CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

My tank is too dirty. I perform a weekly 50 percent water change, but my green terror and especially the oscar are such messy eaters. This has caused a proliferation of roundworms in the gravel bed. I have a pleco, but he doesn't really help that much at getting all the small food particles. I've been considering putting snails in the tank. Maybe just buying 3 or 4 of the green apple snails or whatever they're called that you see in pet stores. Would this be a good idea? I hope that the oscar doesn't just kill them. And if they breed, I'm guessing that they'll never reach astronomical numbers because the oscar will be glad to eat any extra small ones. Is this true? Or would I end up with either no snails or a bajillion?

Hi Jeff,

How about getting rid of all your gravel? I never had a problem with worms and believe me my tanks can get VERY dirty, but there's no gravel, nothing in it except slab of slate.

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Joe
www.cichlidfish.com

That's probably a good idea, but it sounds like the tank would be so vacant. Could I see a couple pics of what your tank looks like?

You sure are right about that it does look vacant. You can see a lot of pictures at www.cichlidfish.com/oscars/images/index.shtml or here's one pic,





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Joe
www.cichlidfish.com

Is that a green back drop or is that your water Joe?

It's just a poster thing taped to the back of the tank.

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Joe
www.cichlidfish.com

I put the background poster things inside the tank. I think they look so much more vibrant! 10 times better color in the tank. I tried to tape one on the back, but you could hardly see it, so a friend suggested I get it wet and squigie it on. I looked ok for a whole hour, but then it started to dry and seperate. So next tank cleaning I stuck it inside. When I eventually get these pics developed I'll show you the difference between the first pic and the new ones. I took some good ones of my little tank too.


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Jen

Hi what size tank do u have? How many fish ? What sizefish? What type of filters do u have on it. 50 % of the water is not good for the fish it stesses them out i do 20% every 1 1/2 to 2 weeks. Also do u over feed them?

You might need a magnum 350 pro sytem for your problem.also try to minimize the feedings or what you feed the plecos or the snails will not eat the junk just algae actually from my experien of vonutarily
working at my old loca fish shop no body knows that thses fish just eat algae.If you
do not get a big power filter like an aquaclear 500 or a emperor 400 soon thed tank will just dirty and you will have to lower the water changes and increase the addition of a biological bacteria chemical to help clear and get rid of that mess.

Hi, well for certain fish, yea 50% water changes or so can stress them out, but trust me NOT with Oscars As long as you don't change the Temperature of the water too much the oscars will be VERY happy with big water changes and will not get stressed out, but again I can't vouch for other more sensitive fish. As far as OSCAR FILTRATION SYSTEMS check out this Section on the WEBSITE www.cichlidfish.com/oscars/OscarTanksetup.shtml

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Joe
www.cichlidfish.com

instead of putting it on the inside, put the poster thingy on the front of your tank! ;}