I just got new fish and theyre not very active?

Question

I have just returned from the fish store about an hour ago. when i was there i got an oscar, a green terror, salt and a plant (i forget the the name now). when i got home, i put the plant in and 2 spoonfuls of salt. i have a filter running so i put the salt in where the water falls in, assuming that would cycle it better.

20 minutes later, after the fish had been in there bags adjusting temperature, i put them into the tank. the oscar immediately went down to about the bottom of the tank but the green terror swam around for about 5-10 minutes and then hid behind the plant. i tried feeding them and they just ignored the food until some got hit by the current from the filter, at which point the oscar swam for it.

right now, they are both on the bottom, vertical at least. the water's temp is 78-79F. i've had the tank running for about 2 days to cycle all the water through the filter. i added de-chlorinater when i added the water in the beginning.
thanks
phill.

thanks for all of the answers, they've all been helpful. i think i resolved the problem though, at least for now.

i called the store i got them at and they said to bring the fish back along with a water sample. they said water was fine, pH was good as well as nitrates(nitrites?).
lady said it was most likely because of transport. it is very cold where i am right now so taking the fish outside in a plastic bag wasn't a good idea.
she gave me 2 new fish, each same specie as before but this time double bagged with brown paper bag. this time i get home let them sit for 20 and voila, they swim fine and are acting what would be normal.

again thanks for all the responses!

phill.

Answer 1

Give them some time to get to know their new environment and home. They are still under shock and stress from the net, bag, confined space and transport.

Answer 2

Next time slowly add water to the bags with the fish, about a half cup every 10 mins for an hour. This helps with the pH balance. They may have just had some shock and hopfully will get over it. IF the water conditions are good they should be up and running by the end of the day!

Answer 3

I think it takes quite a bit more than just 2 days to cycle a tank -- usually more like weeks or months.

Unfortunately, if the tank isn't fully cycled the fish are going to be present for the ammonia and nitrite spikes involved in cycling a tank. I don't know how they will fair exposed to the high levels of ammonia/nitrite. It's possible you could lose one or both of them or that they will suffer internally when exposed. Did you test your water before introducing the fish?

Oscars are notorious for "pouting" when stressed so I wouldn't immediately be alarmed by that behavior, but you should keep an eye on both fish and look for signs of ammonia burns and nitrite poisoning. If you see evidence of ammonia burns or the fish start acting strange and gasping, you need to remedy the problem immediately.

What size tank are you housing these fish in?

Answer 4

Just give them some time. It might be possible that you didn't allow them enough time to adjust to the temperature but there is really nothing you can do to help that now. Everything else (temp, running the tank) is great, so they probably just need a little time.

Answer 5

Oh yeah, I know what you mean. I used to have a bunch of fish. When you get a new one, they usually hide for a few days because they aren't used to what you're doing. Also, just make sure you aren't putting too much salt in the water. You don't want to hurt them. Your oscar is just basically hiding too. Just give them time to adjust. :)

Answer 6

the fish just went through something rather tramatic. they will chill out untill the et comfertable in there new surondings.

Answer 7

Don't worry about it, sometimes they need more time to get accustomed to their new environment.. Give them more time, they'll settle and get comfortable.

Answer 8

don't worry they'll be fine they just need to get use to their new surrounding =)