When I bought my oscar fish, the fin along its back looked thin in a spot towards the middle top end. now theres a quarter inch hole in the fin and it looks a little thin in another spot. He looks and acts healthy other than that. What should I do? Is this normal wear or should I be worried? Also, I have another Oscar that is absolutly beautiful but when I got him home I noticed he has a gimpy eye. One eye is normal but the other is really small and mis-shapen. He swims a little catywompus but he seems healthy and is active, Will this be a problem in the future? I like him and didnt want to take him back because he has attitude and I really like his personality. Thanks for any input...
Fin rot?
- Thread starter demento
- Start date
Water conditions? Feeding habits? Tank size?
Fin erosion is usually indicative of water quality problems.
Defects such as the eye won't go away, and can't be treated. If they don't impair the fish too much, it's not a problem. Keep in mind that tankmates might not feel the same way.
Fin erosion is usually indicative of water quality problems.
Defects such as the eye won't go away, and can't be treated. If they don't impair the fish too much, it's not a problem. Keep in mind that tankmates might not feel the same way.
sorry, its a 55 gallon tank. The water quality is great now ( I didnt cycle it well when I first got it and lost some fish but I cycled it properly and now all the ammonia is gone and everything is grand. I have two oscars two pleco's and a bushy nosed pleco. The first fish I put in was the oscar with the fin problem. Then the plecos and the the gimpy eyed oscar, ( the oscar with the fin problem is albino and the gimpy eyed one is a tiger). I have been feeding them cichlid pellets and brine shrimp that comes in little foil pouches and its like a paste.
What are the nitrate readings? Everyone's definition of great is different...If the fin is eroding, something it out of whack. How often do you do water changes? Was this oscar in the tank during the initial problems? If so, could be carryover from that.
I'd start offering some algae wafers and zucchini, as well. Veggie matter contains nutrients fish need, and don't always get from staple diets.
Long term, the oscars will outgrow that tank. The usual recommendation is one oscar per 75 gallon tank. They may be fine for now, depending on how big they are, but you might have problems down the line.
I'd start offering some algae wafers and zucchini, as well. Veggie matter contains nutrients fish need, and don't always get from staple diets.
Long term, the oscars will outgrow that tank. The usual recommendation is one oscar per 75 gallon tank. They may be fine for now, depending on how big they are, but you might have problems down the line.
Fin erosion comes from several possible sources. Single-celled skin parasites or trematode skin flukes might start the problem. Bacterial erosion and fungus (a white edge to the eroded part) are secondary infections.
You're the one that has to decide, because the action is a little different in each case.
Warmth discourages fungus, for example, but it speeds up the metabolism of parasitic ciliates.
Reducing dissolved organics is always an especially good idea with Oscars. Vacuum over the surface of the gravel every other day and replace 20% of the water.
I wish I could recommend potassium permanganate, but it's so toxic and caustic only very experienced fishheads should be using it.
You're the one that has to decide, because the action is a little different in each case.
Warmth discourages fungus, for example, but it speeds up the metabolism of parasitic ciliates.
Reducing dissolved organics is always an especially good idea with Oscars. Vacuum over the surface of the gravel every other day and replace 20% of the water.
I wish I could recommend potassium permanganate, but it's so toxic and caustic only very experienced fishheads should be using it.
Holes in Tiger Barb fins
This thread got me to thinking about one of my fish. I've got a small school (6) of Mossy Green Tiger Barbs and one of them has a few small holes in the dorsal fin. I've never thought much of it because it came from the fs that way and the little holes havent gotten any bigger. Besides, he's one of the more aggressive of my bunch and I figured he had gotten in a scrape with another fish.
Is this something I should be worried about? Something that could be contagious? I keep my water quality up, weekly water changes, monitor the nitrate levels, etc. The fish seem quite healthy and have good color and plenty of energy but I'd hate to see this spread throughout the tank.
Thanks in advance for any replies
Vagabond
This thread got me to thinking about one of my fish. I've got a small school (6) of Mossy Green Tiger Barbs and one of them has a few small holes in the dorsal fin. I've never thought much of it because it came from the fs that way and the little holes havent gotten any bigger. Besides, he's one of the more aggressive of my bunch and I figured he had gotten in a scrape with another fish.
Is this something I should be worried about? Something that could be contagious? I keep my water quality up, weekly water changes, monitor the nitrate levels, etc. The fish seem quite healthy and have good color and plenty of energy but I'd hate to see this spread throughout the tank.
Thanks in advance for any replies
Vagabond
Hey Vagabond
I would hesitate to medicate the whole tank unless its serious. Watch them carefully and see if the holes get bigger or if the other fish are getting them too. The holes should heal if the fish is healthy. If the holes don't heal after a reasonable amount of time, say one to two weeks, you can take out that fish and medicate it in a hospital tank.
Medicate the main tank if the others start showing the symptoms.
I would hesitate to medicate the whole tank unless its serious. Watch them carefully and see if the holes get bigger or if the other fish are getting them too. The holes should heal if the fish is healthy. If the holes don't heal after a reasonable amount of time, say one to two weeks, you can take out that fish and medicate it in a hospital tank.
Medicate the main tank if the others start showing the symptoms.
Thanks for the info
Thanks for the info. I've had the fish for going on a month now and have noticed no change.I havent seen it in any of the other fish either. I'll keep a closer eye out though.
Vagabond
Thanks for the info. I've had the fish for going on a month now and have noticed no change.I havent seen it in any of the other fish either. I'll keep a closer eye out though.
Vagabond