Sick Oscar

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Jon M

Jon M

Polypterus
MFK Member
Dec 18, 2010
1,252
155
96
Port Saint John, FL
Hey guys. I just moved my two Tiger Os to a larger tank last night and this morning they don't seem to be doing well. Loki has numerous scrapes from dashing away from the net when I was catching him. He dashes at the gravel (which he did in the past at night time) and he also has white stringy feces. Luna the Albino O doesn't seem to have anything wrong with her feces and didn't scrape herself (only Loki does that). They are also both not eating (they were eating yesterday fine) and swimming at the top a lot.

API Chemical Test Results This Morning:

pH 7.6
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

I have a temp floaty in there that is very hard to read but it appears to be at a steady 80 degrees which is similar to there 55g.

125g acrylic tank.
I'm running a large rubbermaid 3 drawer w/d sump for filtration and have both biological filters from their HOB on 55g with BB in the media in the sump and also have a thin layer of their old gravel with BB on the bottom of the sump. GPH 250, will be throwing another mag drive in there in the future.

Was feeding them mini cichlid pellets and large hikari gold pellets.

Any feedback or help would be greatly appreciated. The water condition is fine so I don't understand what is wrong with them. I'm going to start diluting water and do a salt dose later today.
 
You should have some nitrates so with those numbers i would say your tank is'nt cycled yet. But with that said i would keep an eye out. oscars are pouty like that , let them get used to there new surroundings
 
Okay. I'm pretty worried about it. I know white stringy feces is a sign of some sort of bacterial or viral infection right? Something like that.

Also when they initially were put in there they were fine. I just dosed with salt 1tbsp/5gallon

I know it's not cycled but I was under the impression using the two biological filters in the sump and the gravel would be enough for it to at least start a mini cycle.
 
the white feces may not necessarily be something that serious, it could be even as simple as constipation - give them a couple days, they're probably just pouting
 
Stress. I agree that they are just acclimating to the new tank and probably didn't like being moved. You are probably going to cycle so just keep an eye on ammonia--test daily--and perform small water changes if it gets too high.
 
Also may help to slowly lower ur ph while cycling.
 
Thanks for the response guys. Everyone seems to be basing this on the stress. how would I go about lowering pH while cycling?

I believe the BB in the substrate and biological filters from the HOB didn't survive the move seeing as how my nitrate reading is 0ppm.
 
I wouldnt mess with the PH at all its easier for the fish to adjust because once you start messing with the PH you will never stop. Just keep an eye on the amm and do water changes and you will be ok oscars are very hearty fish
 
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