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What could be wrong with the Oscar?
We have a large Oscar. He is kept in a 20 gallon tank. He recently jumped out of the tank and I brought him back. He was doing good but still refuses to eat. I know large Oscars can go a while without eating and that's what I chalked it up to, but he continues to not eat. He's still healing from his out of water experience.
His water condition is good, I know a tank cleaning needs done and soon but the water condition is still good, it was one of the first things I checked.
He now has a while string like substance on his face and on his fin on his back he's got what appears to be white bumps. He's never had these. He had a case of hole in the head before we got him but that hasn't worsened so I haven't worried about it. I've considered the possibility that the hole in the head is back and just not seeing it because I know it can do a lot of damage.
He's also taking the food in his mouth but he doesn't swallow it, he "chews" it and then spits it back out. He's not looking unhealthy or anything, I just can't figure out what is wrong with him.
What could be wrong with him? Would a water change and tank cleaning fix the problem?
He was doing FINE until he jumped out of the tank. The water was too cold, which is why he jumped out. I agree that the tank is too small for him, but it is IMPOSSIBLE for us to put him in a bigger one and his owner won't part with him.
As for the water condition being good but needing cleaned I mean: the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels are where they should be but the tank needs cleaned.
My main questions are what is the white stuff and why isn't he eating. So far all I've been told is to put him in a bigger tank, which we CAN'T do.
6 Answers
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
hes in a 20 gallon tank a juvenile oscar should be in a 55 gallon minimum an adult oscar needs 75 gallons as a minimum as an adult my oscar is in a 125 gallon on his own he is 8 years old and has never had a disease.
My guess is your water conditions are bad they cant be good in a 20 gallon oscars produce large amounts of waste so i bet you have high ammonia in that size tank that is why your fish has Hole in the head disease and other things wrong with it up grade your oscar to a bigger tank or re home the oscar
- Gary CLv 71 decade ago
The underlying problem is that you're keeping the Oscar in a 20-gallon tank, which is much too small for any Oscar, let alone "a large Oscar." It's no wonder he tried to get out of that tank. If you put me in a 20-gallon tank, I'd try to get out of it, too.
When you say the tank needs cleaning, but the "water condition is good," what exactly do you mean? What have you checked, and how recently?
In my experience, the most common reason Oscars lose their appetites is poor water quality. If nitrates or other pollutants build up in the water (which will happen very fast with a large Oscar in a small tank), the fish act depressed, or sometimes agitated, but in any case they often don't feel like eating.
The first line of treatment for almost any fish problem is large water changes. So yes, clean the tank and change at least 50% of the water. Do this daily until the fish is better.
The real solution, though, is to move the fish to a more suitably-sized tank-- 75 gallons or (preferably) bigger.
- 1 decade ago
First of, oscars need at least 80 gallons to live in. I don't know why your fish is sick. But it could be that he has out grown the tank. Get a large tank asap! Give him some vegetables and make sure the ph is around 6.5.
What did you mean the water condition is good. The ammonia and nitrite must be at 0 and the nitrates less than 30.
Add some anti-fungal (not anti-bacterial) treatment. If your fish is covered by white grains, then it is ich. Research online on how to treat it but don't use anti-bacterial treatment as it will kill your nitrification bacteria. Also keep the temperature around 23 degrees and give him some vitamins.
Source(s): http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/Oscar - JoolsLv 41 decade ago
The tank is too small, needs a minimum of 50 gallons. He's very stressed due to the cramped conditions and the poor water quality (should be doing minimum twice weekly 30% water changes). He'll never get to optimum health unless you sort the tank size out.
Source(s): 15 years fishkeeping - How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- 1 decade ago
Try cleaning out his tank and change the water ASAP. Considering that he is a "big" oscar. 20 gallon might not be enough to house him. I would suggest 75 gallon for a pair of adult oscar as these fish get big. According to the white bumps your fish might have ich, ick or white spot disease raising the temperature to at least 80 degrees F should slow or kill the protozoans which causes this disease. The string of white unknown in the head is unknown to me. But change the water ASAP, rehouse to remove stress, and raise temperature should cure your problem.
- 1 decade ago
the tank is too small
when fish are under stress they will sometimes jump out of the tank
he is in a tank that is way too small
they need at least 40 gallons, and that is the absolute minimum
