I'm very sad today, but still a little happy...

[javey]

I don't get why people buy fish before thinking about it...so today I go to the bank and pull out my money for food, and then decide to stop by my LFS just to look at some of the neat fish they have there. And the last tank I stop by has a 10"+ Tiger Oscar that's heart is just crying out for me, and he was free to a good home. Good news. Bad news, he's all cruddied up, was dropped off at the LFS in a bucket, and had HITH really bad when they received him. Anyways he was treated, but is still very scarred from his experience. I am going to fix him up but even so with my experience on his side, he will still have battle scars for the rest of his life. I at least hope this got someone to realize that you can't keep a damn fish that gets 12+" in a 20 or so gallon tank...I'm not amused. I don't think they should sell our beauties that we all love on this board in pet stores, because people abuse it and they end up in the shape mine is in, or worse, die...I am going to provide this guy some very tender loving care over the next few months and get him as healed as I can, but it's going to be a lot of work. I simply love oscars and their personalities, and can't see how anybody can let it get to this point! It hurts me on the inside. He is now sticking to the filter on and off, and it's sad to see him in such hurt shape. He's not diseased at this time, but he is still in pain and hurt. Here are some pics, please let your prayers and hearts go out to my poor new baby (sorry, that sounds a little corny to pray for a fish, but I love my pets like kids )

Here he is, you can see he is hurt:

You can see my other tiger in the background, and he is in perfect shape. Just shows you the contrast ...

javey

Update, you can't see much but his nose is torn a bit too:

He hides a lot right now, which can be expected, because he is new to the tank and still hurt. He does come out though and has eaten a little, not much, but enough to make me not worry. Should I move the plants that he hides behind, or leave them? I can't decide, because he might like having cover, but he keeps trying to move them too, they are all up out of the gravel.

 

[cockroach]

good job and good luck

 

[jsodwi]

I picked up 2 like that a couple years ago I lost one but the other is now in my 300g in perfect shape it took a good year or so for the scars to almost disappear. Good luck

 

[javey]

Well I just wish people would be less cruel...some people shouldn't buy fish...I mean if I had a fish that grew and grew and grew, I'd just have to take one for the team and buy a bigger tank. When I get a house, I plan on getting a 300 or so gallon tank and setting it up just for neglected fish, and then I can get them good homes, or get them healthy and then put them in my tanks like my poor oscar

 

[DeLgAdO]

I don't get why people buy fish before thinking about it...so today I go to the bank and pull out my money for food, and then decide to stop by my LFS just to look at some of the neat fish they have there. And the last tank I stop by has a 10"+ Tiger Oscar that's heart is just crying out for me, and he was free to a good home. Good news. Bad news, he's all cruddied up, was dropped off at the LFS in a bucket, and had HITH really bad when they received him. Anyways he was treated, but is still very scarred from his experience. I am going to fix him up but even so with my experience on his side, he will still have battle scars for the rest of his life. I at least hope this got someone to realize that you can't keep a damn fish that gets 12+" in a 20 or so gallon tank...I'm not amused. I don't think they should sell our beauties that we all love on this board in pet stores, because people abuse it and they end up in the shape mine is in, or worse, die...I am going to provide this guy some very tender loving care over the next few months and get him as healed as I can, but it's going to be a lot of work. I simply love oscars and their personalities, and can't see how anybody can let it get to this point! It hurts me on the inside. He is now sticking to the filter on and off, and it's sad to see him in such hurt shape. He's not diseased at this time, but he is still in pain and hurt. Here are some pics, please let your prayers and hearts go out to my poor new baby (sorry, that sounds a little corny to pray for a fish, but I love my pets like kids )

Here he is, you can see he is hurt:

You can see my other tiger in the background, and he is in perfect shape. Just shows you the contrast ...

javey

Update, you can't see much but his nose is torn a bit too:

He hides a lot right now, which can be expected, because he is new to the tank and still hurt. He does come out though and has eaten a little, not much, but enough to make me not worry. Should I move the plants that he hides behind, or leave them? I can't decide, because he might like having cover, but he keeps trying to move them too, they are all up out of the gravel.

jesus christ.............

what are you feeding him by the way?

 

[rallysman]

Mine got almost that bad when my mother was taking care of it for me (while I was moving)
He is almost perfect now.
Good job saving this little fish. Vary his diet like crazy, change tons of water, and remove the carbon if you havent already. Thats all I did to get mine back in shape.
Goodluck and thanks for caring

 

[Lockness' Oscar]

Good Luck!!!

I was moving my Oscar when he got a little hurt, kinda like yours did on his side.

You did a good thing buying that oscar

It would be nice if we all had a 300 gallon tanks setup for rescue

I think some of the lfs should give their stores to MFK members and staff so that the fish

wouldn't be mistreated and the people wanting to can use that lfs.

If only it were a perfecto world.

 

[cichlid savage]

You did a great thing taking that oscar. I agree that people should know about the fish they buy prior to buying them. I had a guy tell me he put his oscar in the sewer after he got to big. I had to walk away from this jerk before i hit him. why in the world would you take a healthy beautiful fish and do that. Anyway best of luck with your rescued friend. I am sure you will bring him to being the beautiful fish he should be.

 

[Miles]

Good work Jared..

Melafix+Pimafix+Salt+Daily Water Changes and he will be back to normal in no time!

Let me know if I can do anything to help, and if those guys starting giving each other territorial problems and stressing each other, I can probably find a quarantine tank around the house..

 

[javey]

Thanks yep, I have been doing the daily water changes with the melafix and pimafix, plus aqua salt as well. I heard the salt does wonders for helping things heal (go figure, next time you cut yourself, put some salt in there j/k) and he has already perked up a LOT, when I first got him in my tank, he was sticking to the filter, but this morning I half expected him to be listless still but he was swimming around like a maniac, like LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT ME!! at the front of the tank, and seemed to be doing a lot better already (even though he may not look better, that won't happen overnight!)