Oscar fish not eating

[FINWIN]

Ok I understand. The more water you change, I could kill him by adding in all that cold water. Makes sense. I will have to find a happy medium in this dumpy kitchen sink I have at work. The gravel cleaner is the python. I just realized its the same part to clean the gravel as it is to change the water. Ok so check the nitrate before assuming it needs a water change. Test kit should be in today!

Get one of these meat thermometers. I use them for every water change during fill ups to make sure I'm as close to tank temps as possible. I let the water run in a cup and take the temp.

Amazon.com: Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer, Adoric Waterproof Food Thermometer with Backlight LCD, Kitchen Cooking Thermometer Probe for Grilling Oven Smoker BBQ(Red): Home & Kitchen

I let the tap run until the temp stabilizes, usually up to 3 minutes. Especially important in the winter when the pipes are cold.

 

[jjohnwm]

When in doubt...about almost anything...a water change is never a bad idea.

And trust me...with that fish in that tank...you won't need to wait long until the next one is required.

 

[duanes]

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/sumps/.highres/02-16-07_1703.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

Agree with FINWIn these type thermometers work great, above is one I had permanently placed in the PVC water line to my sump, for checking water change temp.

 

[Ogertron3000]

There’s not much I can add that hasn’t already been suggested except don’t be scared to do a very big water change once all your gear arrives, it’s the first thing I would do, right down to fin level.
I bet you will see a very rapid improvement in the fish once it’s done, probably cut back on feeding for a bit too.

Your situation reminds me of the old saying “no good deed goes unpunished’

 

[emlk9963]

Hello everyone, OK so I finally got my water test kit in. I have 7.6 PH, 7.4 high range PH, 0 Ammonia, 40ish Nitrate, 0 Nitrite. The manual gives an idea of what it should be but it doesnt specify Oscars so figured I would run this by you all. I realized after more thoroughly reading the instructions that for African Cichlids you only use the high range PH. It says that these fish should be High Range PH of 8.2. So should I raise the PH and if so, how do I do that? Thanks!

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Oscars are South American, that does not apply to them. In fact, lowering the pH (something like 6.5) would be beneficial.

You also want to keep the NO3 at 5 ppm or less. The waters these fish come from, as tested by Duanes, do not exceed that

 

[FINWIN]

Hello everyone, OK so I finally got my water test kit in. I have 7.6 PH, 7.4 high range PH, 0 Ammonia, 40ish Nitrate, 0 Nitrite. The manual gives an idea of what it should be but it doesnt specify Oscars so figured I would run this by you all. I realized after more thoroughly reading the instructions that for African Cichlids you only use the high range PH. It says that these fish should be High Range PH of 8.2. So should I raise the PH and if so, how do I do that? Thanks!

Get that nitrate down with water changes. Your other numbers look good.