New Tiger Oscar!

[nanoMama86]

Ok, so I traded all my mbuna for a tiger Oscar who is about three inches long. He is in my 55 US gallon tank with just a sailfin plec right now. He is sulking something terrible. I am wondering if maybe some rosy barbs would be good tank mates for him and maybe rev him up and motivate him to eat. I saw the threads on Keith the Oscar and fell in love with him, and i got bored with my mbuna....so switcheroo! All my mbuna were cool, but I have ALWAYS wanted an Oscar. My new Oscar has got some brilliant markings, but does have a badly damaged top back fin that looks like it has been healing poorly, so I put LifeGuard in the water and am gonna do a full course, coupled with lots and lots of clean water. The person I got him from wasn't taking care of him very well, he was in a ten gallon with 5 other guys his size. His Oscars spawn all the time and he has a hard time getting rid of all of them. Oh well, his life from now on will be the life of absolute luxury with good food and pristine water.

This is my first Oscar, and any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[onidrase]

do you still have all the Mbuna decorations and whatnot in the tank? Oscars do not like the high pH that african cichlids prefer. Get some sand that does not buffer the pH, and be sure to have plenty of decorations for him to hide in and have territory. I'd avoid having any tank mates with your oscar. 55 gallons is still small for them with the mere 12 inch width. It's arguable that it's even too small for them.

 

[minnnt]

An upgrade in tank size will be needed when he's a little bigger, but will be fine for the time being.

Don't think rosey barbs would be suitable. Spanner barbs may fair better. You will need fully grown specimens of what ever you choose though as oscars grow at an astonishing rate. An inch a month is quite common.

 

[nanoMama86]

I have play sand as substrate and I did a near 100% water change with neutral buffer and prime. My ph is sitting at, hang on, I'll go test it again..7.2. Ammo zero, nitrite zero, nitrate 10ppm. He is STILL sulking! I'm starting to wonder if maybe he is sick? One day of the LifeGuard has seen a massive leap in healing on his back fin, no fuzzies to be seen at all, and he has got more color. I tried brine shrimp this morning, and he just looked at me forlornly and lied over on his side. He is so gorgeous I would be shredded if he dies! His name is officially Turbo.

 

[nanoMama86]

Turbo is my first oscar, so I don't know whats normal and whats not, and I am sitting here bawling because I already love him! My ph has been steady at 7.2 since I put him in. I am aware he is gonna need a jumbo tank in about six months, and am already eyeballing the one I want .I have wanted an oscar since I was a little girl and to finally have one is awesome. I am willing to do ANYTHING to make him happy, so please tell what tp do if you have kept oscars before! I wish keith's owner would would pop on and give me some advice! Maybe when my hubbs gets home I can get him to post a pic for me so everybody can see my gorgeous, petulant boy!

 

[england]

ok welcome to the wonderful world of oscars The king and queens of sulking, move a oscar to a new tank, re-arrange a tank when there in there and watch them sulk if they dont like it, my pair i have been quite lucky with not sulking at all, however all the oscars ive owned before would sulk for a good few days after moving them in a re-arranging tank, litterally laying on the floor for a couple of days, However this is not always the case, could be something else, what is the temp? filteration and is it feeding?

 

[minnnt]

I would say he is sulking due to the move.

Keith sulked for ages!

 

[nanoMama86]

Thankx for replying nelly! I am one of these silly mushy-hearted females,you know, just over my kids, fish and ratties! I try to not infuse too much into my posts but it IS holiday time, and I AM an old-timey mom.....and everybody is just NOT co-operating with me! Turbo is sulking, my eel won't eat, my ratties have got to be wormed, my son is sick... whew!

It's enough to send anyone crying into a corner!

Turbo's tank is about 73-74 degrees. I have got crappy filtration on it right now, two old workhorse aquatech 30-60's, But I've got a cascade 1000 on order, should be here right after turkey day. It should be way more than enough as it it's rated for a 100 gallon tank. He has not eaten anything since I got him and it has been 24 hours.

 

[nanoMama86]

Minnnt, my guy I got him from said to put a chunk of fresh garlic in his tank and it would "force him right outta tha doldrums" His exact words. Is that true? Does That work? I would put a diamond ring in there if it would make him happy!

 

[Tizer]

This all sounds a little bit mushy for a fishy

 

[nanoMama86]

Well Tizer, I wish more people loved the animals they choose to get as much as I love mine. I see all my pets as members of the family and I am in it for the long haul. That is why i am a member here so can find out as much as I can and make my fish as happy and healthy as i can. I will be going to check on my mbuna shortly o make sure they are being treated well. I do not take owning an animal lightly.

For everyone else, Turbo is continuing to deepen his colors, is this a good sign?

 

[minnnt]

The colouration sounds about right. They usually go a funny yellowy brown colour when stressed etc. If your water stats are good then he is probably just sulking as said above. He will snap out of it, may take a week... or two.

 

[Tizer]

Well Tizer, I wish more people loved the animals they choose to get as much as I love mine. I see all my pets as members of the family and I am in it for the long haul. That is why i am a member here so can find out as much as I can and make my fish as happy and healthy as i can. I will be going to check on my mbuna shortly o make sure they are being treated well. I do not take owning an animal lightly.

For everyone else, Turbo is continuing to deepen his colors, is this a good sign?

I can honestly say, i dont "love" my fish, its a bit of a strong word for them really, but that doesnt say i dont look after them. If i had an Oscar i could probably understand it a little more, they are much bigger and i would probably take it out for hugs and cuddles now and again. Possibly the odd scampi and chips dinner by candle light, but the mood would have to be set right. No tongues though, i aint into that.

 

[minnnt]

 

[walkers101]

Sounds like he is doing the normal sulk

they have been known to not eat for a few weeks if they are upset with you

three inches in a 55 is fine for now and you may find adding barbs (not rosy they are too small when full grown) will cheer him up and bring him out of his sulking period

any pictures?

you say you have bad filtration for now? watch how much food you are putting in his tank

although you are trying to do well by getting him to eat do not put too much in

also what ratio and how often are you doing water changes?