The sickest, weakest fish will succumb first. Eventually, they'll all be effected.
Oscar Died. What did I do Wrong?
- Thread starter Zak03
- Start date
The sickest, weakest fish will succumb first. Eventually, they'll all be effected.
Just like people and other animals there are some with stronger immune system
Some in overall better health.
Going forward, make sure you limit feeding and keep water changes regular and large. Don't underestimate ammonia and nitrite poison. Combine these compounds with a stressed fish and you get death.
Some in overall better health.
Going forward, make sure you limit feeding and keep water changes regular and large. Don't underestimate ammonia and nitrite poison. Combine these compounds with a stressed fish and you get death.
OP, when did you plan to upgrade? I have a six month old who is already at 6inches. By the time you get this current tank well established it'll be about time to move him again. Would reccomend a fishless cycle or using established filter media and bacterial supplements.
FYI benificial bacterial supplements to seed your filter will lessen the effects of "new tank syndrome". Still test parameters daily and preform water changes as needed tho.
FYI benificial bacterial supplements to seed your filter will lessen the effects of "new tank syndrome". Still test parameters daily and preform water changes as needed tho.
I agree with the comments about tank cycling, but my question is what do you mean when you say the tank isn't fully cycled? Has it been up and running only a short time? Or have you been testing and getting ammonia/nitrite readings? First steps would be to do ammonia/nitrite tests to see what you're dealing with. If they're bad you need to fix it, if they're good you can eliminate that as the problem.
Hiding and not eating can be for more than one reason, could be a fish upset by moving around-- from the store to another tank to another tank to another... could also be sick, could be it was harassed by another fish, could be water conditions. Again, first step would be to determine water conditions.
When you say the Oscars are babies, how big? Also, common plecos produce a lot of waste, not a good fish to add if your tank isn't well cycled. And (depending what they are, different fish are sometimes labeled as common plecos) they're going to get big and will be waste factories all their lives. Are you sure they're what you want?
Hiding and not eating can be for more than one reason, could be a fish upset by moving around-- from the store to another tank to another tank to another... could also be sick, could be it was harassed by another fish, could be water conditions. Again, first step would be to determine water conditions.
When you say the Oscars are babies, how big? Also, common plecos produce a lot of waste, not a good fish to add if your tank isn't well cycled. And (depending what they are, different fish are sometimes labeled as common plecos) they're going to get big and will be waste factories all their lives. Are you sure they're what you want?
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Zak03, correct me if I'm wrong.
And this is not out of the norm for new inexperienced fish keepers, so not a dis.
From the OPs (Zak03) first post a couple weeks ago (maybe less),
I get the impression the tank was set up, water added, and in went the fish. No cycling whatsoever, just two weeks in.
No time spent in a fish less cycle, no bottled bacteria, just water and fish.
And this is not out of the norm for new inexperienced fish keepers, so not a dis.
From the OPs (Zak03) first post a couple weeks ago (maybe less),
I get the impression the tank was set up, water added, and in went the fish. No cycling whatsoever, just two weeks in.
No time spent in a fish less cycle, no bottled bacteria, just water and fish.
Sorry about your Oscar.
I have a Petco Oscar who is huge and healthy. He has been moved 6 times in 15 mos, but I move his water with him.
I must also comment on the fact that it is a terribly bad practice to introduce new fish to a tank that just had fish die in it; and particularly so, if you have no idea why it died.
This is a serious issue of putting several expensive and poopy fish in a raw or uncycled tank: Guaranteed spikes and suffering will happen there.
An aquarium is not a TV. You can't just turn it on. It is alive, and must be cultured into health. It is easy, but you cannot skip this step and have really healthy fish.
I have a Petco Oscar who is huge and healthy. He has been moved 6 times in 15 mos, but I move his water with him.
I must also comment on the fact that it is a terribly bad practice to introduce new fish to a tank that just had fish die in it; and particularly so, if you have no idea why it died.
This is a serious issue of putting several expensive and poopy fish in a raw or uncycled tank: Guaranteed spikes and suffering will happen there.
An aquarium is not a TV. You can't just turn it on. It is alive, and must be cultured into health. It is easy, but you cannot skip this step and have really healthy fish.
If that's the case, tank just a few weeks old, then the last two posts are your answer. If so, other fish not showing symptoms could be they're just in better shape to begin with as mentioned.
If the issue is cycling don't add any more fish (reduce if you can), feed only lightly, add some mature working media to your filters if possible (from other tanks if you have them going, otherwise from someone else if possible). If you can't do that then I'd go the route of water supplements until your tank really gets up and running.
But especially do your water tests so you know what's going on. By the way, this is a handy gizmo, though it doesn't test nitrites. Once your tank is cycled, zero ammonia and nitrite, add fish gradually.
If the issue is cycling don't add any more fish (reduce if you can), feed only lightly, add some mature working media to your filters if possible (from other tanks if you have them going, otherwise from someone else if possible). If you can't do that then I'd go the route of water supplements until your tank really gets up and running.
But especially do your water tests so you know what's going on. By the way, this is a handy gizmo, though it doesn't test nitrites. Once your tank is cycled, zero ammonia and nitrite, add fish gradually.
I plan to upgrade in a bout a year, at that point, the oscars will most likely be under 10", and the width of my tank is 12". So i think at that point will be a good time. But if the oscars grow faster than expected, then i will upgrade sooner
By not being fully cylced, i just added some water, some decor from my bro's tank, conditioner, and then fish. I had no idea about the whole nitrogen cycle in aquariums.
