I bought him almost a week ago and I know it is normal for oscars to sometimes be tempermental when going to a new home, but i've always heard it only lasts for usually no longer than a week. now that the week is almost up and he still isn't eating or being responsive to my husband and i am really starting to worry. we made sure to purchase the exact same kind of food for him to eat so his transition would be easier but he still is not responding, he only hides from us and looks at the food when we try to feed him. i am very concerned, especially since my husband has always wanted an oscar and this is his first one. please, if anyone has any information that might help i would greatly appreciate it. thank you!
2006-06-28 04:47:49 · 9 answers · asked by peace_and_a_rose 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
the oscar is only about two inches long and he is the only fish in a 55 gallon tank. he was very responsive and friendly in the pet store but as soon as we brought him home he went into hiding.
2006-06-28 04:56:27 · update #1
i completely cleaned the tank before purchasing him. since i had done such a large water change, i let the tank cycle the water for about a week before i bought him. i am feeding him the hikari staple baby pellets and purchased brine shrimp as a treat.
2006-06-28 05:51:29 · update #2
i just wanted to clarify that i only did a 50% water change, not the entire tank. i realize that i didn't give that specific!
2006-06-29 03:53:52 · update #3
i just wanted to say thanks for the all the answers so far, even if some of you took a more sarcastic tone with your knowledge (dark link...:)) the only reason i let it cycle like that is because that is what the people at my local pet shop recommended i do since i was cleaning the tank.
2006-06-29 03:57:14 · update #4
Really need more info. Is he getting along with the other fish? How big is he (I know they can get very large). Is he responsive to your hands?
I would call the fishstore where you bought him and ask about your problem. They might have sold you a sick fish (hope it wasn't too expensive). If you think he's sick you may have to quarantine him.
2006-06-28 04:53:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will need a 75+ gallon tank in a few monthes,maybe a year if youre lucky. Oscars get to 14" long and are very messy.
Don't worry if your oscar is shy, it will be confident (and hungry ) soon enough. Fish, espcially fish like the oscar, can go weeks without food, so do not worry about the fish starving. It is probably just stressed by the move and new owner. Oscars are very smart!
Also, try getting more variety, you only have a few foods. A good selection of frozen, freeze dried, and staple food, along with occasional live, no feeder fish though, will do your fish wonder.
Be patient and wait it out. The fish will have to eat something eventually
PS: you did a complete water change? NEVER EVER do that. It kills almost all the beneficial bacteria, as well as accomplishing nothing. The only time you should do something like this is at the end a fishless cycle, to get rid of nitrates, and even then around 80%. A good 25%-50% weekly change will be excellent. Also while on the subject, get excellent filtration. Oscars are dirty!
Also, cycle the tank for a week. Cycling happens when either fish go in, and create ammonia for them to live in (sniff a bottle of ammonia, a fish cycle is stiking the fish in that), a fishless cycle usually involve adding ammonia, without fish, though bottles of plain ammonia, or prawns or fish foods. Ammonia is the most accurate, just calculate how much to get to 6ppm (you do have test kits don't you?) Leaving the tank to sit is not called cycling, it called a waste of time.
For now, do daily water changes of 10-25%, and try to find bio-spira, only that product will work, all others are great for wasting money.
2006-06-28 13:09:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My oscars stay away from the hikari pellets, try frozen bloodworms, freezdried krill or feeder guppies. Oscars do best when they have a variety in their diet. If he is swimming on his side or if he looks unhealthy, he might be in his last days. Feed him sinking food and walk away from the tank, they'll hide from you until they get used to you. And make sure there are plants and places for him to hide. If it's a totally open tank, he'll be scared for a long time and it'll take a while for him to come out.
2006-06-28 10:06:50 · answer #3 · answered by Kwen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He will eat on his time, oscars sometime let pass about 1 or 2 days, So have patience with your pet. They have to get used to the environment been in a new tank.
2006-06-28 04:52:44 · answer #4 · answered by Evy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure what kind of food you are using for him at this moment, but I find frozen bloodworm helps a lot. It's meaty, it's chunky, and it will float around enough for him to assess it and take after it. That's what I always fed my incoming oscars at the store.
2006-06-28 05:23:30 · answer #5 · answered by DarkOneSaysJump 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be many things. water conditions, type of food you are feeding it, you havnt mentioned.
Have you cycled your tank before buying your oscar? what are your water parameters? and what are you feeding your oscar?
we can help you from there. =)
2006-06-28 05:48:12 · answer #6 · answered by crazy4beadz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just ask ur pet shop wat type of food he has been providing & also try putting one more fish along with him because OSCARS have the tendency to stay sick if they are not in pairs
2006-06-28 05:08:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anirudh nataraj 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call pet shop!
2006-06-28 04:51:48 · answer #8 · answered by Linnie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let him go!
2006-06-28 04:51:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋