OscarFish47170
Mostly New Member
Okay, so I've been raised around fish tanks for most of my life but I can't seem to get this darn thing right on my own. Took my mom about 3 years to figure out exactly how to set up a tank perfectly for an Oscar Fish. I decided I did not want to kill my fish three times before I asked for help.
I have a 50-55 gallon tank, that is oddly shaped and completely out of date. I can't even find a proper hood for it, but until I can make one, the poor fish will have to do with a half attempt at a tank lid. I went to a local aquarium store, and asked a million questions. How long do I cycle for? When can I put my Oscar FIsh in? Is it safe to add small fish to start? Etc. You can be assured that I annoyed the living crap out of every employee at the store for at least 2 weeks.
Finally, I got the tank set up, put a couple of cheap fish in there and started the cycle. I added Stress Zyme, and De-clorinator to the water. Added two air rocks, and a good sized tree like thing that the fish could hide in and around. I did what the people at the fish store told me. I checked my water after a week. They told me that it would be safe enough to add a pleco. So I did, I also added a weekend feeder for it since the two goldfish I bought to start decided to eat everything in the tank including the pleco food.
After two weeks, I checked the water again at the store, they showed me how to do it and without further ado, my tank readings were nearly perfect. Odd for a tank that's only been running for two weeks. So I checked it again. Again it came up nearly perfect. They told me to add the stress zyme and the other one that goes with it and to check again in about a week. So I did. This time it really was perfect. So, I got my Oscar fish.
I bought two little baby Oscar Fish, each only about an inch long. I figured getting babies would give me plenty of time to get the size tank they will need in two years. Around a 100 gallon tank. I've been around Oscar Fish since I was about 15, so I do realize that two Oscars need A LOT of room. My mother's one liked his 75 gallon all to himself aside from the pleco and the shovel nose she had.
Well, to get to the point, I've had my babies for about a week. I've gotten rid of the goldfish as they were getting agressive over food and not letting the babies eat. Now, the babies act depressed, staying at the bottom of the tank. I picked the two babies that actually jumped out of the water to bite my finger, just to make sure they were ok. The healthier an Oscar Fish is, the more their personality shows.
There are bubbles across the top of the tank, most likely from all the water agitation from the Air Rocks and the large two bay filter I'm using. They disapate the minute they are touched. My tank has begun to turn slightly clouded with a light tint of green. The pleco has grown at least 3 inches since I got him and once I got rid of the goldfish, I've only been feeding him one algae disc at night (mainly cause he's so small and those things are known to make algae grow)
But it's the Oscars I'm worried about. They act depressed. They stay down near the bottom of the tank. They've stopped being agressive with any type of food. I've been feeding them, but they just won't eat. The Tiger jumps out of the tank at flies that skim the water.... but the albino acts terrified of everything. The Tiger won't eat the pellets, the shrimp or even the blood worms. He ate well the first couple of days, but it seems like he's just lost his will to want food. Should I stop feeding for a day and see if his appetite picks up? Did the cycle screw up and maybe I put them in too soon? I checked the water, the ph is fine at 7.3, the ammonia is a little raised but not enough to severely change his attitude and I've put in Ammonia drops to remove it from the water. The Nitrite is 0 and the nitrate is a little up. The cloudiness and the tint of green and all the bubbles bother me though.... on top of my fishes sudden change in attitude. What do I do
I have a 50-55 gallon tank, that is oddly shaped and completely out of date. I can't even find a proper hood for it, but until I can make one, the poor fish will have to do with a half attempt at a tank lid. I went to a local aquarium store, and asked a million questions. How long do I cycle for? When can I put my Oscar FIsh in? Is it safe to add small fish to start? Etc. You can be assured that I annoyed the living crap out of every employee at the store for at least 2 weeks.
Finally, I got the tank set up, put a couple of cheap fish in there and started the cycle. I added Stress Zyme, and De-clorinator to the water. Added two air rocks, and a good sized tree like thing that the fish could hide in and around. I did what the people at the fish store told me. I checked my water after a week. They told me that it would be safe enough to add a pleco. So I did, I also added a weekend feeder for it since the two goldfish I bought to start decided to eat everything in the tank including the pleco food.
After two weeks, I checked the water again at the store, they showed me how to do it and without further ado, my tank readings were nearly perfect. Odd for a tank that's only been running for two weeks. So I checked it again. Again it came up nearly perfect. They told me to add the stress zyme and the other one that goes with it and to check again in about a week. So I did. This time it really was perfect. So, I got my Oscar fish.
I bought two little baby Oscar Fish, each only about an inch long. I figured getting babies would give me plenty of time to get the size tank they will need in two years. Around a 100 gallon tank. I've been around Oscar Fish since I was about 15, so I do realize that two Oscars need A LOT of room. My mother's one liked his 75 gallon all to himself aside from the pleco and the shovel nose she had.
Well, to get to the point, I've had my babies for about a week. I've gotten rid of the goldfish as they were getting agressive over food and not letting the babies eat. Now, the babies act depressed, staying at the bottom of the tank. I picked the two babies that actually jumped out of the water to bite my finger, just to make sure they were ok. The healthier an Oscar Fish is, the more their personality shows.
There are bubbles across the top of the tank, most likely from all the water agitation from the Air Rocks and the large two bay filter I'm using. They disapate the minute they are touched. My tank has begun to turn slightly clouded with a light tint of green. The pleco has grown at least 3 inches since I got him and once I got rid of the goldfish, I've only been feeding him one algae disc at night (mainly cause he's so small and those things are known to make algae grow)
But it's the Oscars I'm worried about. They act depressed. They stay down near the bottom of the tank. They've stopped being agressive with any type of food. I've been feeding them, but they just won't eat. The Tiger jumps out of the tank at flies that skim the water.... but the albino acts terrified of everything. The Tiger won't eat the pellets, the shrimp or even the blood worms. He ate well the first couple of days, but it seems like he's just lost his will to want food. Should I stop feeding for a day and see if his appetite picks up? Did the cycle screw up and maybe I put them in too soon? I checked the water, the ph is fine at 7.3, the ammonia is a little raised but not enough to severely change his attitude and I've put in Ammonia drops to remove it from the water. The Nitrite is 0 and the nitrate is a little up. The cloudiness and the tint of green and all the bubbles bother me though.... on top of my fishes sudden change in attitude. What do I do
to the forum.
. He was swimming around the tank attacking bubbles this morning...and then he wasn't. Will be getting a new filter soon with the things you said would be good. Will keep a look out for a canister filter. I'm afraid I'll lose my other oscar soon... as when I put my hand in to get the albino, Om Nom swam into my hand. Goldfish still look bruised and are staying to one side of the tank.
Sorry to hear that 
