So I was at my LFS the other day and saw they had an oscar that had been baddly injured. His entire gill cover is repped off exposeing his red gills. So i decided i would take him home (for free of course) and i set him up in a little twenty gallon. Hes about an inch and dont worry he wont be in the twenty for long. He is really active now that hes alone. What i was wondering is if he'll survive and/or will his gill cover grow back? will it always be exposed?? or is death inevitable and Im just prolonging it? Just about an hour ago he ate three feeders. He swims arround fine. Just wanted some of your input.
Oscar Rescue
- Thread starter quikksilver8
- Start date
ya i used melafix and pimafix it doesnt look bad any more just exposed. but he is eating really well
Many fish lived without their gill lids due to genetic deformities. The oscar still has a chance. Only issue is it becomes vulnerable to attacks if the gills become the target. I don't think the gill cover will grow back and please refrain from using feeder fish for several reasons particularly health. Go with freeze dried or frozen if you must.
i do usually feed pellets but i only gave him some feeders to entice him to eat for his forst few days cuz he wouldnt eat the pellets i had. I currently am feeding him hikari and HBH oscar grow... any other reccomendations
Feeding him feeders will only encourage him to prefer live foods above anything else. Try frozen foods and put garlic on it as well as the commercial foods.quikksilver8;3020391; said:
1. Preference over foods when there are much better options.quikksilver8;3020408; said:
2. Health risks such as infestation of internal parasites.
3. Some feeders contain nutrients not proper for particular species and may also contain too much fats.
It's usually for health reasons that feeders are not often recommended.