Partial Water Changes - Stressful?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
J

johnjeric

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 3, 2012
18
0
0
Daly City
Hi all, I've noticed that my Oscar absolutely hates water changes. When I take out the siphon, he loses color and stays in one corner of the tank until a while after I'm done. He ALWAYS does this and I don't want to stress him out with these water changes.

I don't want to stress him out, but I have to do these water changes daily until he clears up with his HIHD.

Is it normal for a fish to do this durin water changes? Any tips on how to decrease risk of stress when doing water changes?

Thanks!


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Suggest fill up water barrel with tap water, then add Prime. Then, if tap water parameters are very different to tank water, adjust tap water chemistry in water barrel to become what you want water in tank to be. Then, put heater in water barrel, so temperature warm up to same temperature as in tank. Now, do water change, and replace dirty water from tank with clean water from water barrel.

If Oscar still unhappy, give it some money.
 
He'll get used to it. It's worse to not do them than it is to scare him once in awhile.
 
Any fish that can't handle a water change wont survive without one ;) I have had plenty of fish that change color and stress during water changes. SA cichlids like your oscars especially

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strollo22 said:
^^ haha. OP, there is really nothing you can do. You just have to hope he learns that they are not harming him.
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Look into a trickle system. No more big water changes. Just do one gallon an hour 24/7.
 
my oscar did the same thing when i first got him, now he has no problem with it and sometimes tries to bite the siphon.
he will get used to it.

and i do agree that oscars are BIG babies
 
mikaelmiki said:
my oscar did the same thing when i first got him, now he has no problem with it and sometimes tries to bite the siphon.
he will get used to it.

and i do agree that oscars are BIG babies
Click to expand...

Same with mine. He'd lose color and sulk, then he graduated to attacking the siphon. Finally he would just ignore the siphon and wait for food. Just give the oscar time and I'm sure he'll adjust. To make it an easier transition you can do the aforementioned trickle system but you still will need to gravel vac from time to time with an oscar IME
 
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