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I just got new oscars 2 days ago and they are already acting strange. Is it normal for them to just sit at the bottom of the tank on and off? Today they seem more active...but is there anything i can do?? I love my new fish and am worried.

Welcome to FishProfiles!

I need you to answer these questions so we can understand what is happening.

First off, what size tank is it?

Do you know the pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate readings?

Is this a brand new tank or is it cycled?

Any other inhabitants? Are they acting strange?

Did you add dechlorinator?

Tank size 55gallons
i have no idea of ph ammonia nitrite or nitrate
tank is cycled....we bought it from a friend
actually....they are swimming happily now
no the water is clear...i set it up 3 days before i bought the fish
there are 2 baby albino oscars

Please read this and ask us if you have any questions. Tank is not necessarily "cycled".

http://www.fishprofiles.net/faq/begin-cycling.asp

What size are these "baby" oscars?

If you don't have test kits for what was asked above, can you please take a bag of water to the fish store, today, and ask them to test it. They will give you the numbers. Be sure to write them all down so you can bring them back. This is very important.

You may want to pick up a bottle of Stress Zyme or New and Improved Cycle. It contains live bacteria that eat ammonia and nitrite - two things that can be deadly to your fish in a newer tank.

Are you using something to remove chlorine and chloramine out of the tap water? If not, you will need something. Chlorine can go away on it's own with time and water agitation. However, chloramine, which many cities use in their water cannot. Stress Coat, Chlor-X-Change and similar removes these. Try to avoid products like amquel, ammo-lock, ammo-chips and similar products that look to remove ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.



[span class="edited"][Edited by Cory_Di 2004-07-15 12:07][/span]

you will want to get rid of one of those oscars as 55 is to small for 2. even then 1 is pushing it in a 55

3 days is not long enough, even if you bought it from a friend and used their existing filtration. I'm sure you couldn't have transported all the water and gravel too so it will still need time to 'cycle'.

Can I ask how much you know of keeping fish? Oscars are not necessarily hard to keep but they do require care and attention to 'detail' that a complete novice cannot have (through no fault of your own). They appear 'perfect' in the shop - small (possibly even tiny), full of character and keen to come to the front of the tank..... Unfortunately they grow VERY quick and become a real 'handful' - their size and temperament demands care and attention, otherwise either they or other fish and inevitably you suffer. Please either a) Return them to the LFS who should happily 'exchange' them for other, less demanding fish OR b) Reseach as much as you can on them and fishkeeping ASAP.

Hold up all you naysayers!

She is researching

Welcome to FishProfiles.com

I'm sure you're really worried and yes you probably should be, but we can help you with your concerns. Lets take things slowly though

For right now don't worry about what most have posted. You do have a future problem. But since you have a little time to learn about fishkeeping don't worry about taking them back just yet. You need to learn how this works before switching things in and out of the tank

First things first take water to fish store and ask them to test it. Nitrites, Ammonia, PH are your main 3, any others they will do for free are bonus. Write down what they tell you for readings and post here. They may try to sell you stuff. That is their job. Most of the time you don't need half the junk they try to sell you so resist.

It is a lot to learn but it is one of the most rewarding hobbies Please do click the cycle link posted at top as that is an EXCELLENT place to start.

Koi Keeper

Empty chairs at empty tables, the room silent, forlorn.

thank you so much for all your help im going this morning to have the water tested....they are laying in the bottom of the tank again i will be careful not to buy stuff i don't need. i'll keep you posted thank again.

i was reading about the nitrogen cycle on your site and i do have an established tank that is has no fish and is full it was only 20 gallons......had a small oscar in it...gave the fish away because i knew the tank was too small for him and at the time didnt have one bigger....2 days later......found out a friend had the bigger tank but i never turned off the filter or anything...was going to buy new fish for it..any suggestions

Don't move the fish yet. oscars laying on the bottom of the tank is a really bad sign. the stress could kill them till you know what is wrong. Please post back as soon as you have your water readings. Your other tank is no longer cycled because there are no fish in it. The bacteria require a steady supply of ammonia to feed on to survive. Your current tank could need some major water changes depending on what these tests say. If you do not have water Treatment stuff yet buy a bottle. It will say removes chlorine and chloramines. but should NOT say REMOVES AMMONIA, NITRITES, ETC. You have to treat water before you add it to the tank.

Please post back,

Koi

Empty chairs at empty tables, the room silent, forlorn.

i just moved my oscar into my newest pond today, it is only hours old, i put all my other pond fish in there, he is moving more in this pond then in any of the others. but he is still is much more inactive then when he was in his 10 gallon, i thought he would be happier in this one, and he is i dont know he is a little stressed so i put in lots of plants 2 jars and a rock. but after putting in those stuff he was a little more active but not enough to eat his pellets. but i know from having him in his 10 gallon that he will get over it, but just so long as u leave them alone.