oscar keeps getting spooked

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cichlid tank

Candiru
MFK Member
Feb 25, 2020
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my 6" oscar lives in a 55 gallon with a green sunfish. he always gets spooked by little things like me raising my hand to the tank. what is this? (hes getting a new home soon) but he always runs into stuff and gets spooked way too easy. how can i help this?
 
he just spooked again and has a big rip on his side... poor thing. how can i fix this?
 
he just spooked again and has a big rip on his side... poor thing. how can i fix this?
I had a Fahaka with this problem and it turned out it was because he was seeing his reflection, I lined three sides of the tank with thick plants and it stopped.
 
I had a Fahaka with this problem and it turned out it was because he was seeing his reflection, I lined three sides of the tank with thick plants and it stopped.
the thing is, it wasnt his reflection it looked like he was scared of. it was when i measured part of the tank with a measuring tape, to get a view point on a fish that could/couldnt live in there. when i stretched out the tape, he took OFF. banged himself on a tunnel, and got a big scratch on his stomach. i feel so bad.
 
the thing is, it wasnt his reflection it looked like he was scared of. it was when i measured part of the tank with a measuring tape, to get a view point on a fish that could/couldnt live in there. when i stretched out the tape, he took OFF. banged himself on a tunnel, and got a big scratch on his stomach. i feel so bad.
Could be other reasons, maybe he’s just got a skittish personality, green sunfish are pretty aggressive so maybe he’s stressed or could be poor water quality stressing him. I would check those things.
 
Could be other reasons, maybe he’s just got a skittish personality, green sunfish are pretty aggressive so maybe he’s stressed or could be poor water quality stressing him. I would check those things.
the greenie is nothing to the oscar. hes a total puppy and the oscar punks him around. the water is great i do weekly 30% water changes
 
the greenie is nothing to the oscar. hes a total puppy and the oscar punks him around. the water is great i do weekly 30% water changes
Could just be his personality then, but I still think something is stressing him, you might just have to watch and see, maybe he’ll chill out, have you tested your water tho? 30% weekly might not be enough
 
Could just be his personality then, but I still think something is stressing him, you might just have to watch and see, maybe he’ll chill out, have you tested your water tho? 30% weekly might not be enough
my water tests at no ammonia and nitrates and nitrites are at a 35 (yea, theyre kinda high im workin on it. my water system is weird here in my town)
 
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