Sick or Injured Oscar...need help!

R

Riviera

AC Members
Sep 16, 2009
8
0
0
Hi all! :)

So, I've read over some of the posts on here and figure I have A LOT to learn about keeping an Oscar successfully! That being said, understand that I am open to any advice that any of you can give me...and I will ask for instructions on things such as nitrate testing & the such. I am new to this so please don't be too hard on me :)

My problem is that my Oscar "Skippy" seems to have had some kind of an altercation with a tank decoration...a bell with some kind of bumpy barnacle looking stuff on it...and has lesions on his/her head. Skippy is at the bottom of the tank (a 44 gal hexagon...yes, I've read that it's not a good size...darn) in the back corner and is just staying there. He/she (I'll have to post pics for help to determine the sex) will move around if I tap lightly on the glass with the back of my finger nails but generally is in one corner or the other at the bottom of the tank. I've tried dosing the tank with Melafix (1tsp for every 10 gal) for 4 days....but it didn't seem to help and then I added some Stress Coat (it calls for 2tsp for every 10 gal to "help repair damaged skin & fins"). He is not eating (2 or 3 days...maybe 4) and seems to be getting pale. I shut the light off during the day and have been leaving it off most of the time as I was either told or read somewhere that the dark is best when they are "sick".

I got Skippy at a pet store back in May...or June and he was only a couple of inches at the time. He is now probably 6 inches or so and had been very outgoing and social...especially when he knew I was going to feed him!

My filtration system is a Fluval 405...I'm going to cringe here...and I only clean the system itself whenever the water starts to look less than crystal clear...which is not very often. His only tank mate is a Pleco and it's only about 3 inches long.

I'm quite attached to Skippy and would like to do what I can to save him/help him/heal him/grow him up. ANY advice would be greatly appreciated!

I apologize now for my apparent lack of care, a friend of mine had an Oscar who lived to be 4 and was HUGE...he died of constipation - according to the Vet. She had the same set up but with a larger tank and my care methods are just based on that. I have no other friends who have fish or any knowledge on special care for different breeds (in my own defence!). This is also my second Oscar. My first Oscar lived about a year and he was pretty big...maybe 12 inches long? He managed to break or dislocate his jaw by ramming into the glass (I assume) and died from, what I was told (same vet), more than likely blood poisoning. :(

Thank you all in advance for any advice! :)
 
Are you sure that it is from the decoration and not hole in the head or HLLE? What have you been feeding him? What has been your water change schedule? What are your parameters of Ammonia, Nirtite and Nitrate.

You said you know that the tank is too small, I would start craigslist hunting for a 75 gal. If it is a common pleco he will outgrow a 75 gal, though.

Also, it is my understand that it is not possible to sex Oscars except during spawning. I may be wrong.
 
Thanks Tifftastic. The problem seemed to arrive over night. He was fine one day and the next he had what looks like cuts & scratches on his head. I am just assuming it's from the bell. I feed him TetraChichlid jumbo carnivore sticks (broken into 3) and Nutrafin Blood Worms (I was told it would make him grow). I have no idea on parameters or even how to test...advice? Water change schedule...as I mentioned...I clean my filter system when the water looks like it isn't crystal clear & allow the system to keep the water clean...which it does. Far as the pleco...I don't care about him to be honest, he's there and that's fine. It's my Oscar I'm worried about. But for what it's worth he's only grown MAYBE an inch since I got him about 6 months ago (at Walmart). Thanks!
 
Ok well if it showed up over night, then in my experience its not hole in the head. Also, you seem to have been feeding him well.

To treat injuries water changes are your best friend. First off I am assuming you removed the decor which he injured himself on. You really need to be doing at least weekly water changes with carnivorous fish. Since you haven't been doing water changes you are going to need to start small and work your way up. With the size of tank you have him in I would recommend bi-weekly water changes. On my predatory fish tank I do a weekly 30% water change (I only have one fish in the tank). Plecos produce a lot of waste and so do Oscars so water changes are really important. Having a filter does help, but it would be like if you were closed in a room since may (a room that had nothing in it and you ate slept and went to the bathroom on the floor) and someone gave you a fan.
I would start with doing 5 to 10% water changes everyother day and check your parameters (I will get to that in a minute). Once they start lowering I would increase the volume gradually until your Nitrates are down around 20ppm (some people say 40ppm is ok between changes). Water changes will help give him the natural nutrients he needs to heal. There are a lot of trace minerals that you are adding by doing a change as well as taking out bad stuff. Once your nitrates are stable at an acceptable range I would just stick with bi-weekly changes of around 25%.

Now, to test your water. The most reliable way is with a liquid test kit. The API master kit is a good and easy to find kit. PetSmart and PetCo sell it for sure. I am not sure about WalMart. You can also order one online. The kit will have instructions that are very easy to follow. Its as simple as adding a few drops of this or that to a test tube of water. You want to check the parameters regularly. pH is not as important as long as it is stable. You will probly find you have a low pH and high Nitrates.


 
Thank you so much for your time & helpful advice Tifftastic, I really appreciate it :) I've learned a lot since I've started with my attempt at having an Oscar but after reading through this site, realize I have A LOT more to learn! Thanks again for being helpful and non-critical of my lack of knowledge. Should I continue to treat with Stresscoat & Melafix or something else or just focus solely on getting parameters stable?
 
You will definitely want to keep the stresscoat as it removes chlorine and since you are adding water it will need to be dechlorinated (unless you are on a well), but it is still a good practice. Melafix will help it is great for healing wounds. But ts effectiveness will be reduced with water changes since you will be removing it.

You will be surprised how well water changes alone will work too. I would do a small one tonight. At least five percent. Remember to add stress coat before you add the water to the tank and make sure the temp is the same as the tank.

Good luck. Post updates on his condition and water parameters when you get them.
 
I'll get right on it, thank you so much! And I do have well water and live in the country, so no chlorine. Nitrate levels were tested on the water itself a while ago but I doubt those tests will tell me the conditions for him. They were ok for human consumption at the time...though it will be tested again soon as agriculture is the main industry here (mainly potatoes). I will keep you posted! I'll post a picture of him/her WHEN he's feeling better! :)
 
Update

Skippy seems to be coming around slowly, he ate a couple of bites off the bottom tonight and then came to the top for some blood worms. He appears to be more active too! I'm not completely relieved yet but am happy to see an improvement!
 
Good to hear :D

Water changes can make an amazing improvement.

I am glad he is coming around. Just keep doing those changes and I am sure he will be better in no time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom