Oscar's dying. Please Help.
- Thread starter mixx2001
- Start date
Ok just got back from PetSmart. They gave me two free Tigers (one reg and one albino) after hearing most of my story, so I figured I'll give this one more shot.
First I tested their pH, and it is virtually identical to mine (7.0 on the money). I also bought a dip and spit, or sit and sh*t (whatever those hang over the tank containers are called), to acclimate the fish more thoroughly. Inside the the container I slowly mixed my tank water with the water in the container, in 10min intervals, which goes fine. The O's are actively investigating their environment in the container, and seem very content. Then when I fully transition them into the tank the fall right to the bottom, and lay at an angle. I've heard of them doing this to ambush unsuspecting prey, but it seemed a bit strange at this time.
Well during all this trial and error, my Bichirs have out grown the Oscars I've been trying to introduce, proportionally (especially with these two being the smallest O's I've got by far). So after my larger Bichir 6.5" swam straight to one of them, and coiled for a strike, I moved them into my community tank (20g), until they get a little size on them. In the community tank they seem fine. Happily exploring the entire space.
I also added a TopFin Power 60, since they were on sale today for $30, to supplement the filtration of the 55 until I can pick up a Ehiem. So I'll leave the tank to itself, until the O's double in size (read: prolly a month), and then try it again.
Thanks again for all the help. My Bichirs appear healthy as a couple thoroughbreds in Kentucky, so I really do think despite the size incompatibility issue today, all this has been a result of something that was on my skin affecting the O's, and not the Bichirs as air breathers. I'll post an update as soon as I have one, for any future searchers who may be experiencing similar issues.
First I tested their pH, and it is virtually identical to mine (7.0 on the money). I also bought a dip and spit, or sit and sh*t (whatever those hang over the tank containers are called), to acclimate the fish more thoroughly. Inside the the container I slowly mixed my tank water with the water in the container, in 10min intervals, which goes fine. The O's are actively investigating their environment in the container, and seem very content. Then when I fully transition them into the tank the fall right to the bottom, and lay at an angle. I've heard of them doing this to ambush unsuspecting prey, but it seemed a bit strange at this time.
Well during all this trial and error, my Bichirs have out grown the Oscars I've been trying to introduce, proportionally (especially with these two being the smallest O's I've got by far). So after my larger Bichir 6.5" swam straight to one of them, and coiled for a strike, I moved them into my community tank (20g), until they get a little size on them. In the community tank they seem fine. Happily exploring the entire space.
I also added a TopFin Power 60, since they were on sale today for $30, to supplement the filtration of the 55 until I can pick up a Ehiem. So I'll leave the tank to itself, until the O's double in size (read: prolly a month), and then try it again.
Thanks again for all the help. My Bichirs appear healthy as a couple thoroughbreds in Kentucky, so I really do think despite the size incompatibility issue today, all this has been a result of something that was on my skin affecting the O's, and not the Bichirs as air breathers. I'll post an update as soon as I have one, for any future searchers who may be experiencing similar issues.
i probably just went into shock sadly and are you just dumping them in the tank cause that can be a problem to good luck!!!!
Reptilesfishbirdsmammals;4172031; said:
I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you're ok.
Reptilesfishbirdsmammals;4172031; said:
Um. No.
Your Oscars may have not died in vain, that sunblock you are using can kill you too. Your fishies are warning you because it turns out that sunscreens cause more cancer than the sun exposure would. Arent Oscars amazing fish?
"The non-profit Environmental Working Group released another of its reports on the sunscreen industry, coming down hard on the chemicals it uses and the claims it makes in its advertising. Some stories about the report drew headlines like Sunscreen May Hurt, Not Help; Your Sunscreen May Give You Cancer: Study; and Study: Many Sunscreens May Be Accelerating Cancer. "
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/26/tech/main6521447.shtml
"The non-profit Environmental Working Group released another of its reports on the sunscreen industry, coming down hard on the chemicals it uses and the claims it makes in its advertising. Some stories about the report drew headlines like Sunscreen May Hurt, Not Help; Your Sunscreen May Give You Cancer: Study; and Study: Many Sunscreens May Be Accelerating Cancer. "
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/26/tech/main6521447.shtml
Oscarum monstruoso;4173609; said:
Yes they certainly are.
The EWG on the other hand is nothing more than a Left Wing Enviromental Activist group that has been wrapped up in corruption and conspiracy since their inception. To each his own, but making money off bad science in order to scare soccer moms into buying into the organic black market, is not really my cup of proccessed tea.
haha +1!!! but yeah sens will ignore fish that are big enough but beware to the fishie that is small enough to be deemed a snack, i have 3 and these guys cleared out a school of 12 zebra danios within 5min of me putting them in the tank but they totally ignore my larger cichlids, are you running some kind of carbon as well? i normally dont even run carbon but for something like this it helps to get the chemicals out of the water, GOOD LUCK with your new Osmixx2001;4174116; said:Yes they certainly are.
The EWG on the other hand is nothing more than a Left Wing Enviromental Activist group that has been wrapped up in corruption and conspiracy since their inception. To each his own, but making money off bad science in order to scare soccer moms into buying into the organic black market, is not really my cup of proccessed tea.
Sarah88;4175831; said:
Yeah I believe it! Mine didnt pay the other O's I put in the tank any attention, but these two are maybe a quarter of an inch smaller. That was all it took for my 6.5" Sen to come over for a taste test. Their doing great in the Community tank, so as soon as their big enough I try it again.
I'm still running just the AT 30-60 HOB. I took the TopFin 60 back, despite it's $30 price tag. It flowed great, but you couldn't pay me to keep it. Even though it's construction is nearly identical to my AT 30-60, it is easily 4 times louder. You get what you pay for. I do use carbon, and also the bio wall media filters. I just changed the carbon this week and everything looks good, so once the O's grow a bit we'll see what happens.
