oscar color

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oscar color

Postby casper1 on Sat Jan 13, 2007 10:25 pm

can any one explain why my albino oscar is turning orange. and he also has a bacterial problem. Please HHEEEEEEEEEELLLPPPPPP
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Re: oscar color

Postby DanRad on Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:24 am

Hi, Casper, and welcome to the forum!  I moved your post to the Oscar section, where it's more likely to get responses.  Most "albino" Oscars aren't true albinos, they're just selectively bred to the lighter color, and most end up having a lot of orange in them.  I doubt that you have a real problem on that score.  Could you tell us why you think you have a bacterial problem?  What are the symptoms?  In order for us to give you better help, could you also give us some additional information?

What size is your Oscar?  What size tank is he in?  Do you have a water test kit?  If so, please tell us the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate readings in your tank.  If not, I really recommend getting one.  We'll look for your return post.  Good luck!
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Re: oscar color

Postby casper1 on Sun Jan 14, 2007 3:10 pm

Alright about a week after we bought him I noticed that he was starting to develop holes in his face and his fins were starting to deteriorate mainly his back fin and I don't mean his tail. As far as a test kit this is my first time owning an oscar we always bought goldfish that lived forever. Didn't know that they were so tempermental with water conditions until I found this site. But I will be sure to get a test kit. But can u help now before the test kit.
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Re: oscar color

Postby DanRad on Sun Jan 14, 2007 10:47 pm

OK, what you're describing in addition to the fin rot is Hole-in-the-Head disease, or HITH, sometimes called other things, like lateral line erosion.  This is a serious condition, usually brought about by poor water conditions, though also involving a protozoal parisite called hexamita.  Oscars and quite a few other fish are susceptible. 

The first and most urgent thing to do is get the water situation under control.  It would help a lot if we knew what size your Oscar is and the size of the tank you're keeping him in, but the immediate action would be pretty much the same in any event.  First thing is to change out about 50% of the water.  Replace using water within a degree or two of the current tank water.  Use de-chlorinator if you don't have aged water on hand.  Just follow the instructions on the bottle.  Do this every couple of days for about a week; then you can ease off on the frequency, depending on the tank size.  Cut back on the amount you're feeding.  No more than he'll eat in about 2-4 minutes.  Decaying food is the major source of most water problems.  There are some medications you can try if the symptoms are severe.  Please see the thread below:

http://oscarsfishtank.com/discuss/index ... pic=2845.0

I'd be surprised if the talrot doesn't clear up by itself once your water issues are taken care of, but that's fairly easily dealt with.  Look in our Disease & Treatment FAQ's for the Progressive Salt Treatment.  I've also used Melafix for this on occasion, but the water issue is paramount.  Is this tank a new setup, or has it been running for awhile?
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Re: oscar color

Postby casper1 on Wed Jan 17, 2007 6:26 pm

Alright he is about 3" long and we have him in a tank thats 15 gallons
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Re: oscar color

Postby DanRad on Wed Jan 17, 2007 7:19 pm

OK, one of the problems you have -- that will only get worse by the day -- is that your Oscar is in way too small a tank.  He should be growing at close to an inch a month, and with the mass he has, and will be gaining, there is almost no way to keep the water in that tank in habitable condition.  For now, increase those water changes to about 70% twice a week, and start looking for a bigger tank -- say in the 55 to 75 gallon range.  You can sometimes pick up a used one fairly cheaply -- look through your penny-saver papers, and check things like Craig's lists.  This is important, and shouldn't be put off for very long.  Once you get the new tank, be sure and check our Aquaria FAQ's for "cycling" info.  Good luck!
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