- Have you tested your water?
- Yes
- If yes, what is your ammonia?
- 0.0
- If yes, what is your nitrite?
- 0 ppm
- If yes, what is your nitrate?
- 5 ppm
- If I did not test my water...
- ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.
- Do you do water changes?
- Yes
- What percentage of water do you change?
- 41-50%
- How frequently do you change your water?
- Every week
- If I do not change my water...
- ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.
Hey guys, so something is wrong with my 13" Oscar fish (Titan). I've never posted before I figured this was my best option for help. I bought Titan about 6 months ago he was already this size when I got him, so I have no idea how old he is.
Unfortunately I feel like it was my fault too which makes this scenario suck even more. So I do two water changes a week one 40-50% on Mondays and then a smaller one at about 15-20% on Fridays. Titan is in a 125 gallon with a 6" female Jaguar cichlid and 7" male Freddy cichlid with two convicts and a Firemouth. Titan is the clear tank boss but everyone gets along great.
I still do the bucket method for water changes and whenever I do water changes on Titans tank he always follows me around. I try my best to match the temperature from my faucet to the tank usually spot on. So I was refilling the tank (I always use one hand to deflect the water so it doesn't blow the substrate everywhere) I noticed the water was a tad colder than the tank but not in a major way. The bucket slipped out of my hand so a bunch of the water splashed right on top of Titan. He instantly shook his head then started swimming erratically. I figured it maybe just scared him a bit so slowly finished filling then kept checking on him thinking he'll be okay.
I did the rest of my tanks for the day (I have three 125g tanks a 75g and two 55g tank so its a project) and he still wasn't right he would try to swim but was swimming on his side sometimes upside down but would always go lay down behind his favorite spot. Days later it was the same exact thing. He stopped eating completely, his favorite food is frozen brine shrimp cubes so I tried using my tongs to feed him directly but wouldn't take it.
It's been two weeks and still nothing has really changed I have 4 other oscar fish so I know how tough they can be so was really hoping he'd randomly recover one day. He still tries to swim and is no longer swimming on his side or upside down but it looks like it takes everything he has to move, he kind if jerks around while swimming like something isn't working if he isn't trying to swim he just lays down completely on his side either breathing rapidly or very faintly. Everyday I still try to feed but he won't take food. Then yesterday I was feeding the rest of the tank meal worms and I noticed he got up and was heading to the surface for food. I got super excited put a few more in to help him but I noticed he was just taking bites at them then spitting it out.
I feel awful and I don't know what to do. I don't want to medicate because he isn't sick, he still has his colors (albino red oscar) but he just doesn't seem like he can function properly anymore I don't know if there was brain damage or not I'm at a loss. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
Unfortunately I feel like it was my fault too which makes this scenario suck even more. So I do two water changes a week one 40-50% on Mondays and then a smaller one at about 15-20% on Fridays. Titan is in a 125 gallon with a 6" female Jaguar cichlid and 7" male Freddy cichlid with two convicts and a Firemouth. Titan is the clear tank boss but everyone gets along great.
I still do the bucket method for water changes and whenever I do water changes on Titans tank he always follows me around. I try my best to match the temperature from my faucet to the tank usually spot on. So I was refilling the tank (I always use one hand to deflect the water so it doesn't blow the substrate everywhere) I noticed the water was a tad colder than the tank but not in a major way. The bucket slipped out of my hand so a bunch of the water splashed right on top of Titan. He instantly shook his head then started swimming erratically. I figured it maybe just scared him a bit so slowly finished filling then kept checking on him thinking he'll be okay.
I did the rest of my tanks for the day (I have three 125g tanks a 75g and two 55g tank so its a project) and he still wasn't right he would try to swim but was swimming on his side sometimes upside down but would always go lay down behind his favorite spot. Days later it was the same exact thing. He stopped eating completely, his favorite food is frozen brine shrimp cubes so I tried using my tongs to feed him directly but wouldn't take it.
It's been two weeks and still nothing has really changed I have 4 other oscar fish so I know how tough they can be so was really hoping he'd randomly recover one day. He still tries to swim and is no longer swimming on his side or upside down but it looks like it takes everything he has to move, he kind if jerks around while swimming like something isn't working if he isn't trying to swim he just lays down completely on his side either breathing rapidly or very faintly. Everyday I still try to feed but he won't take food. Then yesterday I was feeding the rest of the tank meal worms and I noticed he got up and was heading to the surface for food. I got super excited put a few more in to help him but I noticed he was just taking bites at them then spitting it out.
I feel awful and I don't know what to do. I don't want to medicate because he isn't sick, he still has his colors (albino red oscar) but he just doesn't seem like he can function properly anymore I don't know if there was brain damage or not I'm at a loss. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
