Sick Oscar

[Stell]

So I just recently started up a tank with 2 Oscars in it, it's a 55-60 gallon and has been going fine for about 3 weeks. One of my 2 Oscars, an albino tiger originally was doing fine (got him at walmart, was kinda skinny) but now his tail is getting frayed and turning white, he still has his appetite, i've never seen him and my other Oscar attack or even peck at each other except when I first put him in. He seems to be a little more lethargic than he was a few days ago. here is a picture for reference.
Fish Picture

What do you think it could be, and what would i need to treat it?

Levels of nitrates and nitrites, as well as ph are all normal.

Edit: If possible, any medication that i could find at petsmart (it's on my way to work) would be grand.

 

[kaivalagi]

Lots of water changes helps the healing process, there are also the medications you can add but I personally think very frequent water changes help best with fish injuries

Could it be he's getting it from the other oscar at night? Is there much cover for the fish to stay away from each other? Some plastic plants and rocks would help if not in place, so that the attacked can find safety from the attacker when needed

 

[Stell]

It could be, I haven't noticed any aggression, but I will look out for anything. I have been doing water changes once a week, think i should do more than that?

there's plenty of hiding area in the tank, a couple of decorations and some plastic plants scattered throughout.

 

[karin]

IFirst off, welcome to the forum. I think we will be able to help out.

If you started the tank 3 weeks ago, do you know about cycling a tank to develop the biological filter you need to process ammonia and nitrite produced by the fish? If not go over to the New Freshwater Tank section and read the Beginner's Resources at the top of that section. Focus on Fish-in cycling. It might be that you do not have the biological filter to process the ammonia and nitrite.

How are you testing for nitrite and ammonia? You'll need a good liquid based test kit. If this is a new tank and you are not doing daily water changes the problems you describe might be caused by ammonia or nitrite spikes.

In the end, the best thing to do in your case is to test your water very 12 hours and if nitrites or ammonia is above zero you need to do water changes.

Read what I described above and come back with more questions.

In addition, you do know that a 60 gallon tank is nowhere near enough room for two adult oscars?

 

[Stell]

IFirst off, welcome to the forum. I think we will be able to help out.

If you started the tank 3 weeks ago, do you know about cycling a tank to develop the biological filter you need to process ammonia and nitrite produced by the fish? If not go over to the New Freshwater Tank section and read the Beginner's Resources at the top of that section. Focus on Fish-in cycling. It might be that you do not have the biological filter to process the ammonia and nitrite.

How are you testing for nitrite and ammonia? You'll need a good liquid based test kit. If this is a new tank and you are not doing daily water changes the problems you describe might be caused by ammonia or nitrite spikes.

In the end, the best thing to do in your case is to test your water very 12 hours and if nitrites or ammonia is above zero you need to do water changes.

Read what I described above and come back with more questions.

In addition, you do know that a 60 gallon tank is nowhere near enough room for two adult oscars?

Thanks alot for your response, after checking the ammonia levels a second time (during which i realized i screwed up the test the last time) i found that they are high, so for right now i'm changing water, and cutting back on feeding until i get ammonia stabalized, other readings are all good still. nitrites are a little high, but not dangerously so. so thanks again for the responses, hopefully he'll turn out alright.

 

[karin]

Any nitrite with an "I" is a problem. You may be doing water changes for a while as the biological filter is developed. Again, can't stress enough to read about "fish-in" cycling. Good luck

 

[codheadjohn]

Any nitrites are dangerous. You're doing a fish in cycle, lots of water changes are in order.

Buying some live plants will help with the cycling