oscar fish help urgent?

Question

i have an oscar fish hes in a 10 gallon tank i know its small im getting a 30 gallon asap hes about 5-6 inches long and right now he has hole in head disease and ever since ive been cleaning the the tank about 50 % of it twice every week. but recently i see him on the bottom of the tank and jsut sitting there is he going to be k did i do somethign wron and plus there seems to be no sign of fin rot or any flaw except the head in hoel disease. does anyone think its to late for my oscar or if hes gonna make it

Answer 1

Hole in the head (HITH) can be cured if caught in time. Treatment is typically with Flagyl.

It's hard to say if the sitting on the bottom is related to the HITH or water quality/ammonia or nitrite poisoning. Even if you move him into a 30 gallon, this isn't a permanent solution, since he will also outgrow that tank (he will need around a 75 or larger as an adult). If you use gravel in the current tank, move this as well as the filter to the new tank, as these will contain the bacteria needed to convert the ammonia and nitrite to a less toxic product (if you don't use gravel, too high of ammonia and nitrite in too small of a tank may be part of the problem with the overall health of the oscar).

Along with the parasite Hexamita, there is some evidence for nutritional deficiencies and use of carbon in playing a role in HITH.

Answer 2

Of course your oscar is going to make it, HITH is rarely fatal if caught in time and you change your tank maintenance program.

HITH typically presents in fish that live in dirty filthy conditions where the water has not been changed or the gravel vaccummed in a long time. Some have said that the dust from improperly rinsed carbon has a role in it, but there is still no hard and fast data on what really causes it. The hexamita parasite is always present in fish with HITH, but it is present, many times, in fish that do not have it. So, if hexamita causes it, it is because the fish is stressed and his immune system has been compromised by poor food and water conditions.

I have rescued and cured more than a couple of oscars with HITH. It takes a long time, but it will work if you stick to it and don't slack off.

When you say cleaning the tank about 50% of it, what do you mean? 50% water change? 50% gravel siphon? 50% algae scrub? All of this needs to be done right away.

You need to start doing 50% water changes twice a week and start feeding him a varied diet, high in protein. No feeder fish! More oscars have been killed by diseases brought in with feeder fish than anything else.

Oscars are known for laying on their sides when no one is around, do not worry about that. As soon as you come to the tank, he should be up and around to see if you have any treats for him. They love bloodworms, freeze dried shrimp and tubifex worms. You can also feed him small chunks of fish from the grocery store, uncooked. Get fish that is white in color, no red fish meat. Tilapia has been on sale recently, that would be perfect for him.

Now, on to the size of the tank. How old is the fish? Oscars will grow an inch a month for their first year if they are taken care of properly (good food, regular weekly water changes). The size of the tank has no bearing on how a fish grows unless you are not maintaining the water properly. The bigger the fish, the more frequent and bigger volume of water must be changed.

To avoid constant water changes (daily, 40-50%) you need to get him into at least a 30 g tank for a while and then if you plan to keep him, a 50 g is an absolute necessity for him as an adult at 14-15".

Oscars are great fish and have definite personalities, so cure him and keep him. He will appreciate it and you will gain a great sense of accomplishment. Good luck!

Email me if you want to talk further.
8

Answer 3

A 30 gallon wont help, he needs a 50 gallon. Wow, he must not be able to move. Why did you get such a big fish when you only had a 10 gallon. For now, you have to change about 70 percent of the water AT LEAST every other day, if not every day, especially if he is already diseased. If you move him into a tank soon and keep the water in good parameters he could recover.

Answer 4

HITH has been cured in the past. I am not going to say it is easy, but I am going to send this out to a few people I know are good with these things. The only input I want to give on my own accord is that even a 30 gallon tank won't give the necessary space. Please reconsider making that 30 gallon at least a 55. I'll pass this on now.

JV

Answer 5

how huge is gigantic? all the fish you listed by myself would opt for fifty 5 gallons, ten further gallons for each fish. you will choose a one hundred+ gallon (approx. 4 hundred liters) tank just to fortuitously homestead all the fish you have now, not to indicate a turtle.

Answer 6

That's typical Oscar behavior. Oscars, when in a new area, or tank too small, like to lay on the bottom and look up at you