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Hi. I'm fairly new to the world of cichlids, so I could use some help. I just got a 55gal tank set up this weekend and I'm having a couple problems. I bought a tiger oscar and a jack dempsey- they are both really small, maybe 2". The first problem is with the water itself. its really cloudy, which is normal for a new tank, right? The thing is that the water looks like it has too much air in it. Is that possible? If so, what can I do to fix that?

Problem #2 is with the JD. He seems really sick. He doesn't eat (i've tried small pellets and frozen bloodworms) and just sits at the bottom of the tank. When he does swim, it bounces off the bottom and often hits the side of the tank. His mouth is always open, which doesn't seem natural. I've also noticed some black spots that appear for a while then disappear, and then come back. Is it probably that he was sick when I bought him or could it be because of the water? The oscar seems perfectly healthy. If the JD is sick, should I isolate him in a smaller tank so that there isn't a chance of him getting my oscar sick?

Thanks for your help.

Last edited by tigerduh at 20-Sep-2005 12:21

Last edited by tigerduh at 20-Sep-2005 12:48

those fishes will get way to large for the 55, and both together would need a larger tank.

is this tank still cycleing?, n.e there are drops that u can add to the water to make the water more clear. (but at first it makes it more cloudyer but then it clears up)

Um, yeah, I think the tank is still cycling. Will it just take some time for it to clear up or would getting the drops be a good idea?

The JD actually died not long after I posted this. Which brings up another question- what else would you suggest for in the tank? I've talked to several different people and have gotten several different answers on what would be ok in with the oscar considering the tempermant and tank size.

um, the oscar should be moved due to size in a while, but after when it is gone, u have alot of things u can do. What do u like, S.A set ups etc.... or communitys

what size tank am I gonna need for the oscar when it is bigger? from what I understand a 55 is ok as long as there's just one. If this isn't big enough- it will probably be a little while before i need a bigger tank so i'd like to get something else that will be ok in with it for now- but what exactly that is I'm not sure.

Thanks again for your help.

Tiger, you need to let your tank complete the cycling process before adding any other fish. Oscars are high waste producers and you will probably find that you have extreme ammonia and nitrite spikes due to the amount of waste in the tank. Do you have test kits to monitor the cycle? If not I suggest you get some as they are an important part of the hobby, especially when things arent looking quite right in the tank later down the track. (hopefully not often )If you can post some test results here too that would be great.

Do not use any chemicals to clear your water. Is the cloud white? If so then what you are seeing is a bacteria bloom, which is all part of the cycling process.

Before we recommend any other fish that you could get in the future what sort of filtration do you have for the tank? 55g is the very minimum recommended for an oscar, you will find that alot of people here will recommend a 75g as a minimum.

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Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

I went out and bought a test kit like you suggested. For the most part everything seems good. Here are my results: Nitrate- 0, Nitrite- 0, Total Hardness- 300 ppm (that's the only one that is really high), Alkalinity- 80 (I just now realized that's a bit too low), ph- somewhere between 7.2 and 7.8. As for filtration- I've got an undergravel filter and a Marineland H.O.T. Magnum filter.

If you live in a city and have city water did you add amquil or anouther type of declorinator? the clorine in city water will kill your fish.

Yeah. I did.

The Jack sounds like its got a fungus. Probably gill rot. Is it trying to eat and can't or is it not trying at all? I would isolate it and treat it with Pimafix. Its best to use a little over the recommended amount if it hasn't been treated early. The rubbing against the rocks is a clear sign of internal parasite or fungus. As for the cloudyness, there are products you can get that work. Just ask someone at you LFS what to get.