My Oscar has issues...

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Cfremont23

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Sep 22, 2020
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Hi all my red oscar has been with me for a year and a few months, and recently I have noticed it has weird "dots" on its head and that its head is crooked... Does anyone know if anything is wrong with it
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Hi all my red oscar has been with me for a year and a few months, and recently I have noticed it has weird "dots" on its head and that its head is crooked... Does anyone know if anything is wrong with it
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Tbh it probably was born with the crooked head you didn't notice it. The small pits in the Oscar head may be the beginning stage of HITH.
 
What size tank is he in and what else do you keep in with him?
 
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Increase your % of water changes and make sure to gravel vac and keep filter free of waste.
Agree with this, oscars are prone to HLLE scarring, when nitrates are too high, especially if your water is hard, and above neutral pH.
In any tank under 150 gallons, every other large water changes are needed to reduce nitrate, to keep oscars and other large soft water South American cichlids healthy.. The smaller the tank, the more frequent and larger water changes that are needed, especially as the oscars grow.
 
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Agree with this, oscars are prone to HLLE scarring, when nitrates are too high, especially if your water is hard, and above neutral pH.
In any tank under 150 gallons, every other large water changes are needed to reduce nitrate, to keep oscars and other large soft water South American cichlids healthy.. The smaller the tank, the more frequent and larger water changes that are needed, especially as the oscars grow.
Would it be better for it and my other fish to give it back to LFS?
 
Would it be better for it and my other fish to give it back to LFS?
This hobby requires a certain amount of time and dedication (work in the form of water changes) especially if you want sizable healthy fish like oscars.
Most fish the size of an oscar need triple the water changes that a basic community tank requires even if the tank is large enough, and if your tank is small, it may require daily water changes and filter cleaning.
It's all about the time you allocate, and dedication, unless you are wealthy enough to hire an aquarium service company to do it for you.
And its not about judgement, its about reality.
If you don't have time, that's what virtual aquarium screen saver is for.
 
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