Depressed Oscar!!!!

[Candyco]

Just over a week ago i got 2 Albino oscars.... (Ozzy 'n' Wozzy) They seem to have been doing really well until yesterday when Ozzy started looking really off colour... as much as an Albino can that is! Sitting @ the bottom of the tank for the day.... he's now @ the top of the tank looking like he's been dead for a week, VERY pale and feeling sorry 4 himself. I've done a 1/4 tank change, temp is @ 27 so is ok....ph is still @ 7.5. Problem now is i have added 6 baby red belly piranhas yesterday. They haven't been near him but is this ok???!!!!!!!! DILEMMA!

 

[sylvia]

What size tank and what are your water parameters like?

 

[Discomafia]

I think the piranhas can only make matters worse...

 

[Candyco]

my tank is 3ft...... now i'm gonna sound like a complete n utter newbie by saying water perameters???

 

[sylvia]

By water parameters I mean the level of ammonia, nitrIte and nitrAte present in your tank.

If you are only just beginning to keep fish, piranhas and oscars are not a good choice. Could you give me the size of your tank in gallons as 3 feet could realy be anything... Most likely, however, it isn't suitable for your current fish.

Is your tank cycled? If it is, ammonia/nitrIte should be at 0 and nitrAte should be present. Adding four messy piranhas may not be the best move towards getting good water quality or a cycled tank...

Are you new to fish keeping? If you are, I would search for info on cycling. It is essential that you understand what this is and test and maintain your water regularly to keep conditions excellent for your fish.

As for your choice of fish... oscars are very aggressive and grow very large. At 12 inches each and highly territorial, most reccomend keeping one in 75 gallons. 2 would require a much larger tank.

Piranhas are shoaling fish so 4 is a good number. However, these 4 grow to 12 inches each and a 150 gallon or more tank is reccomended to provide both swimming space and enough room for several.

The combination of oscars and piranhas is bound to cause problems IMO and you probably need a tank that is much larger than what you have.

 

[Candyco]

Have been in2 town this pm.... just got in now & Wozzy is looking somewhat better!!!!! Have not tested 4 ammonia etc yet.... next plan of action i think. The tank i've got only holds about 40 gallons so will b lookin 4 a larger 1 so can seperate the Piranhas n oscars.
U could say i'm relatively new 2 fish keeping as in the past i've only had a 12 gallon tank but my husband has successfully kept piranhas b4 we met.
Back 2 Ozzy though.... he's got Wozzy keeping him company atm & he seems 2 b a lil more interested in food 2day which he completely ignored yes2day but 2 days ago he really pigged out.... could this b a factor in his health? Do they get belly ache after eating enough food 4 2?

 

[Candyco]

Sorry got my Ozzy n Wozzy mixed up then..... Ozzy is and Wozzy is

 

[sylvia]

You shouldn't feed too much simply because it will pollute your water and make ammonia and nitrItes increase to toxic levels (ammonia is toxic even at very low levels). Fish can become constipated though - it helps to feed a shelled pea and daphnia once in a while to avoid that kind of problem though I don't think an oscar would show much interest...
I would think your ammonia/nitrIte is very high as you have a lot of large messy fish in that 40 gallon (though I think the fish are still probably quite small they are still incredibly messy species) so I would do a large partial water change every other day until you can test and make sure your tank is cycled.

 

[Candyco]

Thanx... uve been really helpful, gonna take ur advice. Just tested ammonia and it's @ 1.5 so now i have 2 get that down!!!!