CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

I hope you can help me with my sick oscar.
Two of my juvenile oscars have died in the past two months, and I don't know what disease killed them. But I think they're the same illnesses because the symptoms were very similar.
I would notice that they were very healthy about 2 to 4 hours before they started to settle peacefully at the bottom of the tank. Their fins would fold, not the usual healthy spreading of the fins. Their breathing would become fast and shallow, it's as if they're gasping for air, and they can't close their mouth tightly shut. Their mouth would open then close but not tightly closed, like the other healthy oscars. The bigger oscar (3 inches long) died about 4 days later, the smaller oscar (1 1/2 inch long) died the next day. I scooped up the dead body of the bigger oscar from the tank and I touched it, and it was covered with a very slimy substance, possibly mucous.
Now, my other oscar (3inches long) is showing the same symptoms. I noticed this last night. Just 3 hours before it was healthy as an ox. I'm afraid this oscar will die if I won't give it some medication. Problem is, I don't know what sickness this is. I'm sure it's not ich, it's not fungus, it's not fin/tail rot, because physically it looks very healthy. It's behavior and breathing is abnormal. It would fold its fins. Its movements are very slow, just like when an oscar is full. Could over feeding have done this? I fed them first at around 11am, fed them again at 4pm. I give them prawn feeds, a cichlid breeder recommended this to me. He says fish grow bigger when fed with this, and the pet shop owner agrees w/ him. I've been feeding them w/ this since I began this hobby about 2 months now. I wonder if these are cases of indigestion. They're (the one's who died) stomachs look full, eventhough they haven't eaten for days.
Please help me out in any way you can. I don't want to lose a 3rd oscar; I love them too much.

Hi,

Sorry, couldn't reply sooner. I really hope your oscar is doing better. Unfortunately I really can't say for sure what is wrong, truth is I have not had many diseases to fight,been very lucky. I think though that there are several things you should do. Increase oxygen in your water. Check your temperature, it may be too high. If the temperature is too high your oscars may become slow and go to the bottom. Check your water quality. And YES change the diet. You really don't have to "Try" to make oscars grow big, they will no matter what you feed them, that's the 'definition' of "oscar". What are prawns? some kind of crustaceans right? but not shrimp i think. Try changing to regular shrimp or maybe even pellets, but I don't recommend pellets too much. It wouldn't hurt to put some medicine tablets in there, perhaps some anti-parasitic medicine and maybe even some to fight bacteria. When you don't know exactly what's the cause it's best to cover all the variables. So check temperature, water quality, lighting -keep them out of direct light, vary diet, make sure you've treated your water against chlorine. if you see the fish barely breathing and not moving you can grab him and try holding his mouth open and move him through the water. This will force water through the gills and let him take in some oxygen, this may help you bring em back if its on the verge of fishy heaven. Well I wish you luck, I've had 2 oscars die on me also diff causes, its always sad, truth is the worst part is seeing them suffer, just seeing them dead is not as bad as watching them go slowly. O yea, now that you mentioned 'slime"? If you noticed white or grey patches of slime on the fish or if you notice a dust of gold or yellow dots, try using Anti-slime, velvet or Protozin. Let me know how it goes. You can email me at webmaster@cichlidfish.com

Joe
Cichlidfish.com

You might want to have the ammonia level tested in your .Fish that seem healthy can suffer and die very quickly due to a high ammonia level in the water.

High Gary,

Thanks for helping folks out here! I wonder how I could make it easier for folks to remember to check the bulletin again, not sure if bogeyman's been back to read the responses.

Joe,
Cichlidfish.com

I recently purchased three Oscars,one Black and two Albino Oscars. One of the Albino's started to do exactly what you describe is happening to yours. I ended up changing 40% of the water with pure drinking water and also adding Stress Zyme to condition the water. I think the trick that helped me was the water change. You don't have to use drinking water, you can always treat tap water just make sure the temperture is the same as in your tank. I also noticed that my fish prefer 80 degree water. When I had the water above 80 they were always at the bottom of the tank and were'nt as active. Something that really seems to get them active is feeding them live food as a treat. Well, I hope you have Luck..Richard

Hi Richard,

Thanks for posting, good suggestion with live food. About the 80F mark you say your fish like I think you're right. Oscars in my opinion should be kept at about 79-80F. You will find they will do fine at higher temperature but if the increase is gradual. Breeders try to trigger spawning by raising the temperature to about 86F over couple days. (And then adding some 'cool' showers)

Joe
cichlidfish.com