Sick Oscars and tank

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Dalfin40

Feeder Fish
Aug 19, 2005
4
0
0
62
Stafford
I had a pair of albino oscars in a 55 gal tank for almost a year (about 8 inches). Came home one day and found one on the carpet all dried up. He squeezed out through a slot in front of my filter almost smaller then he was... At that point the other one would not eat... After about a week he died. I figured it to morning of some sort. They were attached at the hip... Went and replaced with two more smaller oscars and had the store check my water for me (always double check) and everything was within limits... Two days later I notice this waxy white buildup on the skin and eyes... Some of the fin is even rotting off it looks like. I imediately added salt and increased temp to about 80-82. I have changed half my water and added ich removal medicine. One looks like he might not make it the other seems to be coming round. Will do another water change today... Is the white slim looking stuff actually ich or some other type fungus stuff? Want to make sure I am helping and not hurting! I think this may have been the reason the other jumped out... Because they were albino maybe I just overlooked it. I think I must have brought this in with feeder fish. All I can think.

Thanks all!

Scott
 
It sounds like a bacterial or protozoal infection and yes it probably came in with untreated feeders. Without lab testing it cannot be sure which, ammonia, chlorine, and copper poisonong can also lead to this type infection. large water changes and gravel vacing will reduce the number of of disease organisms in the tank, salt at 2tsp/gallon and a warm tank, 85 F. will also work for at least 2 of the more common ones, since it is a heavy infection you might want to use a commercial preperation such as malachite green, Follow the products instruction closely as many meds are toxic if you OD them.
 
Checked chlorine, amonia, and iron levels... All negative... Nitrates good. PH is a little on the low side.
 
I agree with guppy, good advice right there. I would also suggest you get rid of an oscar, two oscars in 55g is hard to keep up with and a little cramped. I know you ahd two in there for a year but a year old oscar is not even a full grown oscar.
 
sounds like fin rot hard to tell without pics as for feeder fish i wouldnt use them unless you raise your own Oscars will get parasites from them , pellets should make up 60 percent of there diet soaked in liquid vitamines once a week also feed krill cooked beef heart zucunni peas , crickets also for a healthy fish one Oscar to 55gall is recommened and double the amount of filttration is needed this guys are messy also they like low ph how stable is it they can suffer from ph shock if it changes quickly i would check gh and kh
 
Thanks for the info... PH is low... GH is soft.... They don't seem to be etting better or worse at this point... Still have this white film on them that is covering part of their eyes and body... I am using the warmer temps, salt, Maracide and Maracyn... I did a 50% water change two days ago and 25% yesterday and today... I also removed a lot of gravel from the bottom and left about a 1/4 inch all around... It had about a 1/2 inch and I felt it was trapping too much "stuff"... I have been using an ich rid everyday and will continue for 7 days like the bottle stated. They are not eating and basically just lie together on the bottom without a lot of movement... Hmmm... I am almost to the point of draining the whole tank and using fresh water to start over with... Hate to do that drastic a measure at this point though...
 
Sounds like you are doing what you can, one more thing does come to mind though, if you can add a power head or even a couple airstone to increase surface movement they might perk up a bit, salt and meds will lower the water's ability to hold dissolved O2, that can lead to lethargy in the fish.
 
at this point if thers not a lot of progress do a 100 percent water change if the tank is establised this will not hurt it all all make sure you are using a high quality chlorine and chormine remove do not use standing water as chloramine is stable and will not dissapate also are you vacummming the substate sounds like you might have a mold problem from excess food sorry about the late reply
 
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