I think my Oscar is a moron

[Ang]

no offence but your Oscar is not a moron. I think it's you who is the moron. .

No offense? You just called him a moron?
He's obviously here trying to get the right information.

Or are you saying that everyone who starts fish keeping does it perfectly from day one?

I'm sure you did. Because you're perfect.

 

[balton777]

no offence but your Oscar is not a moron. I think it's you who is the moron. For one your tank is tooooo small to have a Oscar and "other cichlids" like you say. A 55 is barely enough for one Oscar all by themselves. Your filter by the sounds of it is probably some crappy whisper or something. Go out and buy a real filter like a Aqua Clear 110 which is like $50. If you want to spend even more look into a canister filter.

Don't change the filter cartridges...... you need that bacteria to filter your tank. Go to google and type in the words nitrogen cycle. Read this and you will then understand why you don't just replace cartridges.

Once again your Oscar is not a moron but you need to learn on how to care for him. Your Oscar is just suffering because the tank he is in is overcrowded and there is no biological filter, which in turns causing the tank to have excessive amounts of ammonia and nitrite. Picture living in a 10 foot by 10 foot room with 10 people with absolutly NO air circulation or filtering. Imagine what it would be like when everyone takes a crap in the corner. Thats basicly what your Oscar is living in. If that 10 by 10 room was a real thing I would ask what moron put them in there.

You are correct in a lot of what you said but turning this into a personal attack on a newbie trying to learn the right way to do things is just wrong.

 

[carpediem]

no offence but your Oscar is not a moron. I think it's you who is the moron. For one your tank is tooooo small to have a Oscar and "other cichlids" like you say. A 55 is barely enough for one Oscar all by themselves. Your filter by the sounds of it is probably some crappy whisper or something. Go out and buy a real filter like a Aqua Clear 110 which is like $50. If you want to spend even more look into a canister filter.

Don't change the filter cartridges...... you need that bacteria to filter your tank. Go to google and type in the words nitrogen cycle. Read this and you will then understand why you don't just replace cartridges.

Once again your Oscar is not a moron but you need to learn on how to care for him. Your Oscar is just suffering because the tank he is in is overcrowded and there is no biological filter, which in turns causing the tank to have excessive amounts of ammonia and nitrite. Picture living in a 10 foot by 10 foot room with 10 people with absolutly NO air circulation or filtering. Imagine what it would be like when everyone takes a crap in the corner. Thats basicly what your Oscar is living in. If that 10 by 10 room was a real thing I would ask what moron put them in there.

Wow, that was a little rough, don't ya think?

I think you should go to google and type in the words, tactful, amiable, considerate, and kind. Not to mention helpful...

Be nice, man. Seriously...

 

[hurricane_redbone]

my oscars are crazy mofos... always nippin eachother and swimming around... jumping for food...
crap like that...

 

[fishluvr12]

What other fish do you have and how often are people in the room with the tank?

 

[CTU2fan]

While a 55 isn't ideal for a 12"+ adult O, a 6 month old 8" should be getting by. He must be eating somewhat well, 8" at his age is decent growth. Is he more active with the lights off? My O's have never really liked bright tank lights, so I sometimes slide a sheet of paper between the lights & lid to ease the brightness.

Has his behavior changed at all with the addition of the other cichlids? What kind are they? O's have an aggressive rep but I've always found them pretty mellow for cichlids, with the exception of feeding activity. Could be the new guys are effecting him.

Also what color morph is he? I've been told the pink ones are sometimes a bit more timid than wilds, tigers, and reds. Just something to think about.

 

[Steve737]

O's have an aggressive rep but I've always found them pretty mellow for cichlids, with the exception of feeding activity.

They do have an aggressive reputation, but I find it isn't true. Mine is the peacekeeper in my tank. When my 2 Jack Dempseys start to nip or chase each other around, the O just kinda drifts over in their direction, and they both dart to opposite sides of the tank. Same thing when the Blood Parrots start nipping each other.

The only time my O is "aggressive" is feeding time. He takes what he wants, which is usually however much his mouth can hold.

 

[QueenslandeR]

no offence but your Oscar is not a moron. I think it's you who is the moron. For one your tank is tooooo small to have a Oscar and "other cichlids" like you say. A 55 is barely enough for one Oscar all by themselves. Your filter by the sounds of it is probably some crappy whisper or something. Go out and buy a real filter like a Aqua Clear 110 which is like $50. If you want to spend even more look into a canister filter.

Don't change the filter cartridges...... you need that bacteria to filter your tank. Go to google and type in the words nitrogen cycle. Read this and you will then understand why you don't just replace cartridges.

Once again your Oscar is not a moron but you need to learn on how to care for him. Your Oscar is just suffering because the tank he is in is overcrowded and there is no biological filter, which in turns causing the tank to have excessive amounts of ammonia and nitrite. Picture living in a 10 foot by 10 foot room with 10 people with absolutly NO air circulation or filtering. Imagine what it would be like when everyone takes a crap in the corner. Thats basicly what your Oscar is living in. If that 10 by 10 room was a real thing I would ask what moron put them in there.

Thats a bit too rough ey, its dissappointing how you can put belittle someone when they are only asking for advice.

 

[JeffLeMay]

To better help with some of your questions. Letting us know what you use for filtration and what your water parameters are will really help.

From what you describe on the way he acts, it sounds like there may be some problems with your water. Oscars, let alone most fish tend to be sluggish, shy, and not eat well when water quality is poor. You also mentioned HITH which can be caused by poor water quality which also leads me to this conclusion.

i agree, between that and the fact that a 55, especially with two other cichlids. is probaby a little small for him, could both be problems. how often do you do water changes? what are you feeding?

 

[ewurm]

My Oscar is boring too, unless he attcks me like a shark.