Semi intro and Oscar growth questions

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
C

Colossus

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 12, 2011
152
0
0
oHIo
Hello MFK !

First post, from Cincy. Got into Oscars after weeks of reading and finally convincing myself I could do it.

Long story short, got a 55 gallon tank, two fluval 405's , fluval 300w heater.

I rescued a tiger oscar from a tank at Meijer. I hadnt intended to get an oscar so quick right after setting up my aquarium and allowing it to cylce. Anyway the tank (55 gal) cycled while I kept him in my established 10gallon tank. He was about the size of a quarter when I got him, maybe a little bigger.

ONce the tank was finished I put him in there and it has been great.

He grew great on a diet of Hikari bio gold, gold and staple with a few crickets and meal worms here and there.

Fror the first 5 months he (or she, you cant really tell with O's until they pair) grew at the proper 1" per month as an O normally should.

I have had him for about 7/8 months and he still is around 5 1/2 inches. NOt getting any bigger. He eats like a cow.

I was wondering if anyone else had an issue with a runt O. I love him all the same but want to make sure having a smaller O will not effect his lifespan and/or health.

I test the water in the tank every 3-5 days and every week he gets a 25% water change and gravel vac (messy eater!). His fluvals are cleaned in intervals every other month.

Nitrates never reach above 20 ppm.

Thoughts? :)
 
:welcome: to the forum. :)

There are some internal parasites that can stunt a fish's growth without causing any other noticeable symptoms, so you could try dosing the aquarium with PraziPro, but beyond that, I can't think of anything that would cause this.
 
Hmmm this forum is setup funny, no edit button!

Anyway The arsenal

vzzu3k.jpg


The tank when I first set it up. Its different now. Gotta find an updated picture of it.

2chtg5s.jpg
 
Welcome to mfk!

Most people will probably chime in and say that he is likely to have parasites of some sort. However, i have a pair of O's and have had them for 3 or 4 months. I got them at about 2", and since one is around 5" which seems normal. The other, is now 3". He has been treated for parsites twice. So is totally free, i just believe he is a dwarf O.
 
Colossus said:
Hmmm this forum is setup funny, no edit button!

Anyway The arsenal


The tank when I first set it up. Its different now. Gotta find an updated picture of it.
Click to expand...

The "Edit Post" option is listed toward the bottom-right corner of your post. That option does expire after several minutes, though.
 
WOAH, 2 fluval 405's for a 55 gallon?
the specs are
"AQUARIUM CAPACITY: 400 L (100 US gal.)
PUMP OUTPUT: 1300 L/h (340 US gal.%20/h)
FILTER CIRCULATION: 850 L/h (2255 US gal.%20/h)
HEAD HEIGHT (MAX.): 2.05 m (6.7 ft)"

so you have really really clean overfiltered water. which is great for keeping oscars! they should grow fast in that water.
The Pair of oscars I had until last year grew very quickly 1"-1.5" per month, before you know it they are already nearly adult size. they slow down around 10" and put on the rest of their bulk and length more slowly over the next 6+ months.


Ooh and also, Welcome to MFK!
 
jclyde13 said:
:welcome: to the forum. :)

There are some internal parasites that can stunt a fish's growth without causing any other noticeable symptoms, so you could try dosing the aquarium with PraziPro, but beyond that, I can't think of anything that would cause this.
Click to expand...

Jesse, thanks for the tip. Ill definately stop by the store and see about picking up some PriziPro. I have appleshell snails, reason I mention them is I am wondering if I need to remove them or anything in the tank before dosing?

I am not a fan of dosing the main tank and I currently have a quaranteen tank being cylced. I would rather not put him through the stress of being put in the small tank just to get treated. He is already a drama queen enough :ROFL:
 
GrantA94 said:
Welcome to mfk!

Most people will probably chime in and say that he is likely to have parasites of some sort. However, i have a pair of O's and have had them for 3 or 4 months. I got them at about 2", and since one is around 5" which seems normal. The other, is now 3". He has been treated for parsites twice. So is totally free, i just believe he is a dwarf O.
Click to expand...

I see. Thanks for your input! I wont mind having a smaller oscar, just means the 55 gallon will last him longer! I think Ill definately do some research into parasites.

jclyde13 said:
The "Edit Post" option is listed toward the bottom-right corner of your post. That option does expire after several minutes, though.
Click to expand...

Ah, that explains it. Ill remember for next time.

Stratoquarius said:
WOAH, 2 fluval 405's for a 55 gallon?
the specs are
"AQUARIUM CAPACITY: 400 L (100 US gal.)
PUMP OUTPUT: 1300 L/h (340 US gal.%20/h)
FILTER CIRCULATION: 850 L/h (2255 US gal.%20/h)
HEAD HEIGHT (MAX.): 2.05 m (6.7 ft)"

so you have really really clean overfiltered water. which is great for keeping oscars! they should grow fast in that water.
The Pair of oscars I had until last year grew very quickly 1"-1.5" per month, before you know it they are already nearly adult size. they slow down around 10" and put on the rest of their bulk and length more slowly over the next 6+ months.


Ooh and also, Welcome to MFK!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the welcome! This site seems to be very beneficial in terms of size (members) and its knowledge, and I cannot forget opinions haha. I feel very strongly that the internet ( and the birth of forums) have helped hobbies like this one prosper.

And yes I wanted to make sure I didnt make any rookie mistakes (which is underfiltration when dealing with oscars) hence the two fluval canister filters. If I eliminate many of the variables that go into proper fishkeeping, I can usually find which one is causing a problem should one arise.
 
Colossus said:
Jesse, thanks for the tip. Ill definately stop by the store and see about picking up some PriziPro. I have appleshell snails, reason I mention them is I am wondering if I need to remove them or anything in the tank before dosing?

I am not a fan of dosing the main tank and I currently have a quaranteen tank being cylced. I would rather not put him through the stress of being put in the small tank just to get treated. He is already a drama queen enough :ROFL:
Click to expand...

IME, snails aren't affected by PraziPro, so you don't need to remove them.
 
For a beginner youre definately making a good start, most people wouldve got a fluval 305 and done waterchanges every week but for your single oscar you are definately giving him the best water quality.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom