It is not just nitrate either. There are many other things that build up that are bad for fish health (growth inhibiting hormones, dissolved organic compounds, etc.). We do not have test kits for these but fortunately they do generally correlate well with nitrate concentration. If the nitrate concentration is not low these other things will not be either, so water quality will be low. This will cause health problems long term.
Colors on my Oscar fish
- Thread starter maverickm4
- Start date
Thanks for all the great advice everyone 
I'll be sure to get those 50% water changes going instead of 25%. Oh and reptileguy got any advice for me on maybe becoming a marine biologist? 
I graduate high school in a few days. And then I'm headed off to a two year school for core classes then I'm thinking about transferring to uga to avoid out of state fees and heard uga has great biology programs?
I'll be sure to get those 50% water changes going instead of 25%. Oh and reptileguy got any advice for me on maybe becoming a marine biologist? I graduate high school in a few days. And then I'm headed off to a two year school for core classes then I'm thinking about transferring to uga to avoid out of state fees and heard uga has great biology programs? It depends on what you want to do. It will not help if you do not end up getting a job in the field. Take other classes as a backup (IT, business, etc.).
My Oscar was always a lighter shade when he was happy. When he was trying to dominate another fish he would get darker. I know a lot of Oscar are this way. Im not saying this is the case for yours, it may be the water and stress, but there are other reasons. Can you post a picture?
Why thank you i used to be scared that the circles of tiny holes in their head was hole in the head disease only to find out they were censory pits hahaha
i used to be scared that the circles of tiny holes in their head was hole in the head disease only to find out they were censory pits hahaha