Sick Oscar

[indigoj]

As you know I lost my black oscar a while ago to a particularly nasty infection. I treated the tank with myxazyn for a week but my albino has also never fully recovered.

He's not eaten for about 5 days and is now moved to a hospital tank because he can't swim upright and is just lying on his side- I think this is more lack of energy than illness. He also still has traces of the fungusy infection which he can't seem to shake.

I think partly he is pining for his mate but I am now desperate to save him. Any ideas to get him eating? Also anything else I can try? Hospital tank has no meds in at this stage so can try something different if it may help.

Would salt help? Or something like liquefry that he could eat without realising?

Please help me save him!

 

[england]

Hi sorry to hear of your problems mate, not sure about health issues sorry, but maybe try some live feeder shrimp, throw some in and see if it entises him to chase them,work for his meal, if not id say keep up some good waterchanges and try alittle food daily if not eaten in a while remove it, just keep repeating, my jag cichlid went on hunger strike for well over a month, have you tried deshelled peas?

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

What are your water stats?

PH
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate

Can try get a better picture if we know that

 

[Curiosity101]

Are Oscars big enough to be tube fed? Just a thought, and I've never kept them or tried this myself so please don't shout at me.
The stress caused could be too much for it to be worth it, but there are plenty of other animals which you tube feed when they're refusing food...
Any oscar experts got an opinion?

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

Are Oscars big enough to be tube fed? Just a thought, and I've never kept them or tried this myself so please don't shout at me.
The stress caused could be too much for it to be worth it, but there are plenty of other animals which you tube feed when they're refusing food...
Any oscar experts got an opinion?

Wouldnt try it too stressful

Have seen dolphins being trained to take tubes willingly for if a medical need arises, slightly larger and easier to handle than an oscar believe it or not

 

[Curiosity101]

Lol, it really was just an idea *shrugs*. It'd certainly be a last resort type thing.

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

On O can go safely 2 weeks without eating if its of fair size

what size is the remaining O?

 

[indigoj]

Water stats all spot on - 0 for ammonia and nitrite, 25 for nitrate. Ph is soft and acidic 6.5.

He's been in a 6x2x2 tank for about 2 weeks since moving from the 4ft grow out tank and is about 6", until now he was pretty bulky.

I've moved him to a 90l hospital tank so he's not competing for food, water stats are for this tank but no different from the big tank (nitrate in the 6ft has been 20-30 all this time as has had 4 x 30% water changes in 2 weeks due to the health problems.)

I've just tried him with frozen bloodworm - no interest. He can't stay upright unless he keeps moving and then he seems to lose all energy and was upsidedown a few minutes ago.

Temp is 25 degrees and I've added an extra air pump and left him in the dark.

He's not looking good

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

Hasnt had a high impact injury recently to his head has he? caused by being spooked by something?

I ask because that how i lost nero my lutino O he got spooked by my plec and hit the tank lid hard causing him to lose brain function, swimming was an issue and no appetite for 6weeks before i finally decided enough was enough.

Any sign of internal parasite?

could try a pellet food saoked in garlic juices garlic seems to work as a feeding stimulant

 

[indigoj]

No head injury that I know of - not ruling it out as could have during the night.

Will try pellets in garlic at bed time.

No sign of parasites but again won't rule it out yet.

Going to do daily water changes and keep up with the extra oxygenation as that did seem to perk him up a little.

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

Good point tank temp ok? not gotten too warm and the oxygen levels depleted?

until you can figure out what the matter is water changes are pretty much all you can do.

 

[indigoj]

I run a pond air pump on the big tank so thought there should be plenty of oxygen in the water but with the meds you never know.

I'll be gutted if I lose him - he's the one in my avatar. He is hand tame and so laid back...

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

I run a pond air pump on the big tank so thought there should be plenty of oxygen in the water but with the meds you never know.

I'll be gutted if I lose him - he's the one in my avatar. He is hand tame and so laid back...

Pond air pump would provide plenty of oxygen so cant be that.

No physical signs on him/her at all?

the not keeping stable on the vertical could indicate swim bladder damage, could be swollen or slightly torn somehow.

 

[indigoj]

other than the remains of the fungus and being thin nothing obviously physically wrong.

 

[Ren&Stumpy]

other than the remains of the fungus and being thin nothing obviously physically wrong.

Try the garlic trick then is all i can really suggest, maybe someone else has an idea?