Help with oscar

[HenryC]

Hi guys, I was just wondering if you think my baby oscar is sick, or if he's just stressed and will pass. I got him today from petco. Currently have it in a 10g tank as you can see, don't roast me please I'm getting a 75g from petco next Friday and will be putting a cycled fluval 406 canister as well as 2 sponge filters.

The thing is, he's been staying at the bottom of the tank all day. Do you think this is normal due to the new tank? He follows me with his eye when I come close, and I can see he's breathing veeeery slowly, but he doesn't move a muscle. I placed a cycled sponge filter in the tank, and I have no heater because this room is constantly at 76-79F (A/C on) cause I got multiple other tanks.

I know the setup looks bad but I promise it's just temporary, next week he'll be in a 75g all by himself. Any tips? Right now I have the light off, just turned it to take the pics.

 

[Fishnerd360]

Most likely stressed, give him some time to settle in, then he will brighten up.

 

[tlindsey]

Totally agree with Fishnerd360 breathing slowly is good but still observe for a few days.

 

[HenryC]

Thanks guys, keeping a close eye on him. I'll go to sleep now, will report back tomorrow. Hopefully he will be better when I wake up.

 

[phreeflow]

Common with oscars...they’re moody and sulk a lot lol

 

[Magnus_Bane]

Yeah Oscars are sometimes some of the moodiest fish out there. Mine used to act like it was dieing all the time until I would walk upto the tank and almost immediately he'd peal off of the bottom of the tank and dance wildly infront of the glass for food.

But yeah atm yours is just stressed out from the new environment.

 

[duanes]

How long has the tank been set up? It looks recent?
How long did it cycle before adding the oscar?
And how did you cycle it?

 

[HenryC]

How long has the tank been set up? It looks recent?
How long did it cycle before adding the oscar?
And how did you cycle it?

Hi, I just set the tank for him right yesterday, both the sponge filter and the gravel were in a 40 gal community tank with over a year of running smoothly, the sponge had been there close to 5 months. I keep multiple sponge filters in my tanks in case I need one cycled for an emergency/new fish quarantine. I drip acclimated him for about 45 mins, but my local petco and my water have pretty much same water parameters, 7.2-7.4ish pH, and on the harder water scale, about 15°GH


Woke up to him, he's still hanging around in the bottom but he's swimming all around, but in a strange way, do you think something's wrong with him, or is it just the sulking thing they do? Gave him a carnivore pellet but he ignored it, took it out.

Any more tips to make him feel comfy? I could add more plants, wood, rocks, keep the light off all day, etc.

Here's video:

 

[Milingu]

I would add a hiding spot for him. A flower pot big enough that he can find shelter without having to squeeze in. Or anything else that provides cover from top and still allows you to see him.
In nature oscars often feed from the surface and they are instinctively aware of possible danger from above.

 

[Dmoney1]

Looks like an Oscar just being an Oscar....a hiding place or 2 would make him feel safer.