Tiger Oscar - seriously ill

[Ellie Aster]

Have you tested your water?

Yes

If yes, what is your ammonia?

no test for amonia on the strip

If yes, what is your nitrite?

.5

If yes, what is your nitrate?

40

If I did not test my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.

Do you do water changes?

Yes

What percentage of water do you change?

41-50%

How frequently do you change your water?

Every two weeks

If I do not change my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.

Hello, I have been looking for months for help and just found this forum. I am glad it is current. Tiger Oscar, 11 yrs old, 125 gal, 40% water changes bi-weekly, tank mates 7 corries. Filters 125 and 75 on this tank. Well water. levels read good. Sick since September - He has not eaten in months, even if food falls in his mouth. Started lethargic. Treated for Ick for one month - appeared to be well. Lethargic again, after two weeks and with swelling in right side. Ick treatment this time did not appear to make any difference. No white spots, no hole in head, fins seems fine, color a bit paler than usual. Tried bacterial Infection medicine this time - he seemed very agitated when it got to his area. Pour medicine in top of tank, otherside from where he lays. That treatment did not help either. Now the bulge is both sides. I do not think he is pooping either. Two weeks ago he was tail up, vertical in the tank. Now he is back to laying on this side on the bottom of the tank. He is active for 1-2 minutes once or twice a day. He appears to see me, responds to my face. Eyes now clouding a bit. The corries are not suffering at all. I have added Algae remover , biological boos and waste control during this time.

I realize there may be an answer I will not like about what I am doing wrong. I am just hoping you all can help me save my fish. My well water has 0 clorine, is fairly hard, 40 alkalinity, 6.8 ph. My test kit does not test for ammonia.

 

[EricTheRed]

Are you sure your Oscar didn’t swallow one of your Cories? Mine would have eaten all seven like M&Ms. If you still have seven cories, then it rules out a stomach issue from swallowing one. Oscar’s typically live from 10-20 years in captivity so your aging 11 year old may have developed a natural progressive disease which was accelerated by its recent battle with ick, despite the fact you gave him/her a good home. Keep up with the water changes. I hope your Oscar fully recovers!

 

[tlindsey]

I have added Algae remover , biological boos and waste control during this time.

Welcome aboard
I suggest not to add any products especially while using meds. If you have a lfs near you take a sample of water to be tested for ammonia. Also possible for the Oscar's age to be a contributing factor. I personally never heard of a Oscar living 20 years.

 

[SalviniCichlidFan]

Sick since September. Lethargic again, after two weeks and with swelling in right side... No white spots, no hole in head, fins seems fine, color a bit paler than usual... Now the bulge is both sides. I do not think he is pooping either. Two weeks ago he was tail up, vertical in the tank. Now he is back to laying on this side on the bottom of the tank.

From the symptoms I highlighted and picked out, your Oscar might have swim bladder disease.

1) You mentioned how he's been sick since September. In my experience, I've found swim bladder issues to be chronic and can drag on for months before the fish dies.

2) You mentioned swelling in right/both sides, which is common in swim bladder disorder.

3) The Oscar isn't pooping which is also common in swim bladder disorder.

4) "His tail is up and vertical in the tank" --> very common symptom of swim bladder disorder that I've seen my fish exhibit.

 

[Ellie Aster]

Are you sure your Oscar didn’t swallow one of your Cories? Mine would have eaten all seven like M&Ms. If you still have seven cories, then it rules out a stomach issue from swallowing one. Oscar’s typically live from 10-20 years in captivity so your aging 11 year old may have developed a natural progressive disease which was accelerated by its recent battle with ick, despite the fact you gave him/her a good home. Keep up with the water changes. I hope your Oscar fully recovers!

Thank you for responding - all corries accounted for. They have been tank mates for years, which has been a surprise, for sure. I was wondering about the old age issue.

 

[Ellie Aster]

Welcome aboard
I suggest not to add any products especially while using meds. If you have a lfs near you take a sample of water to be tested for ammonia. Also possible for the Oscar's age to be a contributing factor. I personally never heard of a Oscar living 20 years.

Thank you for the reply - I will hold off the other products. No meds at this time because ick was not helping and melo seemed to hurt him. Algae has been a consistent issue though. Not sure what is IFS - will try the local pet store to test water and continue water changes just in case ammonia is high. Corries do not seem to be affected at all.

 

[Ellie Aster]

From the symptoms I highlighted and picked out, your Oscar might have swim bladder disease.

1) You mentioned how he's been sick since September. In my experience, I've found swim bladder issues to be chronic and can drag on for months before the fish dies.

2) You mentioned swelling in right/both sides, which is common in swim bladder disorder.

3) The Oscar isn't pooping which is also common in swim bladder disorder.

4) "His tail is up and vertical in the tank" --> very common symptom of swim bladder disorder that I've seen my fish exhibit.

Thak you for the reply - I have not done much of the research on the tail up issue as it is recent - I will look into it. Thank you -

 

[phreeflow]

Sounds like swim bladder disease or maybe a tumor. Both are hard to treat successfully without a specialized vet..it’s a symptom of a number of different causes.

If it was constipated, you could try epsom salt but it that doesn’t seem to be the issue.

Maybe post a pic of it for other to see and you might get better advice

 

[maryjo]

Hello, I have been looking for months for help and just found this forum. I am glad it is current. Tiger Oscar, 11 yrs old, 125 gal, 40% water changes bi-weekly, tank mates 7 corries. Filters 125 and 75 on this tank. Well water. levels read good. Sick since September - He has not eaten in months, even if food falls in his mouth. Started lethargic. Treated for Ick for one month - appeared to be well. Lethargic again, after two weeks and with swelling in right side. Ick treatment this time did not appear to make any difference. No white spots, no hole in head, fins seems fine, color a bit paler than usual. Tried bacterial Infection medicine this time - he seemed very agitated when it got to his area. Pour medicine in top of tank, otherside from where he lays. That treatment did not help either. Now the bulge is both sides. I do not think he is pooping either. Two weeks ago he was tail up, vertical in the tank. Now he is back to laying on this side on the bottom of the tank. He is active for 1-2 minutes once or twice a day. He appears to see me, responds to my face. Eyes now clouding a bit. The corries are not suffering at all. I have added Algae remover , biological boos and waste control during this time.

I realize there may be an answer I will not like about what I am doing wrong. I am just hoping you all can help me save my fish. My well water has 0 clorine, is fairly hard, 40 alkalinity, 6.8 ph. My test kit does not test for ammonia.

You should treat your fish and aquarium for parasites...

 

[Ellie Aster]

Sounds like swim bladder disease or maybe a tumor. Both are hard to treat successfully without a specialized vet..it’s a symptom of a number of different causes.

If it was constipated, you could try epsom salt but it that doesn’t seem to be the issue.

Maybe post a pic of it for other to see and you might get better advice

Hello, I appreciate your comment - I did have some Epsom Salts so I started to add a tablespoon at a time to the tank. 4 times on Tues, 3 times on Wed and this morning, he is upright - not tail up, but resting on the bottom.