I recently went to a local fish store in search of another oscar fish. I noticed that all of theirs were pretty grown and noticed theirs were a lot more black then mine are. I asked one of the workers why mine weren't as black and he told me it was more than likely my ph levels being too low? I was wanting to know if anyone had any idea if this was true or not? Oh and is it okay for my oscar fish to eat a crayfish? cause mine just ate one haha.
Colors on my Oscar fish
- Thread starter maverickm4
- Start date
I don't feed any live foods, I only feed and recommend New Life Spectrum.
There are many things that effect coloration and IME pH is not a major factor. It is more likely and assortment of the following: genetics, lighting, background color, substrate color, food quality, and water quality.
There are many things that effect coloration and IME pH is not a major factor. It is more likely and assortment of the following: genetics, lighting, background color, substrate color, food quality, and water quality.
I have a dark tan, natural looking substrate with different shades of tan and browns. Someone previously told me that my substrate was fine... But that I needed to put a black background on my tank. But basically my fish could just be light from genetics? But, when they were little they were completely black. And really dark. Lol
A black background could help darken them. Food, lighting, water quality could all be an issue as well.
What specifically about water quality? 
I fill up 5 gallon bucket by bucket and use 1/2 teaspoon as directed of aquasafe with bioextract for water changes, I have two filters on back of my 150 gallon tank with 3 Oscar fish.I do water changes every 1-2 weeks
I fill up 5 gallon bucket by bucket and use 1/2 teaspoon as directed of aquasafe with bioextract for water changes, I have two filters on back of my 150 gallon tank with 3 Oscar fish.I do water changes every 1-2 weeksTo me, pale fish signifies stressed fish. Let start at the base, with the most important factor of all, the water quality.
What are the readings for 1) ammonia; 2) nitrites; 3) nitrates ?
Is the tank cycled ?
How much water is changed every week ?
What are the readings for 1) ammonia; 2) nitrites; 3) nitrates ?
Is the tank cycled ?
How much water is changed every week ?
I'm pretty positive its cycled just moved the tank to my house and has been here for a couple of weeks. Was previously at my girlfriends house. I do a 35-40 gallon water change from total 150 gallons. Just did one yesterday.
I have little test strips. Just used my last one and got: between 0-30 GH general hardness ppm (mg/l). 0 KH carbonate hardness ppm (mg/l). Ph 6.5.
0 Nitrite ppm (mg/l)
About 40-80 Nitrate ppm (mg/L).
Haha dry hard to tell between the different shades of pink in nitrate
and I dont have anything to test ammonia.
I have little test strips. Just used my last one and got: between 0-30 GH general hardness ppm (mg/l). 0 KH carbonate hardness ppm (mg/l). Ph 6.5.
0 Nitrite ppm (mg/l)
About 40-80 Nitrate ppm (mg/L).
Haha dry hard to tell between the different shades of pink in nitrate
and I dont have anything to test ammonia. You need to do more water changes, at least 50% per week. Get a Python water change system, you won't regret it. The nitrate should never be over 20ppm, even before a water change. Oscars are extremely prone to Head and Lateral Line Erosion and along with food quality, water quality is the main cause in oscars.
Oh I didn't know that everywhere I searched online said only 25%. I feed them strict cichlid gold and rarely minnows for a snack just to watch. Only let them snack on minnows twice. Read all about how they are unhealthy.
But right now when I do water changes I use my gravel vaccum thing and its so hard cause it basically just stirs all the sh... At the bottom up haha. Then once its all stirred up I take my net and run it through the water for forever to catch all the stirred up stuff as much as I can. I thought nitrates were the good stuff and nitrites where the bad?
I feed them strict cichlid gold and rarely minnows for a snack just to watch. Only let them snack on minnows twice. Read all about how they are unhealthy. But right now when I do water changes I use my gravel vaccum thing and its so hard cause it basically just stirs all the sh... At the bottom up haha. Then once its all stirred up I take my net and run it through the water for forever to catch all the stirred up stuff as much as I can. I thought nitrates were the good stuff and nitrites where the bad?
Nitrates are far less toxic than nitrites, but still a toxin. Water change 50% every week to keep'em down. It is the secret of fish keeping.