Tiger Oscar wont eat and

[solojrbb]

My neighbor just moved and gave me his tank. The tank is 55 gallons and has one Huge tiger oscar in it. The fish was very neglected. The Ph was off the chart bad, the tank was full of scum it was a mess. I took him in, cleaned the tank rocks and everything in there, got the ph right. Took a sample of the water to the pet store and they told me everything was good and sold me things to keep it that way. Acid levels etc etc. He is doing better meaning he is moving, fighting himself in the reflection and chasing the Jack Dempsi I put in there with him. He still wont eat. I have put some feeder fish in there with him. They are just little convicts or something like that real small with black stripes. I have pellets, flakes, and live fish swiming with him and he doest seem to be eating much if at all. I think he would go after the little fish but he doesnt pay them any attention. He stays up right and is a lot more active since I got the tank right, he likes his reflection. he goes to the top of the tank to snoop around and he swims a lot. So, is the drastic change from bad to good making him not eat? He weighs over a pound and is not like other Tigers say if you put your finger in the tank they will go after it, he wont. He just does his own thing. My main concern is his eating. Everything is right as far as the water goes its now up to him to eat. should I force feed him? Respond to [email protected] I am thinking of going saltwater soon so I may put him up for adoption with the jack. But I have never had a tank before so Im pretty new. Im glad I live two blocks away from the fish store. Thank you everyone. Ronnie

 

[Fish-Noobie]

looks liek a case of boredom i suffer from it too lol

well somepeople poke holes in ping pong balls so they sink and they can push them around and u can use a remote controled submarine and some oscars can chase it but i dunno maybe im crazy

 

[solojrbb]

I have a smaller Jack in there with him, How many Oscars can be in a Tank together? Big ones, my tank is 55 gallons and all I have is the Jack and the one Osacar. The Jack does get chased a lot and even has to hide at times then you would think they are best buddies, then the oscar is chasing him around the tank and paying no attention to the little feeders I put in there. I do not know what to do. Thanks for your help though

 

[rvm]

From what I've heard 55g is the absolute bare minimum to keep 1 oscar and nothing else, it should preferably be a 75g. JD's also get pretty large, so you're gonna need some pretty serious filtration and water changes to keep the water in that tank stable. Also, you say you bought stuff to keep the water levels right, what did you get? Ph adjusters generally create more problems than they solve, and you should probably avoid them.
Having never kept an Oscar (although I'd love one, I simply don't have the room for another big tank!!) I don't know what their feeding habits are like. I know my Severum is quite picky about what he eats, and I'm gradually getting him to take flake and pellets. It may be that he is not used to what you are feeding him. Give him time and I'm sure he'll start feeding.
Good luck with them and well done for rescuing a beatiful fish, If you've got the money, I'd recommend upping to a 75g or bigger, your fish will thank you for it!!!

 

[Riley]

Well i can't say to much about the oscar not attacking your finger cause my two oscars don't attack me what so ever. but it might be just that they no me.i addvise you just to keep on trying with the cichlid pellets. sooner or later if the oscar just doesn't like them he'llprobably just start eating them cause hes so hungry. but don't go overboard with the peelets just put a few in every now and then to see if he eats them,if you put to many in that don't get eaten then your tank will get clouded.

 

[CFC]

Many fish will stop eating after a major change in their enviroment, i have had fish not eat for 3 months after i moved house. Your oscar will need a few days to settle down now it is back into good clean water.

 

[Chris_JT]

Many fish will stop eating after a major change in their enviroment, i have had fish not eat for 3 months after i moved house. Your oscar will need a few days to settle down now it is back into good clean water.

YUP, i agree. anytime you change a fish's environment even if its from bad to good, its gonna take some time for it to adjust. keep up with the frequent water changes and his health will gradually improve.

 

[Clare]

I have an Oscar who was rescued from the fish store after someone brought it back with bleeding fins and no colour after it was bullied. He is manic, like yours sounds and his fins all repaired. Mine likes mussel, cut into 3 or 4 small pieces, prawn and cockles. Pellets are fine but be careful, oscars can suffer constipation if they don`t get meaty food. Just try a little bit at a time or else it will fowl your tank. They need lots of attention so try to get him to recognise you and come to the tank to see you, then he`ll become aware that you are bringing him food. Good luck with him, they are great fish. Is he on sand? It helps clean their gills as they filter it out and they love to move it around the tank.
Clare