New Baby Oscar Hiding/stressed? *updated Pg.2 W/ Pics*

[ReMz]

I got a juvie O from the lfs yesterday. He was very active in a tank of about 15 babies and seemed to be one of the more healthy and responsive ones. Plus, he seemed to be a bit of the boss in the tank.

When I brought him home and put him in my new 75g tank he pretty much immediately went into hiding behind some rocks and driftwood. He still really hasn't left this spot in the tank except to poke around maybe once or twice when the lights are off. For the most part he just is lying motionless on his side on the bottom of the tank. He wont even acknowledge me or eat. Water stats check out fine and he was acclimated very slowly.

I've read that this is pretty normal behavior for an O that has been put in a new tank and that they will sulk for sometimes days. Also read that this seems more common with juvies after they get separated from the other ones in the store.

I'm looking for advice and other ppl's experience with this. I need someone to put my mind at rest... I'm more familiar with bettas, and this would be very sickly behavior even in a new betta.

Thanks

 

[Sheilaf]

Yup, it's normal. It can take them a few days to get used to a new home. My oscar is 2 years old and he still pulls his sulking routine if I change something in his tank, do a water change, or try a new food

 

[england]

yep oscars are king sulkers,,,
just leave it a few days, maybe leave of the light for first couple of days, dont press face up against tank,,,
is he eating? again this could take some time so dont worry, a good qaulity pellet like hiraki is great for them

once its gotten used to you, try to do twice weekly water changes and leave<move>around the syphon so that it gets used to you doing things in its tank

 

[ReMz]

yeah i haven't turned the tank light on yet. I'm avoiding bothering him... just anxious for him to snap out of it.

He is not eating. partially because he is totally concealed behind a rock and doesn't even notice food being dropped in. He pokes around a bit more now, but if he sees me move he's back to hiding. Still, 95% of the time he is just laying on his side.

I've already done a very small water change to try to get the tanins from my driftwood out of the water. He showed not interest when i got the syphon inches away from him.

What a mopey little bugger

edit: i'm thinking about keeping a smaller cichlid in with him.... would introducing one tomorrow be a good idea to perk him up, or would i be causing more problems while he is this apprehensive about leaving his hiding spot?

 

[england]

how bigs the tank?
iam a beleiver in a single cichlid species per tank for central/south americans of the larger aggresive varietys

put it this way, when i moved my jaguar cichlid to his new tank becuase he was harrsing my oscars<pictured below>
he would not eat for two months, dont worry at this stage give it a week or so, there just like women

 

[ReMz]

how bigs the tank?
iam a beleiver in a single cichlid species per tank for central/south americans of the larger aggresive varietys

put it this way, when i moved my jaguar cichlid to his new tank becuase he was harrsing my oscars<pictured below>
he would not eat for two months, dont worry at this stage give it a week or so, there just like women

hahaha

it's a 75 gal. So it's really not ideal for adding another large fish. I was thinking about a less aggressive Convict or something. I'll be picking up another canister filter next week as well.

Lol... I'll give it a rest I guess. If they are anything like women then I understand the patience required

 

[england]

how bigs the tank?
iam a beleiver in a single cichlid species per tank for central/south americans of the larger aggresive varietys

put it this way, when i moved my jaguar cichlid to his new tank becuase he was harrsing my oscars<pictured below>
he would not eat for two months, dont worry at this stage give it a week or so, there just like women

hahaha

it's a 75 gal. So it's really not ideal for adding another large fish. I was thinking about a less aggressive Convict or something. I'll be picking up another canister filter next week as well.

Lol... I'll give it a rest I guess. If they are anything like women then I understand the patience required

whatdo you have?only the oscar?
goe for something different....i have a senegal birchir with mine, there great fun and snake like

also if you do decide a convict get it soon
and only get one,,,if you get a pair all hell will break loose, i know from exsperience<bad of course

 

[ReMz]

how bigs the tank?
iam a beleiver in a single cichlid species per tank for central/south americans of the larger aggresive varietys

put it this way, when i moved my jaguar cichlid to his new tank becuase he was harrsing my oscars<pictured below>
he would not eat for two months, dont worry at this stage give it a week or so, there just like women

hahaha

it's a 75 gal. So it's really not ideal for adding another large fish. I was thinking about a less aggressive Convict or something. I'll be picking up another canister filter next week as well.

Lol... I'll give it a rest I guess. If they are anything like women then I understand the patience required

whatdo you have?only the oscar?
goe for something different....i have a senegal birchir with mine, there great fun and snake like

also if you do decide a convict get it soon
and only get one,,,if you get a pair all hell will break loose, i know from exsperience<bad of course

just 1 juvie oscar right now, yes. The tank is cycling tho (i do have mature filter media however). I don't want to add to many fish too fast, but I have heard the importance of getting other fish in earlier while they are young.

Really I was thinking about either a convict or a JD. Maybe a few silver dollars as well. As long as I'm keeping up with lots of water changes.

I'm not familiar with snegal birchirs at all. I'll check it out. Thx m8

Would it be better to wait a while before adding more stocking at this point? (besides the cycling issue)

 

[england]

well a 75us is reccomended for an oscar alone,,,,,
would not bother with the other cichlids<seriously in my eyes>
silvers could work,,,,,
birchirs are great fun,,,,,,heres my one

 

[spesh]

Whats with the golf ball?

 

[england]

i live next to golf course and there trying to get all the practice they can before they join up......














hehe it was for them to play with, but they got to boistorus with it, throwing it into the front screen and i was like

 

[spesh]

Hmmz, they actually play with it?

I'm stuck with a discus/community tank or an oscar tank at the moment. 2 days ago I was set on Discus but I keep reading more and more thats endearing me to Oscars!

 

[greenterrorx4]

put some tiger barbs in there a group of 6 and maybe 6 giant danios...these fish will make him feel more relaxed and more social...

 

[shelaghfishface]

aww bless you got a sulky one,i got my another oscar a few days a go and hes never sulked yet.( too little to know how i reckon lol). but my first one i actually thought was dead he took such a strop! ( in my avater- the invincable Jambo)
at the moment- well infact for good now Jambo will only have plec for company, hes a bit of a bully and gave the oscar i bought at the same time a right hiding about 3 months ago and i had to rehome him, but saying that he still hand feeds, like a gentle giant,has only ever bitten my sons girlfriend ( hehe- and he drew blood) but he is the best fish in the world, i have put him through some right hard times, and he forgives me everytime

they are a lot like bettas in that they are very individual fish, great personalities ( like labradors) and im 100% sure that you will fall in love with him,when he rushes to the front of the tank to greet you in the morning, or when he sits staring at you.
when you can ,put some pics up, i would love to see the little guy

hope it all goes well for you
shelagh xxx

 

[GShorty1981]

put some tiger barbs in there a group of 6 and maybe 6 giant danios

With Oscars......

You the same dude who said Kribensis are good tank mates for Piranhas in another thread? lol