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I have an Oscar and it looks like hehas fin rot because he had a hole in his fin and now it just completely split. So his top fin that used to be one, is now two, completely split apart. He's also got a very tiny hole in his back tail fin. My local fish store said it might be parasites so I treated him with Parasite Clear, Melafix, and Primafix. It didn't get better but only worse which is why is split. What else can I do and what is it?

-Adam

Hi and welcome to FP. Fin rot is in fact a bacterial infection caused by such things as poor nutrition, poor water quality and fin nipping.
So in order for your problem to be better diagnosed could you please answer a few questions.What size tank is it? Is it fully cycled? What are your water parameters?(Please don't just say there fine) Any other tank mates? What is your feed and cleaning routine? Also how long as he been this way?

Last edited by Cichlid Keeper at 22-Jun-2005 15:35

parasites? I don't know how they came to that conclusion, did you tell them anything you haven't told us?

Either way, the melafix and pimafix should have helped slow or kill anything that was causing the damage.


Bacterial infections are caused by bacteria, but they are made worse by the things that Cichlid Keeper mentioned. Unfortunately, once you get to the point of full on physical damage, you have to reduce the amount of bacteria present in the wound for healing to begin, wich will probably mean a different drug.

There is no point doing this if you don't make sure all the other stuff in the tank is OK though, otherwise it will just happen again, or it won't fully heal, or you could strike it lucky and it will heal.

you have a better chance of that healing happening if you make sure your tank and water is in tip top shape though


For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

basketballer is my friend i take care of his tank when hes away like he is now

His parameters i will tell you tonight, but his tank size is 10 gallons, fully cycled been set up for about 3 months, feeds once a day. He use to feed live food but scince this incident he stopped. Now he feeds flakes and a frozen mixture of veggies,blood worms, and brine shrimp.

cleaning? Im so sorry i have no idea, i think about once evry two weeks

YOUR PROBLEM IS THE 10G TANK YOUR OSCAR CAN NOT BE HAPPY INA 10 HE WILL GET FAR TO BIG UPGRADE OR GETRID (BACK TO LFS)

Oh dear, i do tend to agree. no two ways about it that 10 gal tank is not suitable for a fish as big and as messy as an oscar

I know its a lot of pressure to put on you as you are just babysitting the tank, but if you can manage a 10% change every day, it will help a bit.

Also, be sure not to overfeed and DO NOT turn the filter off at night (just in case, some people do that, but its very bad)



For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

well i heard that oscars are messy eaters and when they eat some of the food gets through their gills and eventually gets to the bottom of the tank and creats BACTERIA!....are you feeding him live foods like small fish...what size is he...try a water change....

20 GALLON LONG CURRENTLY EMPTY ~~~~ 10 GALLON W/ STRIPPED CONVICT

Very very small oscar
he was planning on moving up within the next three weeks he already knew that

But hes um on deaths door.

I dont know

Jess

A bigger tank is needed for an Oscar & in 10 gal. i wouldn't keep a very small one neighter.


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