Sick Oscar - See Pic

[AnthonyNYC]

All,

I have a sick Oscar. I am not sure what it could be. He has been like this for 5 days, not eating.

It all started after he ate one of my swordtails that was twice his size. (I was the newbie that posted these fish were living well together)

Anyway, my water was cloudy (all great now) and so I fed the fishes sparingly. I think he was really hungry and decided to eat the other fish.

Since then he has been like this. Take a look at what he is passing out his "rectum?" WHat the hell is that? I think it is the remains of the other fish but its been a week already.

I have him contained and I feed him flakes but he does not eat. He will swim actively if I make him move.

Anyone ever see this before?

http://www.rx7s.com/sandy/aquarium/images/DSC02783.JPG


Click here for Sick Oscar (http://www.rx7s.com/sandy/aquarium/imagepages/image17.htm)

Thanks

Anthony

[slipknottin]

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[Serrateeth_2002]

If you don't touch the oscar,does it move?Looks like the fish gut worm.I think internal parasites medi will work.Pic 14 rite?

[AnthonyNYC]

see above pic

[AnthonyNYC]

Originally posted by Serrateeth_2002
If you don't touch the oscar,does it move?Looks like the fish gut worm.I think internal parasites medi will work.

If I dont touch him, he will not move.

Thanks for the input, I will visit the petstore tomorrow.

THanks

Anthony

[Serrateeth_2002]

Something wrong,baby oscars are active fishes,much more than adults.

[AnthonyNYC]

Sorry about not posting the image when I originally created the thread. I didnt know how. I read the FAQs and figured it out.

Sorry

Anthony

[Faramir]

It's either a worm, or, terrifyingly, it may be a prolapse of the oscar's own gut, in which case he's history.

Either way, I think it'll clear up one way or another very soon. You could try some espom salts, just in case it is remains of his meal.

[O-man21]

OK, not to bragg, but I consider myself an oscar expert. First of all....
How come you have an oscar in a swardtail tank???? They will devour almost anything that can fit in their mouths!!! They also grow to about 15 inches!!!!! Get a new tank!! 55 gallons at least!!!!!!!

[TnCgal]

Hi, Anthony !

I'm going to send this thread over to our Cichlid house so that Mojo and his experts can help you over there ! :)

[MoJo]

Is the fish breathing rapidly. it's not unusual for a cichlid to become somewhat dormant after a big meal. I'm with Faramir on this one. I would reccomend treating for internal parasites. I don't think you have anything to loose.

O-man21: Thanks for that "expert" advice.

[O-man21]

you welcome

[slipknottin]

I must say, thats some unusual coloration in an Oscar. I dont think ive ever seen one like that around here.

good looking fish, and good luck.

BTW- how long did you have the swordtails, and did you ever notice anything wrong with them?

You can also try feeding greens (lettuce, brocilli, etc.) it might help with any bowel trouble the oscar is having.

[Arkady]

I know this is a bad time to ask a question, especially since it's not really helping you find your answer about your fishy, but I'm curious, and close mouths don't get fed. So I have to ask this quesiton in order to learn, no matter how stupid the question is. Besides, teaching something is learning yourself as well. My question is.. what kind of Oscar is that? I've never seen an Oscar like that before. I've seen Albino Oscars, Pink Oscars, Red Oscars, Tiger Oscars, Veil-tail Oscars, and Longtailed Oscars... but never an Oscar like that... you think you can tell me?

[O-man21]

it'sa a baby oscar! They don't get their color untill their at least 5 months old. They have that color when their babys to confuse predators because they school untill they mature at 5 months.

[slipknottin]

ive seen quite a few baby oscars, fry, 3 months old, 1 year old... etc.

i dont think ive ever seen one that black and white. Maybe its just a CT thing though... we get jipped on a lot of fish.

[O-man21]

They mostly have that color as babies, I have seen them as that color quite a bit. It might be a wild oscar.Mine started out like after he was shipped from the amazon.( He's 12 inches long no and beautiful)

[Arkady]

The baby Oscars we have out here are simply black, red, white... basically they lok exactly like their adult forms 'cept more colourful. I've seen baby Red Devils like that, they go through a lot of changes, but never an Oscar. A baby Oscar can eat something twice it's size? ;x

[MoJo]

Juvenile Tiger Oscars will have that coloration. Also and more likely a wild Oscar will have that pattern.

[slipknottin]

Ive only seen Red and Albino baby oscars, so that might explain it :D

[O-man21]

no oscars can't eat sumin twice their size... well they can but it will take them a while to eat it all. and I think he might be bloated, I just thought of that, I don't know of a cure for bloating, so I think he may have a problem

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

I saw some of these oscars the other day actually for the first time. I had to take a second look also. I think they were being advertised as 'common Oscars"...Don't quote me though...If I find out anything more i'll post it...Theya re actually quite striking...

[O-man21]

yes, yes they are

[tuthelimit]

I have seen these Oscars at walmart. They were called "Austrialian Rainbow" Oscars. hahaha I know, I know. I have never seen one grown out. They look similar to "black" oscars which have that zebra look at a small size. They could be the same fish. Petco sells "black" oscars.

When I first got my wild oscars they were more brown than black and white.

I hope your fish makes it. I would like to see what it looks like in a few months!

GL!

ttl

[CyberDrgn]

I recently saw a tiger oscar that was black and silver. Probably just someone breeding another new color morph. I wonder if they will cost slightly more like albinos, even though albino oscars aren't rare at all.

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by CyberDrgn
\I recently saw a tiger oscar that was black and silver. \

that is exactly what I saw....I'm not sure but you are probably right about the colour morph thing...They are really very attractive, not bland at all..Wish I had room for some of them...

[goldfries]

well i don't care what type of oscar your baby oscar is, but if I EVER see one with that color I would buy it!!!! very cool color.

anyway, i have a bunch of 1+ inch baby oscars with me. and they're always very very active especially when they see me.

it's rather weird if your oscar doesn't move. even my 7inch oscar moves around a lot.

i noted my oscar won't move much after 2 things.
1. too full
2. spooked

try leaving him in a secluded place and not feeding him for a few days.

[O-man21]

I still think it is bloated and is doomed to die within a dat or two......I'm not sure, correct me if I'm wrong. If he lives, then I will suffer eternal shame..:D

[O-man21]

sorry to tell yuo that but I think that is the diagnosis

[oscar andy]

I don't think its bloat, I tink hes just full from a big meal. But ifit is bloat its realy not that hard to cure, try some epson salt, If you get him eating again try geting him to eat a pea, the fiber helps with bloat.
BTW I think he's just a baby tiger oscar, Thats what they always look like when we get them in at petsmart, but then a month or two later they have there adult colors.

[O-man21]

I've never heard of salt curing that.I'll try it next time my fish get bloat, if they do. I still think it's bloat.

[oscar andy]

you might be thinking of dropsy. thats very hard to cure, it looks simular to bloat, but the fishes scales stick out.

[AnthonyNYC]

Thanks for the reply guys. I was scared and so I moved the Oscar to another tank and he died.

To answer the other questions....

The swordtails were twice the size of the oscar. I had no idea that he would try to eat a fish that big. Well he did. I think the fish was just too much for him or he ate too much at once.

I have no idea what kinda Oscar that is other than I liked the color and that is why I picked him.

I still have 2 other oscars in my 55gallon.

Thanks for the replies.

Anthony

[Arkady]

Albino Oscars don't cost more... Where I am from, they have Albino, Red, Pink, and Tiger Oscars in the same tanks. Although the Albino and Pink Oscars are slightly less agressive, they only sell the Pink Oscars for like 15-25 cents more... the rest are all like $3 or $4 each, depending on the store. One of our stores sells 2 baby Oscars for $5. Fully grown Oscars sell from anywhere between $15 to $40 dollars, depending on if it's Albino, Pink, Longtailed, or a Tiger. Albinos, Pinks, and Longtails sell for more as adults, considering they normally don't live that long out here, they're killed off by the Tiger and Red Oscars. But as babies, they're all the same price, and are kept in the same tank... 'cept for Longtails [which have their own tanks]. Longtails are rare out here, that's why I got my Longtails. Mine costed $5 a piece at 2 inches each. All I know is that we have NO Wild Oscars out here... finding one would be like a rare find indeed... to put in small terms. =T

[tuthelimit]

Let me start my saying I have never owned a 'albino' oscar. My question is why do people feel they are less aggressive than an oscar with another coloration?

Line breeding may cause 'weaker' fish to survive, but will their behavior change? I suppose the fish could be less aggressive... but i doubt color has anything to do with it.

ttl

[LindaD]

My baby albino Oscar is just as aggressive if not more so than the Tiger Oscar I previously owned. They each have their own personality/aggression level no matter what colour they are.

[Arkady]

I guess it's just where I am from, 'cuz I've only seen one fully mature 12' Albino Oscar, and my friend bought it... it died a weak later from an 8' Tiger Oscar. Everyone who's ever owned an Albino and Pink Oscar out here talks about how they were picked on then killed by their Red and/or Tiger Oscars... Longtailed Oscars too, but it's obvious why they're first to go, considering they get their tails nibbled on all the time by other Oscars. In fact, for the longest time I always thought Veiltails were simply Longtails who got picked on too much. Actually, I've heard of like two or thre Pink Oscars who made it with a tank full of Red Oscars, but never an Albino.

[tuthelimit]

Don't get too hung up on the fishes color. They are the same species.

Oscars with un-natrual fins are begging to get nipped! hahah, man i think they are ugly

[O-man21]

we NEVER get any longtailed oscars in Iowa, god it sucks here

[JacksontoKobe]

We have Oscars that color all over in Montana. I have even seen them at wallmart I would like some more info on them also. I have also seen baby oscars that are red and tiger colered like slip said so I dont think they are going to get those colors as they get older.

[sammie]

ihave these fish one is 4 & the other 2 and yes they have those colours when the reach maturity they get nicer as they get bigger u know more to see if its getting bigger - do u know the breeding habits, cycles and roles the male and female play in the spawning to birth stage

[nursie]

this is a 3 year old thread...don't dig back this far....these folks aren't around anymore.
Post a new thread!! People will answer you.
Great idea to search old posts, but check the dates before you bring them back to life!

[comrvf]

i feel for you on this one i thought my one was sick but it turned out it is just a pig mine had simmarl colors now it is fully loaded with oranges but yours does look good apart from not looking well good luck and it should be in a tank by its self or another oscar the same size but its up to you how you treat one gods creatures its all up to you i had mine in a smaller tank now its in a huge tank and growing fast :)
"a happy fish is a healthy fish"

[FishFreak101]

K that oscar is called a zebra oscar........ the stripes kind of give it away