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I just bought a new tank (190ltrs) for my darling oscar, Mr Carruthers. I filled it from his old 50 ltr tank and topped it up from the tap. I moved his filter and then him and his tank mate a large red sailfin plec.
Rather than taking to his new spacious surroundings like 'erhum' a fish to water he is sulking, sitting on the bottom, although he seems able to swim up occasionally just rarely does. He sustained a small scrape whilst netting but it isn't in any way infected and i keep the water salted so it should heal up ok (hes got them before from enthusiastic contact with the rockery).
The plec is fine and the water parameters are all perfect. He seems to be losing scales down one side and when he is stressed the outline to his eyes goes all wavy, and it has done again. He isn't respiring too fast or to deeply but isn't eating at all and i have tried live foods. Could he just be acclimatising (it has only been 24 hours since he went in). Could he be freaked out by the deeper tank or the lack of much decoration (no substrate as yet only a cave for the plec and some bogwood)? Coudl the plec be giving him a hard time (someone told me it was plec mating season)?
I am worried, any suggestions or comments appreciated.
he is about 10'' long and red.
thanks.

The 190 ltrs tank you bought is a fifty gallon right? And you moved him from a 50 liter tank, which would have been about 10 gallon right? He is ten inches and how big is the pleco?

plec is about the same
sorry the old tank was 71 litres. parameters were still fine in that one through a very big filter and regular water changes.

my oscar did the same, but that was only because he was moved like urs. the tank u have is still small for an oscar if the gallons=50.

so you think he'll perk up soon. but in a few year need a bigger home? like maybe a 6'x2'x2' minimum...... eugh i'll get saving then???!!

Have you been monitoring your tank parameters? You might find he is 'depressed' due to a lack of oxygen induced by increased ammonia levels. Monitor your tank parameters carefully over the next couple of weeks, and i'd be heavily airating the water to make breathing easier incase there is an ammonia spike.

I'll try that althought ammonia isnt a problem at the moment and he is using the same filter as he was before and much of the same water. I didn't move his airstone over though so that coudl be it.

he seems to be much im proved after i put in some serious airstones and treated with blackwater.

Oscars hate being moved.... He's just sulking..

Also, the 50 gal might be ok for just one oscar, with a very good canister filter, and careful attention to nitrate testing.. But the pleco you should find another home for..

Also, any tankmate with an almost full grown oscar in a 50 gal needs a couple safe places in the tank where oscar cannot go..

Hope this helps !

Last edited by DaFishMan at 19-Apr-2005 21:16

The Amazon Nut...

Oscars can and will sulk for ages when disturbed/moved, He will come around, do not worry about the not eating as this can be part of a sulk and they can go for days without food.

50 gallons(us) is tight for 1 oscar but with good filter you could get away with it

thanks guys. fed him fresh rive shrimp and he forgot he was sulking chasing the all down. He's got a bit of growing to do and allthe parameters seem fine. the tank is heavily filtered and i hoover all the feces out pretty  to so i think he'll be ok.

yea he is just sulking.. we get oscars all the time at work and they sulk once they get in the tank they pirk up in a couple of days... but if he is eating that is good just watch your water chem..