cichlids/oscar

Question
QUESTION: We rescued a terribly bad off 6 yr old red ciclid. It had ick, hole in head, laid at the bottom of the tank, was covered in parisites. We have never had an Oscar but already n 2 wks have spent many hrs with the laptop and him wit our teststrips in the other hand. He has finally started eating!!! Ph 6.8 ammon 0,Nitrite 0,nitrate 0 kh 0 gh 0 tank temp 76. Help us try to save him from ick please. can we do 100% water change every day? and we filter. thx so muc

ANSWER: Hi Cathy,
God bless your heart for saving this poor fish.
You cannot do 100% water change.  This is because the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate would go up, and kill your fish.  His water must always be cycled.  Ammonia, and nitrites must always be zero, and nitrates must be low.  The only way to acheive this is in a cycled tank.  Water changes of 25% every week are a "must."   Always make sure you have no ammonia, and no nitrites in your water.
Does your Oscar still have hole in the head?  If not, and ick is the problem, buy "Quick Cure" and remove your carbon.  Treat him for 2 days, and do a 25% water change.  Put your carbon back in, and wait another two days, and repeat the treatment, removing your carbon.  Always put your carbon back in when treatment is over.  Do another water change, siphoning from the bottom, and using a good water conditioner such as "Stress Coat."
Since he has started to eat, this is a good sign.
Here is a list of food the Oscar should have:

A good quality flake, pellet, and sticks bought at your pet store.
Crickets bought at the pet store.
Earthworms bought at a bait store, and cleaned.  To clean the worms. put them in oats for about one week.  Always buy the worms at a bait store to be sure you have no pesticides in them.
Minnows (regular kind) also bought at the pet store.
Frozen fish that come from rivers, and lakes that you buy at the market.  The fish must be frozen, and they must come from lakes, and rivers, never salt water fish.  Unfreeze a chunk, and feed this to your Oscar.
Frozen veggies at least once a week so he can clean out his system.  ( Peas, carrots, broccoli, green beans) these are all good foods for the Oscar.  Blanch them first, let cool before feeding him.
Bananas, and Mangoes are also good for the Oscar, now, and then.  Never feed him citrus fruit.
Frozen foods found at your pet store such as blood worms, plankton, etc.
Never feed him feeder fish.  These fish are almost always full of disease, and if eaten by your Oscar, he too will get the disease.

I would also like to mention, that one Oscar needs at least 55 gallons of water all to himself.  They need space to swim, and be happy.  They make wonderful pets, they are so clever!

I hope the little man will recover.  Please keep me posted on how he is doing.
Lynda




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QUESTION: Lynda,
Forgot to answer your question.. but we think he is cured of hole in the head, ick is gone, and his behavior seems completely normal for that of a healthy oscar. So we are hoping.
I'll never forget they guy i got him from saying "make sure you keep him in his algea water, he likes it." Yeah right...im sure he loved the parasites eatng away at him.

ANSWER: Hi Cathy,
Poor fish, it just turns my stomach over..no kidding.  He should be okay since he is acting normal.  I'm sure he will appreciate a clear, clean cycled tank.  I just can't imagine anyone keeping a 12.5 inch Oscar in a 20 gallon tank.  Poor thing didn't have space to turn around...how inhuman is this?  I have read horror stories concerning this fish, and I just wish people would get more information on them if they want to keep one.  They are so clever, it's downright cruel.  We take them out of their homes to put them in ours, the least we can do is give them a nice home.  I know you will, I'm sure of it.  This is going to be one spoiled Oscar!  I love hearing stories of rescued fish, it warms the heart!
Lynda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Lynda,
We are testing his water daily and doing exactally what you have suggested with the once weekly partial changes but we have noticed an odor from the tank and the water is not clear at all. We have plenty of oxygen running thru the water,a long bubble stone he loves, clean filter. There is already aquasafe water conditoner as well as easy balance water treatment in the tank to maintain. I wish i could get this tank at 100% because i cant move him to the bigger one for 1 month. Nitrate, and nitrite are both 0,hardness at 0,alkalinity abt 20 and ph 6.8. any sugestions? Can we used the clear water treatment? And yes i will post a pic with my next response. Thank you. Cathy
And yes we pull out any un eaten food.

Answer
Hi Cathy,
There are many reason why a tank can become smelly, and cloudy.  Sometimes it is bacteria bloom, or it could also be that your tank is still cycling.  When a tank is not completely established, the ammonia will give a smell, then it turns to nitrites which will be high, and eventually to nitrates.  It would be too long for me to explain this all to you, but you will find good information on the web.  The Oscar is a big fish, eats alot, and the tank is still small for him, this could also be a cause.  Do not buy products to make your water clear, it only works a little while, and it covers up the real reason to your problem.  You must find the problem.  Bacteria bloom happens in a well established tank.  It may take a few weeks to two months, but it sometimes happens.  The only thing you can do if this is the reason is to change your carbon, not your sponge, and do small water changes of 10% everyday.  If your ammonia level is zero, and your nitrites are zero, and nitrates are low, then you have nothing to worry about, the water will clear up by itself.  If your ammonia is high, this means that your tank has not cycled, and it will eventually turn to nitrites.  I hope this is not the reason because ammonia, and nitrites are the number one killer of fish.    Look up "Nitrogen Cycle" and you may find your answer there.  If your water is yellowish, greenish, brownish, or greyish, you will also find the answer by putting in "yellowish water in aquarium tank" and so on.  Keep checking your water to make sure your chemistry is right.  You did not mention your ammonia level, and this is what worries me.  If your ammonia level is also zero, then your water chemistry is perfect, and the cloudiness, and smell will go away, but I would change the carbon.  If your ammonia is high, then this is the reason.  You must act fast, buy a used sponge which is full of good bacteria, try to find water from an established tank, and gravel if possible. It could also be that Phillipie is a little toooooooooo big for his tank!  Oscars wastes lots, and small water changes will help until he can go to his new home.
Lynda