My Lazy Oscar

[Jessesgirl327]

I just recently bought 2 tiger oscars for my freshwater tank. At the pet store they were both swimming around fine. After I let them out of the bag one of them swam around fine and the other just kinda stays at the bottom. The one that swims around fine is not my problem. I am worried about the one that stays at the bottom. He eats and moves but not far away from the bottom. I have never seen him swim to the top. Is anything wrong?

 

[cowbla1]

How big is the tank and how recent did you get the oscars?

 

[Tolak]

Typical pouty oscar behavior. Nothing to worry about. You will need a tank in the 100 gallon range for two adult oscars, and there is a good chance of aggression issues with two.

 

[Jessesgirl327]

I just recently bought 2 tiger oscars for my freshwater tank. At the pet store they were both swimming around fine. After I let them out of the bag one of them swam around fine and the other just kinda stays at the bottom. The one that swims around fine is not my problem. I am worried about the one that stays at the bottom. He eats and moves but not far away from the bottom. I have never seen him swim to the top. Is anything wrong?

I have a 30 gallon. I just got him like 2wks ago.

 

[Jessesgirl327]

He now forces himself to swim to the top of the tank and DRIFTS down to the bottom. I think he pretends to get stuck to the filter, because i stuck the syfin in there to get him off and he swam away.

 

[cowbla1]

way to small

 

[Jessesgirl327]

way to small

Right now they are only 5in's i plan on getting a bigger tank when they grow. They are the only things in there no other fish. and they have a log to hide under.

 

[shroob]

way to small

Right now they are only 5in's i plan on getting a bigger tank when they grow. They are the only things in there no other fish. and they have a log to hide under.

I would try and upgrade as soon as possible, oscars grow very very quick and they will have outgrown it before you know, if kept too long in the 30 gallon you risk stunting them.

 

[Jessesgirl327]

way to small

Right now they are only 5in's i plan on getting a bigger tank when they grow. They are the only things in there no other fish. and they have a log to hide under.

I would try and upgrade as soon as possible, oscars grow very very quick and they will have outgrown it before you know, if kept too long in the 30 gallon you risk stunting them.

I lied when i said they were only 5in, they are 2in. 3 tops. We have a 75 we can upgrade them to, but i have to move the tank in a couple weeks so there is no point in doing it now. Do you think that is why one of my oscars just kinda lays on the bottom. My boyfriend thought it might be blought or something like that.

 

[shelaghfishface]

He now forces himself to swim to the top of the tank and DRIFTS down to the bottom. I think he pretends to get stuck to the filter, because i stuck the syfin in there to get him off and he swam away.

maybe something is wrong,,oscars dont genrally "pretend" to get stuck, have you carried out water tests to eliminate any problems?
my oscars did the same ie. lie on the bottom of the tank when they were first put in there, but i didnt have any pretending from them... no, definatly sounds like somethings wrong from my point of veiw,im no exoert but i do keep them.. have you got movement on the suface of the tank??( ie, filter return) or a large airstone,genrally something would have to be wrong for him to be weak enough to get stuck to the filter.

shelagh xx

 

[Tolak]

As long as he is eating, and there are no abnormal feces I wouldn't get too worried yet. It would be nice to see the results of some water tests, but oscars are moody fish. Mine still lays on the bottom at a 45 degree angle when I vac the gravel & do a water change. Moving his plants is like going and doing a cleanup on a teenager's room, emotional devastation.

If you don't have live plants you may want to try leaving the tank lights off, lighting the tank with room lights only. This helps new fish settle in. If you have live plants you won't have them for long.