Shy Oscars

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
NO FLIPPIN' DUH!

I wish I could delete stupid peoples posts, life would be much easier.

ADD: I have the measurements. 37" long, 21" tall, 15" wide at average.
 
Chill out DUDE!!!:chillpill: people are just trying to help you. Remember that some fishkeepers on this site have been taking care of fish before you were born so give them the respect of trying to help you.

Anyway its sounds like you are missing 2 important parts of keeping fish: API test kit and a thermometer. The test kit is one of the most important parts of fish keeping, it should be the first thing to turn to when you notice that your fish are acting funny. High ammonia-dead feeder or something decomposing, High nitrites-overfeeding( and a couple of other things I cant remember right now),High Nitrates-not enough tank maintenance.
A thermometer to make sure that your tank is aroung 80dgr's.

Try to feed your oscars only on one side of the tank, that really makes them see who is feeding them and they might get to know you quicker. Spend more time around your tank.
Switch to pellets most of the time and feeders as a treat. Break out your 20 and set it up. Buy some feeders on Wend. so you can watch them for around 3 days and feed them real good then feed them to your Oscars.
You can also get crickets and nightcrawlers,oscars love them.

Just get a test kit and make sure that your water isnt toxic to your fish.
Read all the stickies in the health and disease section.
Hope this helps,keep us posted,good luck and :chillpill: out.
john
 
Sounds like too much has been said already, but I thought I'd confirm your suspicions. Oscars don't usually like bright lights. Mine hid a lot until he got to about six inches, even with subdued lighting. Now, at nine inches, he just bangs the glass when I get close, whether there are lights on or not. And I usually sit near the tank to watch him eat to reinforce his begging behavior. There you go.
 
knifegill;3304490; said:
Sounds like too much has been said already, but I thought I'd confirm your suspicions. Oscars don't usually like bright lights. Mine hid a lot until he got to about six inches, even with subdued lighting. Now, at nine inches, he just bangs the glass when I get close, whether there are lights on or not. And I usually sit near the tank to watch him eat to reinforce his begging behavior. There you go.
Click to expand...

I've had a similar experience. My oscar was never as active until a bulb on one side of his tank went out. I noticed he became a lot more active so I've yet to replace it. Maybe consider dimming your lights after your oscars recover. Also, whens the soonest time you can get a test kit?
 
JohnM;3304413; said:
Chill out DUDE!!!:chillpill: people are just trying to help you. Remember that some fishkeepers on this site have been taking care of fish before you were born so give them the respect of trying to help you.

Anyway its sounds like you are missing 2 important parts of keeping fish: API test kit and a thermometer. The test kit is one of the most important parts of fish keeping, it should be the first thing to turn to when you notice that your fish are acting funny. High ammonia-dead feeder or something decomposing, High nitrites-overfeeding( and a couple of other things I cant remember right now),High Nitrates-not enough tank maintenance.
A thermometer to make sure that your tank is aroung 80dgr's.

Try to feed your oscars only on one side of the tank, that really makes them see who is feeding them and they might get to know you quicker. Spend more time around your tank.
Switch to pellets most of the time and feeders as a treat. Break out your 20 and set it up. Buy some feeders on Wend. so you can watch them for around 3 days and feed them real good then feed them to your Oscars.
You can also get crickets and nightcrawlers,oscars love them.

Just get a test kit and make sure that your water isnt toxic to your fish.
Read all the stickies in the health and disease section.
Hope this helps,keep us posted,good luck and :chillpill: out.
john
Click to expand...


I hear what your saying but after hearing the same information 6 times in a row with no other useful info in between, it gets somewhat annoying.

I am switching to pellets and feeders as treats, I will set my 20 up as soon as I can, also, I am have fed them a worm before and I will likely do so in the future. I will see if I can get small amounts of crickets from the store because I don't want wild ones. I will get a thermometer and a water testing kit next time I go to the store.
 
jlsmonkey;3304363; said:
NO FLIPPIN' DUH!

I wish I could delete stupid peoples posts, life would be much easier.

ADD: I have the measurements. 37" long, 21" tall, 15" wide at average.
Click to expand...
those measurements alone make it a 50 gallon add a few more if you have a bow front as you mentioned earlier. with 2 Oscars and a pleco you are at your limits and then some for tank mates. I'd imagine you'll need to water changes more than once a week to keep the water good. and you'll need some heavy filtration too. I'd be looking to goto a bigger tank soon since Oscars are quick grower.
 
ScoobyRacing03;3305211; said:
those measurements alone make it a 50 gallon add a few more if you have a bow front as you mentioned earlier. with 2 Oscars and a pleco you are at your limits and then some for tank mates. I'd imagine you'll need to water changes more than once a week to keep the water good. and you'll need some heavy filtration too. I'd be looking to goto a bigger tank soon since Oscars are quick grower.
Click to expand...


I have no tankmates for them, two normal fish and two cleaners. I was planning on taking the picus out anyways, he bullies the pleco and nips the oscars every once in a while.

I used that calculator. It said 55 gallons, which scares me.
 
Well, it seems the light was what was making them so shy, the light has been off except when I feed them and they are much more active.
 
I tested the ammonia and nitrite

Ammonia is 0 mg
Nitrite is 0.3 mg

Are those good? Also, I got a thermometer and it was lower then 80 so I put the heater in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom