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Pet Forum / Aquaria / Cichlids / May 2005Oscar sick or sulking?
Hi, Recently my red tiger oscar has started just sitting around like he is sulking. I can usually con him to come out with food when he is sulking, but lately he just ignores everything. His poo's are floating, so I was wondering if it's possible that we've been overfeeding him lately? He started sulking right after I did a huge water changed (80% of the water) because the tank had some bad algae going on (that floating strandy type algae), and really to take out half the water wouldn't have made a difference. I also put in some anti-algae stuff and I'm pretty sure I didn't overdose the tank. Other than sitting around not eating, he is his usual charcoal colour, and hasn't gone grey around the gills or anything else. When I pay attention to him he sort moves a little in his spot, and moves his mouth a bit, but that's it!! The only other thing I can think of is that he had a small red christmas bauble as a toy tied to his rock, which I threw away, could he just be sulking because I took his toy away? He never seemed to play with it often anyway... What's wrong with my oscar?! > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > What's wrong with my oscar?! Have you tested your water for ammonia and nitrite? Tap water is usually alkaline, and an 80% water change can really shift the pH of a tank. Small amounts of free ammonia (like what may be feeding the algae) suddenly become much more toxic.  SignatureElaine T __ http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__>< rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com Elaine T Wrote: > Shannon wrote:- > Hi, [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__ > rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com Test your water...it could tell you why you have an algae problem an what's bothering your oscar.Try to avoid chemicals,they can do mor harm than good.Oscars produce alot of waste,making ammonia,nitrite an nitrate an issue...is the filtation up to it? How much light does i get?... is there a timer on the light?...what's th temperature?...oxygenation?...ph? It could be that he's bored,oscars like to be with other fish,althoug finding suitable tankmates can be difficult.The ph should be around and temperature about 25-27c.Keep the water changes to aroun 50%max[when you have a problem]and 20% for maintenance.The mos important thing is to get him eating,try as many foods as it takes an fish out what he doesn't eat -- sherlock he's probably just sulking from that 80% water change. really think it was unnessecary(sp) to get rid of algae. you could have put a blanket over the tank for about 2-3days and the algae would die off, but you probably didnt know that. so he's probably just sulking from all the fresh water you gave him. but i'd check the parameters just to make sure everything is good. what size tank you got and what kind of filters? http://www.cichlidfish.com/portal/forums Thanks for all your advice guys! I am pretty new to fish (meaning I've had quite a few that didn't make it, but this is only my 2nd oscar), you guys are all so hard core! I actually don't own a water test kit, but I'm buying one today, so I'll get back to you on the parameters. Please don't reply with abusive posts about what a bad fish keeper I am because I don't have a water test kit (I feel so amateur). Ernie (the fish) was honestly was doing fine until now, and I really do appreciate your advice on what to do. How does one fix an ammonia problem? Also, no, I didn't know you could just put a blanket over the top and the algae would die. Does the blanket need to be there all the time, or only when the sun shines on the tank? I think it was algae in the tank anyway. It was strands of green stuff coming off the walls, and then any waste the fish produced had this halo of white stuff growing around it, sometimes with little fibres (hyphae?, perhaps it is fungus?) sticking out it. > Thanks for all your advice guys! I am pretty new to fish (meaning > I've had quite a few that didn't make it, but this is only my 2nd [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > How does one fix an ammonia problem? The quickest way is to add something like AmQuel+ to the water. It detoxifies any ammonia and nitrites. > Also, no, I didn't know you could just put a blanket over the top and > the algae would die. Does the blanket need to be there all the time, > or only when the sun shines on the tank? If you have sun on the tank and no live plants, (I assume Ernie shreds them, oscar style) you are going to have a lot of algae. Have you considered one of those scenic backdrops to block the sun? > I think it was algae in the tank anyway. It was strands of green > stuff coming off the walls, and then any waste the fish produced had > this halo of white stuff growing around it, sometimes with little > fibres (hyphae?, perhaps it is fungus?) sticking out it. Hmm...Is Ernie still growing? And how large is his tank? Algae is pretty normal, especially in sunlight, but it sounds like there are some water quality issues with the rapid fungus growth on Ernie's waste. You might think about increasing how often you change water. Stick to 25% changes for the time being so you don't stress Ernie too much again. Once you've done enough 25% water changes that the tank water is the same pH and hardness as your tap water, you can match the tap water temperature to the tank temperature and change as much as 50% if you need to keep the tank clean. BTW, is Ernie doing any better? SignatureElaine T __ http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__>< rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com Shannon Wrote: > Thanks for all your advice guys! I am pretty new to fish (meaning > I've had quite a few that didn't make it, but this is only my 2nd [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > this halo of white stuff growing around it, sometimes with little > fibres (hyphae?, perhaps it is fungus?) sticking out it. Don't worry,we were all "amateur"at some point.Ammonia can b controlled with good filtration,oxygenation and regular water change and correct tank size/stock level.Carbon filters can reduce ammoni dramatically but only last 4-6 weeks and no "treatments" can be use whilst it's being used. I think I know why you have an algae problem.Fish tanks should not b in direct sunlight.Combine this with poor water quality and you wil almost certainly get algae. good luck "sherlock -- sherlock Shannon Wrote: > Thanks for all your advice guys! I am pretty new to fish (meaning > I've had quite a few that didn't make it, but this is only my 2nd [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > this halo of white stuff growing around it, sometimes with little > fibres (hyphae?, perhaps it is fungus?) sticking out it. Don't worry,all of us were "amatuer" at some point.Ammonia can b controlled with good filtration,oxygenation and correct tan size/stocking level.Carbon filters are excellent and can reduce ammoni and other pollutants dramatically but only work for 4-6 weeks and the shouln't be used when "treatments" are being used. I think I know why you have an algae problem. Direct sunlight will almost certainly give you alga problems,especially if the water quality is a bit poor. ..Sherloc -- sherlock He is doing a little better. I went to the store I bought him from (a proper aquarium shop, only sells water animals) with some of his tank water, and they said the pH was 7.8 which is way to high. SO i now have some stuff to fix the pH. I also bought him some clean feeder fish. I figured I needed to spoil him a bit since his water was so bad. He enjoyed chasing them for a while and he finally just caught one!!! So I assume he's doing better, he still hates me though, he only swims when he thinks I'm not there watching him... although he did chase and eat the first feeder in front of me! I'll have to test out the sunblock backdrop, although now that it's autumn the sun is rising at a different angle and not getting to his tank anymore. I'll still test it out though. Thanks for everyone's help! > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > What's wrong with my oscar?! to get rid of ammonia do 25% water changes, and dont feed your oscar so much while your doing this. this is going to get rid of some of the ammonia and by not feeding so much which will stop your oscar from going poo so much. this will build your biological bacterial. its okay that you dont have a test kit, but its best to get one as soon as possible. one that test for ammonia, nitrIte, and nitrAte, and ph. your amm and nit should always be at 0 and your nitrates shouldnt idealy get larger than 20-30. the blanket trick does work. becuase it strips the algae of the light it needs. so you will prolly need to do this whenever the algae starts to build up. and the main reason there's algae is from exces light or phosphates. sorry if ima just going and going, but just get the test kits and post the results. and i forget if you told us what size tank and what kind of filters you have on the tank. hope this helps http://www.cichlidfish.com/portal/forums pH was 7.8 (I've fixed it now) Ammonia almost 0 Nitrates and nitrites within normal limits My tank is 60L. I know I will need a bigger tank soon but Ernie is 4 inches long so I figure he doesn't need a huge tank just yet. He has lots of space to himself in there. I have one of those foam sponge filters which the gunk gets sucked into - one of those ones that you squeeze out the excess junk in the fishes waste water, but don't wash with tap water because the good bacteria will die. I'm supposed to be inheriting a bigger tank from a friend pretty soon. Hopefully not too much longer, although Ernie will not like the transfer, I can tell already! I think right now his water is fine and he just doesn't like me. I can see him swimming around right now, but whenever I go out there he acts all spooked! > to get rid of ammonia do 25% water changes, and dont feed your oscar so > much while your doing this. this is going to get rid of some of the [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > the results. and i forget if you told us what size tank and what kind of > filters you have on the tank. hope this helps |
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