Small White Parasites...HELP!

A

Als287

Registered Member
Mar 13, 2006
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I have an oscar in a 10 gallon tank. Recently, there have been tiny white animals showing up and I haven't been able to figure out what they are. These "animals" feed on the algae that grown on rocks and the sides of the tank. They actively swim and are visible to the naked eye. The best way that I can describe it are white water fleas-but a little smaller.
We recently changed all of the water in the tank with tap water at our new house and started feeding him krill every few days as a treat. These things just keep multiplying, but don't seem to be affecting my oscar's health. I cannot find antyhing online that seems to match these things. Planaria was the closest thing I could find, but they do not look like worms at all, just tiny white specs that swim. Also, I don't think that is ich. Please help me!!! :) I love my fish!
 
oscar in a 10 gallon? thats not good!

I had something similar in my amphibians tank, they are too small to identify and love to swim and climb on glass and rocks, I believe it was from a buildup of waste, it went away after MANY water changes a good filter and lots of plants.

My Guess is that since your poor oscar is in a severly undersized tank, he is putting out a ton of waste.

Actualy that is how I found this forum. Learned abotu cyling etc..They never did harm my newts.

I would do water changes untill they are gone and maybe look into a bigger tank and filter.
 
When I bought my oscar, the guy at the pet store said that as a general rule, you should have 1 gallon of water per inch of fish and that a 10 gallon tank would be fine for my oscar because he wouldn't get too big...only about 6 inches long or so....I don't have room for a tank much bigger :confused:


Thanks for the advice though! :hi:
 
Ack!

Take the oscar back, unless you want him to die a slow painful death...seriously. An oscar needs at LEAST 30g to himself. Thats for one. Even that may be pushing it for some people. Some would suggest a 55g for just one oscar. So, do Mr. Oscar a favor and either buy him a bigger tank, or let him go back to the pet store. If its been over your return period, just donate him to them. In the future, do some research before buying a pet please. Do not take offense, everyone was a newbie at one time to fishkeeping. No matter what it is or how cheap it is, its still worth the time to look up some information on the internet about them.

Just google the name of the critter you are wanting to keep with the word "care" after it. Should pull up all kinds of links. Also, as a general rule of thumb, read at least 3-4 different sources of information before you take it as gospel, otherwise you could end up with **** poor information, and that does you no good at all. If you have any questions about fish in the future, I highly suggest posting them here, as 97% of the suggestions found on this board are solid. Hope that helps.

P.S. The inch per gallon rule really only helps with small fish that dont get over 2 inches in length. Give you an example, if I have a 3ft long catfish (36inches) should I put him in a 55g aquarium? Still have 19 inches of space left according to the inch-per-gallon rule... Obviously no, I cant put a 36inch fish in a 48inch long tank and expect it to be happy and healthy. See why the oscar is too big for a 10g now? Same principle, smaller scale. :duh:
 
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Oscar must absolutly go back. There is no way he will develop normally and will mostly succumb to environmental poisoning long before reaching adult hood.
The white things are probably Copacods. Harmless, but an indication of excess nutrients in the water. Oscars are really dirty fish and there is absolutely NO WAY that he can last in a 10 gal.
 
IMHO oscars need atleast a 55 gallon for ONE. but i would rather have a 75 because even a 55 could be a lil cramped for the bruiser once he reaches full maturity. u can raise up a lil oscar for about a month or two tops in a 10 gallon depending on his size when u bought it but thats about it. oscars produce so much waste u would never be able to keep the water clean enough in a lil 10 gallon tank.
 
Als287 said:
a 10 gallon tank would be fine for my oscar because he wouldn't get too big...only about 6 inches long or so....
Click to expand...

You have got to be kidding?

Take the oscar back,or you are going to have a dead oscar!
 
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