red and black oscar

Question
QUESTION: Hi Ron,
Our Oscar fish has been sick for 2 weeks now, he has swollen eyes and fins, his bottom had a bubble on it which has now burst, he's not eating and looks sicker and paler every day. We have him on metrogyl tabs putting him in a seperate tank for 48hrs and back in his tank for about 48hrs. We have been doing this since he first become sick. Fish expert at pet shop said it may take up to 2 months for this to work, but I'm concerned because he seems to be getting sicker. Thanks Tracey

ANSWER: Hi Tracey,
  By any chance, were you feeding him feeder goldfish before he got sick?

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


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

QUESTION: Hi Ron,
No we haven't given him any goldfish, he gets frozen bloodworm, frozen cichlid dinner, sometimes the small white feeder fish and yabbies. All from pet store. We also give him frozen peas.
Thanks Tracey

ANSWER: Hi Tracey,
  "small white feeder fish" are a problem.  You should never feed an oscar with feeder fish.  Feeder fish carry all sorts of diseases, and these transmit easily to the oscar making him very sick or worse.  

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


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

QUESTION: Hi Ron,
So what do we do? Should we just continue with the treatment we are giving him?
Thanks Tracey

Answer
Hi Tracey,
  You can try continuing with the present treatment and hope that he is strong enough to ride this thing through.  (And don't ever feed him feeder fish again).

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>