Another Oscar Question

[Soaup]

I now have a catfish in with the two oscars and they are doing great, My black Oscar who is the bigger of the two looks like he had a small bite mark on the side, He lost a few scales and some skin is hanging it dosnt look too painful but its not normal. Who is more likely the culprit The catfish who is about 12 inchs or the other oscar? Im kinda out of luck when it comes to moving them so i think im gonna wait until i know for sure who is beating down on each other.

 

[smithrc]

what catfish is it?

 

[juanveldez]

if I remember right your oscars are about 6" correct? depending on the species of catfish. it could easily see the oscars as food.

 

[Soaup]

Albino Channel Cat, Yes I thought they would be fine, I have some feeders in the tank for both to feast on. The Oscars do have hole in the head, But its not progressing and staying at about the same as it has ever been. The cat fish is about 12". I have not seen the catfish bother the oscars or the goldfish i think he is still in somewhat of a shock from leaving the store, There was quite a struggle to get him out of the tank and in the bag. You can already tell though he is better off in my 125 then in their 10 or whatever it may be. But yes the catfish is an albino channel and the oscars are about 6-7" while he is closer to 12"

 

[juanveldez]

yeah the oscars are nothing more than a late night dinner mint for the catfish. you should have listened to the people in the catfish forum when they said to go with pims instead, and to forget the channel cat.

 

[Soaup]

It was the other oscar i saw them fighting before, The cat isnt bothering them much he is on the otherside of the tank on his own, Unless it was the cat at i just caught the oscars at the wrong time. Any suggestions now that i have this problem?

 

[juanveldez]

yeah get rid of the cat or kiss the Oscars good bye.

 

[Soaup]

With that being said, The oscars have HITH. What would you do?

 

[juanveldez]

there would be 2 things that I would do. I would get rid of the cat. secondly I would build a divider and seperate the oscars so that there was absolutly no way that there could be any stress on either fish and cause the HITH to get worse.

 

[Soaup]

Ok i think thats what im gonna do, The fish are close to inseperable though. I never see the oscars violently fighting they always stick with one another.

 

[juanveldez]

for a tank that size your going to have to build one though. so I hope that your half way handy with tools.

 

[Soaup]

I can do so, How about something with like plexiglass whats the best to use with a divider?

 

[juanveldez]

I actually have instructions on how to build a divider on this site, that I got from another fellow cichlid keeper.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...9319&hl=divider

 

[Soaup]

Great thanks, I really appreciate you doing this for me. I made the mistake i can take a look if your not up for looking up to it. Is the hole in the head gonna be a terminal thing ever, Or can the oscars be fully functional with the HITH.

 

[juanveldez]

no they will be fully functional. they just need a time out so that they can be stress free and get healthy thats all.