Oscar going crazy spinning and banging glass. HELP!

[riv187]

I usually change 1/4 approx of tank. On a deep clean with vacuuming,,I went almost 50%
They often bicker,,that little convict has learned to stand his ground and they do a face off lunging at each other for 20 seconds or so,,,but still Jaws was friendly after and came to top to feed. Now Jaws is nasty through spinning fits and thrashing and really aggressive chasing the convict , the convict has to evade and hide in his ship.

 

[riv187]

I call him "Jaws",,,cause when he was young he actually lunged out of tank on 2-3 occasions at my face and bit my nose! He always was snapping at fingers when fed if you where not careful.

 

[riv187]

I'll get a nitrate kit,,,is there any other test kit I should get?

 

[sikoko]

You should buy an API complete test kit that includes ammonia,nitrate,nitrite, and ph so you can test your water parameters at home. In the mean time get it to PetSmart to be tested and pick up a test kit while there. Parameters are a big thing in this hobby as they dictate when to do water changes and can almost certainly tell us what's happening to a sick fish if everything else was ruled out.

 

[Backfromthedead]

When I clean the Fluval filter,,I rinse the ceramics,,rinse/squeeze the heavy foam,,change the carbon in sock, and new floss. I add some Tetra aqua safe and or /aqua start . The water,at least in appearance stays nicer looking longer. My last fish for years where a bunch of various goldfish and they where DIRTY..."jaws" the Oscar and the convict's water stays nice looking far longer. I'm use to Jaws being shy for a couple days after I deep clean his tank vacuuming and wiping inside walls off with a paper towel...but he's different now.
I'm sorry if I don't know more about parameters,,,unless I take water to petsmart for testing. The PH is nuetral, water is clear and no yellowing.

Are you cleaning the filter media with tap water or tank water? When you rinse filter media, it is best to set aside some of your tank water and use that. If you rinse vigorously with tap water there is a risk of wiping out your beneficial bacteria that have colonized in the media. This can throw off your water parameters as your tank struggles to cycle again. This is all exacerbated if your water is heavily polluted with nitrates.

To get a good idea of what youre dealing with, youre gonna have to purchase a test kit to measure your water parameters. Most folks here use the api master liquid test kit.

Like i said before, 50%, or 25% changes is pissing in the wind with a fish that big in a tank that small. Heavier, more frequent water changes are a must in your situation.

If they are in fact squabbling, than that is precisely what i mean. The convict is most likely getting the better of the o, which is why you see him bolting about/stressing out. The tank is just too small for both those fish to live amicably.

 

[LBDave]

I agree with all the comments. Mostly, as far as the cause it's probably tank size along with objects in the small tank.
Probably not happy with the tank mate.
But it's very strange about the not eating which is not good at all. Need to test the water. Suggest you use Prime also as cleaning can up nitrates/ nitrites. I have no experience with well water.

 

[The Morning]

I would suggest that a visual inspection of the water’s coloring is not an adequate way to test the water parameters. While it is true that water can get a “dirty” look to it and appear discolored or cloudy this is not the metric that is suggested within the hobby. If water has these attributes and you use that to gauge water changes I fear that the nitrates are already at toxic levels and doing a small water change even 50% may not be bringing your parameters back in line. As suggested you really should get an API test kit and test waters daily until you get nitrates down to no higher then 20ppm and schedule water changes accordingly.

 

[pops]

I agree as far as water perams, I would venture to say nice clear water has killed more fish than dirty looking water. Crystal clear water does not = good water.

 

[pops]

doing large water changes should not hurt or bother your fish and is best thing you can do IMHO. all my tanks always got 90% or fin level water changes , which ever was most. from my 180g to my 75g and all tanks in between. Never wrince your medea in tap water unless on a untreated well, always use the old tank water you are pulling out when doing water changes. Tap water is chlorinated and will kill your bio filter.

 

[riv187]

test6.6 PH,,1.00ppmamonia,,,0 Nitrite,,,,almost 160ppm nitrate.....not 160 but more than 80.