New oscar 'sleeping' on the bottom?

[JamesBenjamin]

We just got a new oscar last night, he's only about 2 1/2 inches long. He spends all his time laying on the bottom of the tank! I thought it might just be because he's new, and it will take a few days to acclimate him...but he's still just laying there on his side.

The tank was up and running when we put him in, it had fish in it, but we took them out and put him in, and changed the water and the gravel. (same filter/filter media)

the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels were a bit high this morning, but i just did a 50% water change to help combat that.

Is this normal for a new oscar to be laying on the bottom like that?

Thanks!

[JamesBenjamin]

also, should I put the "standard salt in the freshwater" for my oscar too?

[Faramir]

Ammonia/nitrite exactly how "a bit" high?

Some salt to reduce nitrite toxicity might be in order, if you still have nitrites. But normally there is no reason to use salt with oscars.

But no, a fish should not ever be lying on its side, with the exception of clown loaches and flounders....

[GEV83]

Ive had oscars that layed on there sides when I bearly bought them but they didnt do it for long except for one it was like that for a week and wouldnt eat but it eventaully started eating but he died 3 years later we moved and he didnt handle it very well.

[Amber]

My Oscar did the same exact thing. He did it for like two or three weeks! We bought another Oscar, and AS SOON AS we put the other Oscar in, he livened up! Now, I am by no means an expert, but I say give him about a week. If he doesn't do anything, try another Oscar. I've heard they are very emotional, so maybe he is lonely. When you bought him, was he in a tank with other Oscars?

[JamesBenjamin]

ammonia 2.0, nitrIte 1.0, nitrAte was at 20. that was this morning.

then I changed about 40-50% of the water (as noted above) now, a few hours later, i get these readings:


ammonia 1.0, nitrIte .5 nitrAte 5.0

going down, but thats mostly from the water change, i think. also my room mate stuck 4 feeders in with him yesterday, when i got home from work (midnight) i took them out, knowing he shouldn't eat four feeders that quick, and that they would throw off the balance of a 'new' tank. that may have been part of the problem (spike)

also just now, before i tested the water again, i was in the other room and glanced over to check on him (he couldnt see me) and he was swimming all over, now i'm sitting right here and he promptly plopped down in the center of the tank. so i guess he is just getting used to his new home. if he doesn't cheer up in a week or so, we'll consider getting another for the tank, but that would mean buying a bigger tank sooner (with 2 of them) so i'd like to avoid that for now.

thanks for all the input!

[Faramir]

It's the ammonia. Those levels are toxic over even a few days. Very uncomfortable for the fish.

[JamesBenjamin]

Well, I'll keep changeing the water every day till it stableizes closer to zero, thats about all I can do, right?

[PeteSC]

Was the tank 'cycled' when you put the Oscar in?
How big is the tank.....size, and amount of other fish in the tank will determine how much of a daily water change you'll have to do to keep the fish safe.

Skip the feeders, unless you raise them yourself or quarantine them. They're a possible cause of HITH.

Once the Oscar gets used to the room......it will pay close attention to everything that's going on. It may take a while.
You could put a few hiding places in the tank to help it feel more
'secure'. (Pvc pipe, or something)

I got my oscar about 3 years ago, roughly the same size.
It's 13 inches now.

:D

[JamesBenjamin]

the tank has a filter from an established tank (but new gravel) so its half cycled.

he's in a 10g now, but will be moving to a 30g in about a month, that we are currently growing out our swordtail fry in, they will become feeders for him, later on.

i've been changeing the water every day, cause it's needed it... and yeah, he will swim everywehre when alone, and when we walk in the room he 'hides' so i think he's still adjusting.

thanks!

[PeteSC]

He will outgrow the 30 pretty quickly! By the time the fish reaches 6 inches or so, you'll need a 55 G or larger tank......
I've been there.

Dec Two 3 inch Oscars in a 10G (Was very stupid)
March Bought them a 29G
June Bought them a 55G
October, both fish at 7 inches, and fighting in the 55G...gave one away, and have kept the one Oscar and one pleco in the 55G for the last two years. At 13 inches, my Oscar should have a bigger tank......and may get one. I intend to keep it around for another 6-7 years.

Good luck, and enjoy the fish!
Pete