Hello all, I apologize not posting until I have a problem! I will detail below, and thanks for everyone who reads through.
I have an Oscar, with a health issue that I am pretty much running out of ideas. Perhaps with all the knowledge here, there are other ideas. I attached photos from the past few days.
Fish: Oscar, female as my daughter researched last year. I have had since February 2017. She started in a 55 gallon, and was moved into a 125 gallon July of last year. She has been with the same fish for over a year.
Sickness: She has before, been laying around, gets some gashes or starts of HITH and has always been rectified with even more water changes or some light medication. About a month ago, HITH and marks on sides of body have shown up, and for the past month or so. She has laid for hours in the tank, but when approached, she does perk up and does eat. A week and a half ago, she seemed to be getting worse. I did 2 doses over 4 days of the API general cure. I have salted the aquarium, tea spoon for every 5 gallons. I have done water changes between as directed by API, in addition to my normal change pattern described below. I have now done the Melafix, does last night and was told by local aquarium shop to do this for over 4 days. In addition, I put up a divider to keep her separated from the other fish, except the Geophagus.
Water Changes: My normal schedule for aver a year – 20 gallons midweek, 60 gallons on weekends. All water is from city water, into 20 gallon barrel, treated with API stress coat, mixed, then pumped into tank. Old water is syphoned out, via gravel vacuuming, out my window. All water exits via vacuuming gravel. 20 Gallon midweek does not need filter shutdowns.
Filters: Cascade 1000, with ceramic for bio. Magnum HOT filter, filled with ceramic. Whisper 60 converted but do not use whisper filter media, power head with inlet made form water bottle to hold fiber, and 3 sponge for bio. Water is all moving, much surface agitation but not blowing fish around. Water current sends most degree to right side 3rd of tank, so mid-week 20 gallon change vacuums up most of debris.
Fish along with Oscar: 4 silver dollars, 1 Geophagus, 1 Pleco, 1 Spotted Red Severum, 1 Parrot, and 1 Spotted Raphal Catfish who is about 15 years old. All fish have been there since getting Oscar. Red Severum and Parrot are trying again to spawn, parrot lays eggs every 4 months and Severum tries to fertilize.
Oscar Habit – Usually swims back and forth, is not very aggressive but is not afraid of any fish and not afraid of tank maintenance. At night, she will move toward back center, under Blue LED night light and float about 2” from bottom.
Water Parameters: Amonia and Nitrites always 0 when measured weekly, API kit. Nitrates jump around between 30 and 40. Tap water nitrates are 20 or so last checked, but I am not trusting this for some reason. PH around high 7’s. Temp 80 to 82.
There are details I can remember, anything left off? I am at a loss now, as what is going on with Oscar. I was thinking, is the Pleco or Parrot making her stressed? After separating yesterday, and checking in via camera, she is back to laying on side. She did not eat yesterday, first day not actually eating. I am feeding whole tank very lightly.
Steve
I have an Oscar, with a health issue that I am pretty much running out of ideas. Perhaps with all the knowledge here, there are other ideas. I attached photos from the past few days.
Fish: Oscar, female as my daughter researched last year. I have had since February 2017. She started in a 55 gallon, and was moved into a 125 gallon July of last year. She has been with the same fish for over a year.
Sickness: She has before, been laying around, gets some gashes or starts of HITH and has always been rectified with even more water changes or some light medication. About a month ago, HITH and marks on sides of body have shown up, and for the past month or so. She has laid for hours in the tank, but when approached, she does perk up and does eat. A week and a half ago, she seemed to be getting worse. I did 2 doses over 4 days of the API general cure. I have salted the aquarium, tea spoon for every 5 gallons. I have done water changes between as directed by API, in addition to my normal change pattern described below. I have now done the Melafix, does last night and was told by local aquarium shop to do this for over 4 days. In addition, I put up a divider to keep her separated from the other fish, except the Geophagus.
Water Changes: My normal schedule for aver a year – 20 gallons midweek, 60 gallons on weekends. All water is from city water, into 20 gallon barrel, treated with API stress coat, mixed, then pumped into tank. Old water is syphoned out, via gravel vacuuming, out my window. All water exits via vacuuming gravel. 20 Gallon midweek does not need filter shutdowns.
Filters: Cascade 1000, with ceramic for bio. Magnum HOT filter, filled with ceramic. Whisper 60 converted but do not use whisper filter media, power head with inlet made form water bottle to hold fiber, and 3 sponge for bio. Water is all moving, much surface agitation but not blowing fish around. Water current sends most degree to right side 3rd of tank, so mid-week 20 gallon change vacuums up most of debris.
Fish along with Oscar: 4 silver dollars, 1 Geophagus, 1 Pleco, 1 Spotted Red Severum, 1 Parrot, and 1 Spotted Raphal Catfish who is about 15 years old. All fish have been there since getting Oscar. Red Severum and Parrot are trying again to spawn, parrot lays eggs every 4 months and Severum tries to fertilize.
Oscar Habit – Usually swims back and forth, is not very aggressive but is not afraid of any fish and not afraid of tank maintenance. At night, she will move toward back center, under Blue LED night light and float about 2” from bottom.
Water Parameters: Amonia and Nitrites always 0 when measured weekly, API kit. Nitrates jump around between 30 and 40. Tap water nitrates are 20 or so last checked, but I am not trusting this for some reason. PH around high 7’s. Temp 80 to 82.
There are details I can remember, anything left off? I am at a loss now, as what is going on with Oscar. I was thinking, is the Pleco or Parrot making her stressed? After separating yesterday, and checking in via camera, she is back to laying on side. She did not eat yesterday, first day not actually eating. I am feeding whole tank very lightly.
Steve
