just got my first oscar.. slight problem

[Conor1148]

so i just got my first oscar, a 2 1/2 inch albino tiger, and i acclimated it properly but all it did was swim around for about 4-5 minutes, then it just settled in a corner and leaned against the glass.

is this just stress or have i done something wrong? he seems to be breathing just fine. he swam a little slow around the tank when he did. he's been sitting there leaning for approximately 20 minutes. he's all alone in his 30g long.


i guess im kinda freaked out.. this is really my first "big" fish..

 

[BlackShark11k]

Don't worry, it's typical oscar behavior. He'll be active and swimming around within a few days (or less!).

 

[Planetnicolas]

my jd did that at first and nit he eats out of/ bites my hand he'll be swimming around soon. Your going to need a muh bigger tank 55 gallon minimum 75 gallon comfortable. If your fish is crammed you will notice his colors won't be as nice And the bioload (fish ****) is too much from a full grown Oscar he/ she might hit 14 inches growing at a rAte of an inch a month until he hits 8 inches then he will slow down. So remember " the happier you make your fish the happier he will make you"

 

[Cakilla]

I have had alot of oscars over the years and this behavior is nothing to worry about when they are stressed Ie : moved to a new tank , I have even had them do this when I would do water changes ... but for yours he is just sulking as I refer to it lol but in a few days tops he will be up swimming around .

I just got me a new red oscar about a month ago I would say and he did the same thing and he is starting to actually let me hand feed him baby shrimps , which really blew my mind he is only maybe little over 3 inches ...

just make sure that you keep up on the water changes and feed him good pellet food and to give him a good variety of different foods and he will live a long happy life .
O and also be prepared that in a year he should be right at or a bit over 10 inches so you will need to upgrade. keep us posted as he grows

 

[Conor1148]

thanks guys! im just a little paranoid.

but by august i should have either my 90 gallon, or i will either pay or temporarily give the oscar to a friend of mine who is a major oscar-freak with an absolute massive tank (some plywood monster haha)

but thanks for your help! id post a picture, but i realized that ive seen that a glass bead bottom tank is somewhat of a no-no, and of course i never saw ANYTHING about this till AFTER i put the glass beads in. (they were free, saving money now for the big tank)

if i posted a picture of it and the beads were visible, i wont be uhh... exiled will i?

 

[Conor1148]

oh yeah, and when should i start feeding him some pellets?

 

[Cakilla]

I would start trieing to feed him tommorow morning, don't put in alot at first just a couple peices and step back and see if he goes for them, if he doesn't do not be dicouraged try again later ... oscars will sometimes go on a hunger strike not often but sometimes it never lasts for very long they love their food thats for sure lol

 

[Conor1148]

will do!


and i suppose if i get exiled for the beads i can atleast sign out and surf the site still?


*the little brown bit is on the outside of the tank, and the bit of foggy-ness came from how finely my replacement silicone spread.

 

[BlackShark11k]

Nice oscar! Full tank shot?

 

[Conor1148]

Nice oscar! Full tank shot?

sure! as long as you guys dont laugh at the big piece of PVC i boiled and put in there for a temporary hiding spot until i get some real stones in there


so lets see where the little guy is now...

i dont see him so far..

Theres that little rascal!