Not eating, near top of tank

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andro23

Gambusia
MFK Member
Dec 15, 2008
139
1
16
VA
I bought a bumble bee oscar from Rapps the middle of December. Since the fish has grown to well over 5" and was a voracious feeder up until a few days ago. The fish would continue to eat but not with much gusto. Yesterday I did a waterchange of 40%, used Prime, and fed the fish a few hours later the Oscar did not eat. The other fish in the tank are 100% they ate with their usual willingness, behavior of them is also normal. I have a couple of Rotkeil severums, Eartheaters and Rainbow Cichlids. Water parms are:
pH-6.8
ammonia-0
nitrite-0
nitrate-0(i have live plants, none of my tanks have measurable nitrate)

The oscar's fins are not clamped, and it is not hanging at the dead top of the tank just maybe an inch or so under the surface. Bodywise there is no symptoms, fish has no wounds and appears to be in good body shape. The stomach isnt unusually swollen, breathing isnt eratic either. The only thing I can think of is possible tank contamination? But I do not use aerosols or had any chemicals around the tank. I had friends over a few days ago which smoked in another room but that has been the only change.

I added a PolyFilter to one of the AC110s so any harmful substance would be pulled out if that were the cause. I will also do another waterchange today and see if that makes a difference. My temp is 78*F and filtration is 3 XP3 canisters along with 2 AC110s. The tank is 150gallons.
 
Interesting. Well I doubt that it was the smoking. I do that all the time around tanks with no ill affect yet. I would have put the polyfilter in as well so good call on that. Maybe branch out your testing to some other things. Maybe you just have a weird level thats going haywire for some reason. If it were my tank, I would do another water change. Can't hurt right? It's unusual for and oscar to stop eating like that.

Or hey, maybe it's an internal parasite of some sort. Try adding Seachem's Garlic Guard to your food. It's a natural appitite stimulant and helps get rid of internal parasites. It's not too expensive either.
 
I use garlic guard 2-3X per week on the frozen foods I give the fish. Could be a hardness issue as I dont avidly test it...but even wild Os in my experience arnt picky about it either. I would suspect the eartheaters to fall prey to water conditions long before an oscar. It is the strangest thing I have experienced, I will fast the tank for a few days and do another WC.
 
I would just sit back and watch I think he is okay I have had fish that seem to get in a dull mood and then all of a sudden bounce back. He could be just a little tired.
 
I did another WC today of around 25%, will do another tomorrow. The fish is lower in the water column but still not very active just kind of hanging out. Could constipation cause this? His stomach is rounded despite not eating yesterday or today.
 
I'd starve the tank like you said for 2-3 days, continue with the water changes and then give them some bloodworms!! That will usually free any blockages the O may have?! The O could be just put out by something as well? My O didn't eat for about a week after I moved him into the 450L?! I reckon he'll come round!!
 
Thanks, I will do that. I may put a dose of PraziPro in the tank...stuff is great for getting rid of any possible internal parasites and just generally cleaning the fish out.
 
If it really gorged itself on food, especially things like pellets, it could be bloated. Usually it passes after a day or so, though. You can use Epsom salt which acts as a laxative and helps fish pass blockages. You can also try Prazi for tapeworms.
 
ryansmith83;4827431; said:
If it really gorged itself on food, especially things like pellets, it could be bloated. Usually it passes after a day or so, though. You can use Epsom salt which acts as a laxative and helps fish pass blockages. You can also try Prazi for tapeworms.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I was going to suggest. Epsom salt is great.
 
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