oscar wont eat

[apharing]

For the past few weeks my pig of an oscar has decided to stop swallowing his food. I have tried several different brands of food, but he always does the same thing. He just chews on it, then most of it comes out of his gills and the rest he spits back out. The only thing i can get him to actually swallow now are earthworms and crickets. Any ideas? Not that i mind watching him smash crickets

 

[gnuisance]

it may be difficult but I would starve him until he gets back on pellets. Unless he is sick he will eat pellets once he gets hungry.

 

[TwistedPenguin]

Always test your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates 1st when your fish does something weird or disturbing or quits eating. With an Oscar keep your nitrates as far under 20 ppm as you can.That said-all mine went through a "don't want to eat" stage at around 8-9 months which is about when sexual maturity hits. Fish can easily go several wks without eating. It's harder on us than on them when they won't eat. So assuming your water quality is good (do check, don't just assume it is) then offer it and scoop it back out if he doesn't want it. I bet he'll be back to normal soon.

 

[ScoobyRacing03]

I agree with gnuisance I'd wait a day or two without feeding him maybe longer and then try the pellets. Have you changed the decor or tank mates in the tank lately?

 

[Citrinellus]

Always test your ammonia, nitrites and nitrates 1st when your fish does something weird or disturbing or quits eating. With an Oscar keep your nitrates as far under 20 ppm as you can.That said-all mine went through a "don't want to eat" stage at around 8-9 months which is about when sexual maturity hits. Fish can easily go several wks without eating. It's harder on us than on them when they won't eat. So assuming your water quality is good (do check, don't just assume it is) then offer it and scoop it back out if he doesn't want it. I bet he'll be back to normal soon.

I agree 100%.

 

[steelshade]

I HATE it when the flush food out through their gills!

 

[bdevilcasey]

Ive always just kept feeding as normal when they dont eat. Scoop out whats still left after 5 mins or so. Theyve always started eating again when they get hungry. Twistedpen knows what he's sayin.