Oscar Ciclid

Question
I just bought 3 3" ciclids from Petco and they seem like they are leaning to the side but don't really look sick.  Is there anything I can do for them.  I think maybe they need to get use to the tank or maybe I'm hoping.  HELP!  I have the temperature about 80 degrees.  What do you suggest?

Answer
Hi Sara,
  It is quite common for new fish to be "out of sorts" for a few days or even a week or more when you first put them in a tank.  Let's hope that is what is going on here.  

80 degrees is perfect.  Be sure that there is an air supply in the tank (e.g.,. a bubbler or airstone).

Offer them a LITTLE food but if they don't eat it right away, take the food out.  Otherwise the food will rot in the tank and poison the water.  They can go many days with no food at all so don't worry about that.

Oscars are very intelligent fish, which means that they are also very sensitive to being moved so it takes them a longer time to adjust than many other fish.   Once they do adjust, you will find that they are fabulously interesting and engaging animals.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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