as he was listless and lathargic like most sick fish, but with better water conditions and some Parasite clear, he is improving. My advice would be the same as everyone else's: change the water, get him back into the 150 gallon tank as soon as possible, and get yourself a real test kit that checks Nitrate, Nitrite, and hardness levels, along with the stuff you need to get those levels within his preferred limits.

Also, if you medicate the tank, it might be a good idea to raise the water temperature a little bit, as parasites and bacterial infections cycle faster in higher temperatures. This means the infection will run its course more quickly, and the medication will be able to do its job more effectively as most medications attack infections at particular stages of the cycle. I would only raise the temperature a few degrees though, since water too high could cause undue stress to your fish and make recovery more difficult. Probably 80-82 degrees would work well.

[Whistler225]

oops, my apologies for your loss. I didn't see the post until I had made mine....