White Oscars

Question
QUESTION: Ive recently purchased 2 white w/red eyes oscars. They were fine for the first few days. Swimming around the tank, socializing and what not. Ive been noticing that for the past few days they are never around. Always hiding behind rocks and laying on their sides. Their appetite has also changed. They barely eat any food. My girlfriend has gotten really fond of them after being terribly frightened. (she hates watching them eat other fish. lol) But i seriously dont know what else to do. Ive raised oscars before and had never had this happen. Several petstores that i visited didnt know what to do or say, but one lead me to this site. Is there anything i can do to save them. Their approx. 3 1/2 long, had them for little over 2 months. i feed them wardley cichlid medium size pellets, with occasionaly bloodworms or smaller fish for treats(once every week or two). i change the water every other, temp. is at a constant 76-78degrees. please help.

ANSWER: HI Justin,
 When you say "smaller fish for treats", do you mean feeder fish, such as feeder goldfish?  If so, please stop doing that immediately.  Such feeders are notorious carriers of diseases such as ick which easily transfer to oscars.  Every week I get messages about another oscar dying because of feeder fish.  It is very possible that that is what is happening to your oscar as well.  

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


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

QUESTION: no, i feed them baby guppies that i raise in a seperate tank.

Answer
Hi Justin,
  You said you change the water "every other", but you left out the next word.  Was it day? week? or month?   Ideally you should be changing 25% of the water once a week, every week.  Deteriorating water conditions can lead to shyness.  Is that a possibility?

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