Oscar cichlid- tumor or constipation?

[sjstars]

Have you tested your water?

Yes

If I did not test my water...

1. ...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

If I do not change my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.

This was a rescue fish that I’ve had since 2/2018 and at that time he was 4 yrs old. All the water parameters are good and the past 2 weeks Ive noticed he hasn’t been eating normally (leftover food pellets which in not like him to leave food). The last time my oscar ate was last tuesday. Last Friday I noticed a bump protruding from his underside. I wasn’t sure if it was constipation, so I have been doing epsom salt baths twice a day since last friday (2 gallons tank water with 2 Tbsp epsom salt). Nothing has changed and he still isn’t eating. I tried dropping peas and his pellets in the tank and uninterested in food. He is just gingerly swimming mostly in upper part of tank. I googled and saw this may be a kidney tumor? I feel horrible and don’t know what else to do to help or even what it is. I don’t want him to suffer. Has anyone’s oscars had this? What else can I do or try?

 

[duanes]

What are your water parameter numbers?
What some people consider good water, I consider a chronic disease producer. Such as.......
I consider any nitrate concentration above 5 ppm, chronically dangerous...especially after 2 years or more
and if that nitrate concentration is in combination with mineral rich hard water, for Amazonian basin, soft water species even worse.
To me, the head looks it is filled with chronic HITH

Typical of a species help in elevated nitrate water.
But of course the numbers don't lie, and I could be proved totally wrong.

 

[sjstars]

NO3 nitrate 40
NO2 nitrite 0.5
PH 6.0-6.5
KH 0
GH 120

i have tried general cure, metroplex in the past several months and couldnt ever get the white pitting to go completely away. his appetite never wavered until last week when he stopped eating last tuesday and then i saw that big bulge/bump underneath him.

Has anyone’s oscar has a bulge like that? is there anything i can do?

 

[phreeflow]

Have no clue what’s going on there but it seems unlikely for a tumor that size to appear overnight. First thing I’d do is a bunch of water changes to get the parameters back in order.

 

[duanes]

NO3 nitrate 40
NO2 nitrite 0.5
PH 6.0-6.5
KH 0
GH 120

Although pH is reasonable, I consider 40 ppm nitrate is a chronic disease producer,
and although meds may help slightly, getting to the cause is the only real way to stop the atrophy.
Doing enough (and keeping up) enough water changes to bring down nitrate levels below 5 ppm would be my health strategy.
But don;t take my word, click on the research site below
Exposure to Nitrate Increases Susceptibility to Hypoxia in ...The University of Chicago Press: Journalshttps://www.journals.uchicago.edu › doi

 

[sjstars]

how often do i need to do water changes to get the nitrate levels below 5ppm? that is the only fish in the aquarium and it is 30 gallons. i just did an 30% change and the levels are still the same.

 

[phreeflow]

how often do i need to do water changes to get the nitrate levels below 5ppm? that is the only fish in the aquarium and it is 30 gallons. i just did an 30% change and the levels are still the same.

That tank is too small for an adult oscar so it’s going to take quite a few large water changes

 

[esoxlucius]

That fish is almost unrecognisable as an oscar. It's in a right mess. I suspect that it's first four years of life weren't much better than it's current situation. The neglect is finally taking its toll and I truly hope you can turn the fishes situation around.

Firstly, and the absolute most important issue, you need to put in place a water change regime that keeps your nitrate at very light orange on your API test chart, which is around the 5ppm mark. That is not difficult to do at all and will help enormously moving forward.

Secondly, you need to source another tank, preferably around the 120g mark (4x2x2). A 30g tank is simply ludicrous for an oscar.

Thirdly, and perhaps the most difficult, is to try and rid the fish of its current "illnesses". Clean water will help enormously, and people will suggest some meds too, but I fear things could be too far gone.

You seem like you are genuinely concerned for it's wellbeing yet it's current situation screams otherwise to me.

I hope you take on board the advice given through this thread. Keep us posted on its progress. Good luck.

 

[jjohnwm]

You don't want him to suffer? That ship has sailed.

Putting a 4-year-old Oscar into a 30-gallon tank...for 5 years...is not a rescue, it's a prisoner transfer from one gulag to another. Sorry, I know that's harsh, but that fish looks as though it has been praying for euthanasia for a long, long time.