I got my oscar 2 days ago and I haven't seen him eat thus far. He is in a 40 ish gallon tank by himself. I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions on why this is, filter current, type of food... I am using Wardley Cichlid floating pellets, and using a Penguin 150B Power Filter I believe. He seems to be behaving normaly. Just a little concerned.
Oscar Fish
- Thread starter adomatic
- Start date
tropic_john
Fish Herder
oscars are the toughest of the tough, a current won't bother them.
p.s well there are a few contenders; wolfii cichlids, texas, rd, red texas, jags etc
p.s well there are a few contenders; wolfii cichlids, texas, rd, red texas, jags etc
Davo86
Cichlids, Catfish and Oddballs
how long had the tank been setup prior to adding the oscar?
Had it been cycled at all?
Had it been cycled at all?
it had been up for 2 days, and i filled the water in 3 stages the first day.
Aphotic Phoenix
Fish Addict
I'm going to assume that since you did not answer the question about the tank being cycled, you do not know what "cycling" is. Quite honestly I would highly recommend taking your Oscar back to where you purchased it from, and learn to cycle your tank first before you purchase a new one, because otherwise your Oscar will most likely die. Oscars are extremely messy fish, and with no established biological filter (bacterial colony) in the tank, your fish will quickly poison himself. Furthermore, Oscars require very clean water in the first place, otherwise they are prone to developing a condition known as Hole in the Head disease.
If you have not done so already, please visit the Beginners Resource Center, and read the articles linked in there.
Totally agree with the above - you need to cycle the tank before getting your Oscar. While they are tough as old boots in a well maintained, mature aquarium they are as vulnerable to ammonia and nitrite poisoning as any other fish.
Take the fish back, cycle the tank and then you will be able to get an Oscar and have him happy, healthy and so much fun to keep.
Oh, and do ask loads of questions - we are always happy to help!
Take the fish back, cycle the tank and then you will be able to get an Oscar and have him happy, healthy and so much fun to keep.
Oh, and do ask loads of questions - we are always happy to help!
Wordy
Fish Fanatic
If you are genuinely concerned about the fish then the best thing I think you can do is take it back, he is slowly poisoning himself in your tank due to the fish waste, uneaten food etc breaking down and producing amonia, and your filter not having the bacteria to remove it.
Once the fish has gone back then you should cycle your tank, there are guides on how to do this here.
Basically your filter needs to house enough bacteria to covnvert the toxic chemicals from fish waste into Nitrate which is removed by a water changing.
The cycle is this
Amonia>Nitrite>Nitriate
Amonia.
Produced by fish waste, dead plant matter, uneaten food etc. As these break down in the water they produce amonia which is poisonous and will kill your fish in very short order if it is not removed. The bacteria in a fully cycled tank will remove the amonia and produce Nitirate.
If you have a test kit, then the amonia level must be at 0 ppm at all times if you have fish in your tank.
Nitrite
As the amonia bacteria remove amonia they produce nitrite. Nitrite is poisonous to fish and will kill them as quickly as amonia will if it is allowed to build up. In a fully cycled tank nitrite will be removed by the nitrifying bacteria which will then produce nitrate.
Again your water should have a reading of 0 ppm at all times when you have fish in yourtank
Nitrate
Nitrate is produced by the nitrifying bacteria removing nitrite, they then produce nitrate. Nitrate is less toxic to fish and can be tolerated in higher levels, it can be removed by either regular water changes or absorbed by plants.
You should be aiming to keep your nitrate levels at no more than 20 ppm more than your tap water, easily achieved with a good maintenance routine.
I'd like to add that people suggesting you take your fish back do not have a holier than thou attitude, and genuinely want to see you enjoy keeping happy healthy fish. Cycling your tank is a vital process to achieve that and must not be overlooked. It will require paitence, but is easy enough and the benefits far outweigh the time & effort spent cycling your tank.
P.S Ask lots of questions!!
Once the fish has gone back then you should cycle your tank, there are guides on how to do this here.
Basically your filter needs to house enough bacteria to covnvert the toxic chemicals from fish waste into Nitrate which is removed by a water changing.
The cycle is this
Amonia>Nitrite>Nitriate
Amonia.
Produced by fish waste, dead plant matter, uneaten food etc. As these break down in the water they produce amonia which is poisonous and will kill your fish in very short order if it is not removed. The bacteria in a fully cycled tank will remove the amonia and produce Nitirate.
If you have a test kit, then the amonia level must be at 0 ppm at all times if you have fish in your tank.
Nitrite
As the amonia bacteria remove amonia they produce nitrite. Nitrite is poisonous to fish and will kill them as quickly as amonia will if it is allowed to build up. In a fully cycled tank nitrite will be removed by the nitrifying bacteria which will then produce nitrate.
Again your water should have a reading of 0 ppm at all times when you have fish in yourtank
Nitrate
Nitrate is produced by the nitrifying bacteria removing nitrite, they then produce nitrate. Nitrate is less toxic to fish and can be tolerated in higher levels, it can be removed by either regular water changes or absorbed by plants.
You should be aiming to keep your nitrate levels at no more than 20 ppm more than your tap water, easily achieved with a good maintenance routine.
I'd like to add that people suggesting you take your fish back do not have a holier than thou attitude, and genuinely want to see you enjoy keeping happy healthy fish. Cycling your tank is a vital process to achieve that and must not be overlooked. It will require paitence, but is easy enough and the benefits far outweigh the time & effort spent cycling your tank.
P.S Ask lots of questions!!
arobinson1984
Fish Gatherer
I agree with everything said above, it seems that your tank isnt cycled, not only that but unless you are planning an upgrade mighty soon then you shouldnt have an oscar in a 40 gal tank, its not big enough.
Oscars require 75 US gal tank thats without any other tank mates and they also require double filtration as they are messy fish
Andy
Oscars require 75 US gal tank thats without any other tank mates and they also require double filtration as they are messy fish
Andy
River Dog
Fish Crazy
100% agree with all of the above. Its not nice having to take a fish back, but it is really the kindest thing you can do for your Oscar. They are one of the best fish you can own, but only in a fully cycled large enough aquarium.
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