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My oscar recently jumped out of the tank as i was feeding it and after i put it back in the tank it seems like it is geting eaten by some kind of bacteria like white spots around the rear fins and then its starting to shread. I did a water change after that about 30% water change and it seems to have no effect any ideas? i dont want my oscar to be geting eaten by some bacteria.


water temp. 80 degrees
hes the only one in my 10 gallon tank

I am not sure what your describing, by the term shredding?
Is it his fins, tail, scales?
How big is he?
A ten gallon tank will not house an Oscar for very long, three months tops.
Do you test your water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate?
While it is not healthy for an Oscar to fly, it does happen, and unless he was injured during the landing, and was not out of the tank for very long, there should be no long term injuries.
Do the white spots look like fuzz, or like salt crystals?

when you placed him back in, did you use your hands AND did they feel slimy?? IF YES, then you have removed his slime coat on where you touched hiim at and now bacteria has taken hold.. NO biggie..Use MelaFix for 7 days, that is 1 teaspooon PER 10 gal of water, so just use 1 teaspoon PER DAY for 7 days.. DO NOT use anything else!! Do not add in any salt to the water other than what you have in their..Give him a few days to repond, may take 5 to the 7 days before you see any clearing..
REMOVE CARBON from the filter..IF left in, it wil remove the MelaFix from working..IF it is in a sealed media pad, just slit the top and shake out the carbon..

Originally posted by Barb Okla
when you placed him back in, did you use your hands AND did they feel slimy?? IF YES, then you have removed his slime coat on where you touched hiim at and now bacteria has taken hold.. NO biggie..Use MelaFix for 7 days, that is 1 teaspooon PER 10 gal of water, so just use 1 teaspoon PER DAY for 7 days.. DO NOT use anything else!! Do not add in any salt to the water other than what you have in their..Give him a few days to repond, may take 5 to the 7 days before you see any clearing..
REMOVE CARBON from the filter..IF left in, it wil remove the MelaFix from working..IF it is in a sealed media pad, just slit the top and shake out the carbon..

actually i didnt grab him with my hands i was wearing a sweater so i wrapped the sweater around my hands and picked him up and put him back in.

that wil still take off his slime coat.. Have you used any kind of meds yet??

Originally posted by Fuzzy
I am not sure what your describing, by the term shredding?
Is it his fins, tail, scales?
How big is he?
A ten gallon tank will not house an Oscar for very long, three months tops.
Do you test your water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate?
While it is not healthy for an Oscar to fly, it does happen, and unless he was injured during the landing, and was not out of the tank for very long, there should be no long term injuries.
Do the white spots look like fuzz, or like salt crystals?

By shreading i mean like towards the tips they seem like they are disinagrating.

its his tail and upper fins

hes about 1-2 inches long

i dont test for ammonia and nitrite and all those things because i felt it would be good just doing water changes constantly

the white spots just look as if bad bad fades in the skin sort of like he got tanned in that one spot but tanned as in white

Originally posted by Barb Okla
that wil still take off his slime coat.. Have you used any kind of meds yet??

none because im not sure how to treat the issue yet. Since im farily new at this fish tank stuff, i felt i shouldnt try to treat the problem with something i might have been wrong about.

The slime coat protect the fish from outside bacteria/fungus infections, once this is removed ANY bacteria in the water, and their is, wil attack the fishs body, this includes the fins as I am sure as U rapped the fish in the sweater, you took off the slime coat their too. I recommend MelaFix as this is not a serious problem YET.. The sooner you treat him the sooner you kill out the bacteria..This has to be done ASAP..IF you dont do this soon, it may kill your Oscar.. As for your water changes, that is good. but in a 10 gal to much changed out causes problems with your cycle..2 gal every 5 days should be enough IF he is a small oscar say with in 5".. HOW big is the Oscar? Next time he jumps out, use your hands and a net, not a cloth material..

Originally posted by Barb Okla
The slime coat protect the fish from outside bacteria/fungus infections, once this is removed ANY bacteria in the water, and their is, wil attack the fishs body, this includes the fins as I am sure as U rapped the fish in the sweater, you took off the slime coat their too. I recommend MelaFix as this is not a serious problem YET.. The sooner you treat him the sooner you kill out the bacteria..This has to be done ASAP..IF you dont do this soon, it may kill your Oscar.. As for your water changes, that is good. but in a 10 gal to much changed out causes problems with your cycle..2 gal every 5 days should be enough IF he is a small oscar say with in 5".. HOW big is the Oscar? Next time he jumps out, use your hands and a net, not a cloth material..

thanks ill get that stuff today