sick oscar :(

Question
Greetings,
I currently own 3 well grown oscars, now 5 years old. 2 in one tank and one in the other due to his extreme aggressiveness.

The smallest of all my oscars names 'Oscar' ( :D ), in the tank with himself and the company of another oscar, has what looks like become extremely ill. He hasn't eaten for about 2.5 weeks... and his condition is slowly deteriorating. His symptons include; lying on his side,swimming in a very abstract way (but rarely, and after doing this for about 1 minute, wont move for many many hours, and lay on his side), very long excretions coming out from his bottom, occasionaly EXTREMELY violently ramming himself at a very fast pace into the glass and what seems as spazzing out from monumental amounts of pain(he recieves bad bruises, and indents on his forehead from this, and his mate in the tank becomes very distressed when he does this).

I have seeked advice from local pet stores but, i fear he could die very soon. Wondering if there is anything else i can do. The pet store advised me that my Oscar had an intestinal disease and i was told to medicate to him 'Metrogyl', which ive been doing. I did this on this 2nd week he wasnt eating. I have been doing water changes every 2 days, (40-50%).


I really fear for his life, i think he will die... and i fear for his mate who is extremely distressed by his sickness, who im sure isnt going to be ok when he passes.

Is there anything i can do ? :<

Answer
Hi Sam;

Poor Oscar. He may have an internal bacterial infection that has caused his swim bladder to fail. Since the metro isn't working that would be my guess. There are two other medications you can try together. They are "Maracyn Two" and Kanamycin. Sometimes you can only find the Maracyn Two, so just use the M2 by itself. These are the only two antibiotics that absorb inside the fish to fight infections. Other meds treat the outside of the fish. I have used these meds together with metro before and there seemed to be no harmful side effects in my fish.

Keep up with the water changes. You are doing an excellent job in trying to help him. I hope he feels better soon.....

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins