Oscar Question,

[Nevergone815]

I bought an juvie red tiger oscar the other ay and at the lfs it was fine. it is only 2.5"-3" big. I have it currently in a 20 gallon growing out until it is big enough ot go into the 55 and then the 125 i have in the making (not 100 sure yet, might just give it a 75 to itself, we'll see as it grows). My question is this...

It jsut lays on the bottom all day hidden. Its listing to one side. I've seen it eat food, but only when it falls ot the bottom. it rarely leaves the bottom. It goes completely pale when I remove a tankmate, but the second i put it back its color comes back and it sometiems acts fine and moves about. It gets stressed when its alone. it was in a tank with other oscars in the lfs and was swimming jsut fine. i acclimated it for a very long time to avoid shock, but nothing is really working now. I'm really concerned. Is this normal behavior for a juvie oscar that size? Is there any suggestions that I could do to help? Thanks a lot in advanced !

 

[Gatorbait]

Seeing as this is just a couple days I'm going to say this is normal behavior, especially for Oscars. They love to pout and sulk.

If he was acting good for many months and this started happening I'd be a little worried but not since he was just removed from his old home and into your tank, sounds like he's just getting used to his surroundings. He's at least eating so it's a good sign, eating only when it hits the bottom is a sign of insecurity but an appetite and good health. So all in all it sounds good.

Just keep an eye on him, keep the lights dimmed for a couple days and give him a lot of plants to hide in. After a few days, get him used to his "daily routine to be" by turning the lights on the normal times and after a week start taking plants etc away over time back to way he'll have his tank stocked normally.

 

[Nevergone815]

I've had the lights off and on (more off) added plants ot the tank and addd some "peaceful tankmates" because he likes the company. I was assuming it was stress since I've heard that oscars can get really mopey and throw tantrums. Someoe told me that they had a boat decor in the tank and a peice of bogwood, they moved the bogwood from one side of hte tank to the other and the oscar didn't come out of the boat for a week.

I jsut wanted soem reassurance htat this was it. I've added loads of plants and hidey holes for him. He's swimming a lot more and he sometiems comes to the front of the glass, he mostly hugs the back wall. i have a background on the back, so he must feel safe against the "wall" that is the background.

I'll do the lights thing for a few days as you suggested, I also figure since he's so young all of it would affect him harder than perhaps a larger one. After a few days, I'll see how he is and then start the normal cycle I have on the tank (when it comes ot lighting that is )

Thanks for the reply

 

[Tolak]

Typical oscar behavior. I've had mine for a year & a half, every time he sees the gravel vac he hits the bottom, plays dead. It seems similar to a kid that goes totally limp when they don't get their way.

 

[irishpunk74]

I bought an juvie red tiger oscar the other ay and at the lfs it was fine. it is only 2.5"-3" big. I have it currently in a 20 gallon growing out until it is big enough ot go into the 55 and then the 125 i have in the making (not 100 sure yet, might just give it a 75 to itself, we'll see as it grows). My question is this...

It jsut lays on the bottom all day hidden. Its listing to one side. I've seen it eat food, but only when it falls ot the bottom. it rarely leaves the bottom. It goes completely pale when I remove a tankmate, but the second i put it back its color comes back and it sometiems acts fine and moves about. It gets stressed when its alone. it was in a tank with other oscars in the lfs and was swimming jsut fine. i acclimated it for a very long time to avoid shock, but nothing is really working now. I'm really concerned. Is this normal behavior for a juvie oscar that size? Is there any suggestions that I could do to help? Thanks a lot in advanced !

Hey,what's up.I too have had this problem.I have raised oscars now for about 9 years and have come up with a few reasons this might happen.1)In my experience,my oscars have grown quite attached to some tankmates.It is possible that when you purchased the oscar,it had another fish it was attached to and was sad it was gone.Sounds funny but it has happened to me.I bought 4 baby oscars and eventually 3 had died and the fourth still ain't the same.She won't really associate with the other fish in the tank.2)It may have some internal parasite.Some times turning your light off for about a week or so will bring them out of it,SOMETIMES!!! or try putting some pimafix in and see what happens.I can't say for sure what type of parasite it COULD have cause I'm not real good at pinpointing these things.But just do alot of water changes and keep your water good and clean and again,this just may work.3) or it could just be a very high bacteria count in your water.Which is easy to clear up with 50% water changes every other day for about 2 weeks.I hope this is useful to you and let me know how things work out.This has just been what I have experienced with my oscars and with any luck it will help you too.See Ya,Tom.

 

[fairladyangel]

I bought an juvie red tiger oscar the other ay and at the lfs it was fine. it is only 2.5"-3" big. I have it currently in a 20 gallon growing out until it is big enough ot go into the 55 and then the 125 i have in the making (not 100 sure yet, might just give it a 75 to itself, we'll see as it grows). My question is this...

It jsut lays on the bottom all day hidden. Its listing to one side. I've seen it eat food, but only when it falls ot the bottom. it rarely leaves the bottom. It goes completely pale when I remove a tankmate, but the second i put it back its color comes back and it sometiems acts fine and moves about. It gets stressed when its alone. it was in a tank with other oscars in the lfs and was swimming jsut fine. i acclimated it for a very long time to avoid shock, but nothing is really working now. I'm really concerned. Is this normal behavior for a juvie oscar that size? Is there any suggestions that I could do to help? Thanks a lot in advanced !

Hey,what's up.I too have had this problem.I have raised oscars now for about 9 years and have come up with a few reasons this might happen.1)In my experience,my oscars have grown quite attached to some tankmates.It is possible that when you purchased the oscar,it had another fish it was attached to and was sad it was gone.Sounds funny but it has happened to me.I bought 4 baby oscars and eventually 3 had died and the fourth still ain't the same.She won't really associate with the other fish in the tank.2)It may have some internal parasite.Some times turning your light off for about a week or so will bring them out of it,SOMETIMES!!! or try putting some pimafix in and see what happens.I can't say for sure what type of parasite it COULD have cause I'm not real good at pinpointing these things.But just do alot of water changes and keep your water good and clean and again,this just may work.3) or it could just be a very high bacteria count in your water.Which is easy to clear up with 50% water changes every other day for about 2 weeks.I hope this is useful to you and let me know how things work out.This has just been what I have experienced with my oscars and with any luck it will help you too.See Ya,Tom.

oscars of this size still carry a tendancy to school (watch a tankfull at your local shop) bring one home however and he acts like someone stole his packed lunch,my answer add a couple of similar sized oscars he needs the stimulation you too will benifit cos more than one is best answer with these at least until they are six inches long,you may have a chance at a pair then

 

[Nevergone815]

Ok, this may sound a bit weird... but at first I added 2 male bettas with him (1 at a time NEVER together ), they were too aggressive towards it, so I put a bunch of female bettas in there (nonaggressive ones- I made sure of this) and he perked up. I also kept the lights out and he later came out and swam around. This morning when I fed the females, the pellets for them that fell down he rn over and sole fro mthem lol. It was cute. I did notice that at the lfs he was really close to this other tiger oscar, this very well could be it. I have a slight problem though with the advice right above this one. That it might've been a good idea to buy mroe than one...I know it probably would've been the best move, but I was concerned about room. Right now I have the room spaced out for 1 oscar, I didn't want to have to worry about needing to rehome them later. He's perked up a bit htough, my only problem I have right now, is what to do with tankmates as he gets bigger, the female bettas will eventually become food for him, so once he gets a bit bigger and more comfortable around hte tank I plan on removing them. But just wanted ot let you guys/gals know that he is doing better and thank you lal for your inputs Thank you!

 

[Nevergone815]

I just wanted to give you guys an update...

I removed the female bettas and he is quite content. He is even now showing full color, swimming around, and even eting pelets off of the top fo the water!!!

I've never owned an oscar this small, but his coloring and patteren were hard for me to skip on, so I had ot get him. Thanks for the replies!!

 

[yvez9]

Glad your O is doing better!

I got an oscar over a year ago at less then 2 inches

he was hiding for the first 2 weeks in his 90 gallon, i could barely see him since he was so small in a big tank!

After about 2 weeks he started showing character and being moody. he's now 10 inches and quite territorial. He gets so mad when we move the pieces of bogwood around and river stones. he likes his half of the tank very clean so he's stuck pushing everything to the sides for hours when i do cleaning and move everything around, it keeps him busy!

This oscar is the most entertaining fish i've had. Very funny to watch