Big mystery need some people to help me figure out this one.

Thanks Singularity NH3 has been checked and it is all good same with the PH levels and Nitrate levels. Did two water changes the past 2 days to make 100% sure that it is not the water, the temperature is also fine no electric current in the water. If it was parasites how would they get into the tank as I only have a single fish in there, also I have inspected him from head to tail a dozen times and I cannot see anything that is out of place. If it is a parasite which type could it be?

Okay so we have established so far that its not:

PH (checking it every 4 hours to make sure)
NH3 (checking it every 4 hours to make sure)
Nitrates (checking it every 4 hours to make sure)
Electrical current (not present)
Not the heater (would have bothered him from the get go and not just now)
Decorations, hiding places? (Highly doubt that he is a 15cm predatory fish not a neon tetra, he showed the same behavior with and without them.)

What it might be:

Some sort of parasite (But what?)
Something in the water I cannot pick up (But what?)
Fish seizures (Maybe a possibility since fish do have a central nerves system)

 

This sounds a bit odd to be a water perameter thing. Ammonia maybe, but as you say, this is tested fine.

Charl, is your oscar tame enough that he woul let you touch him and physically look into his gills?

This sounds more like an internal parasite that could be inside him. Just because he's an only fish, doesn't mean he can't get them. If you feeding him anything "natural" (earthworms) or raw meat that is actually intended for human consumption, there is a good chance he could have contracted some type of parasite that way.

Is he still eating as eagerly as before?
Is his poo still the same?

You may need to find yourself a vet who does fish.

 

He looked a bit odd last night thought he would not make it through the night so I stayed up till 1 watching him. He seems fine now despite the massive hole in his head, busy feeding him now eats everything you drop in the tank like always and the poo is pretty much the same.

I have done some reading up on these attacks and it seems I am not the only one who's fish acts like this: http://www.oscarfishlover.com/oscar-fish-advice-forum/13-the-oscar-fish/113748-alll-over-again- And from what I have read online its possible for fish to get seizures, that would explains the going nuts part then acting like nothing has ever happened.

 

hi boet, i've also been trying to read up on this.. and you are correct, its very common in cichlids especially.. often its mating behavior displays to attract a female, but often also, the fish tend to die within a few days..

and it doesnt seem to be a problem with water, as sometimes there are a few fish in the tank and it only happens to one of them.. this would suggest an illness of some sort, especially if the most common causes, i.e. electrical shock, poor water, and outside chemicals like soap or deodorant or aerosols have been ruled out.

 

Okay so I am going to start experimenting, firstly I am going to drop the temperature from 27 to 24 and see what happens. I have already done a 50% water change again but this time I did not add any water softener I am figuring it might be the sudden cause of the irritation for him. I have also started to aerate the water see if that maybe helps. I have also put the drift wood back to see what happens will see if I can go pick up a couple of cheap plastic plants.

 

larch have you switched / changed the type of dechlorinator that you usually use?

 

Nope still the very same bottle I have used since the start its a brand called: "Safe Seachem" I also dont see an expiry date on this thing...

 

thats one more item scratched from the list.....

i've read on one of the other threads, cant remember which one, zoom, i think, mentioned that the PH of the water in the gauteng area was or is fluctuating quite drastically the last while.. but you say your PH tests are steady... so it cant be that then...

 

Yep... it is in the GP area. But I think it is more localized in the JHB area... particularil the roodepoort and western areas. Not sure about other areas.

 

Are you ageing the water for water changes at all ?

 

You are going to either laugh at me or shake your head, but my last water change I took strait out of the tap and here is the strange thing since this morning he has been more active and "alive" then when I used my aged water so seriously confused about what is going on here.

Anyway I chucked out all of my aged water and started over again no chemicals just air stones. Also washing my hands with none toxic hand wash. On another note the Oscar is healing like a mofo it is really amazing how fast he is healing up:

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I also looked around for fake plants and O-M-G holy mother of #$$%^&*. It is expensive the plastic plants look terrible even a fish could tell that they were fake. So I settled for the silk ones and the look as real as you can get at R80 a plant...I have no budget anymore....

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Also yes built a "night light" for my fish to see if it is going to help:

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And it gives enough light for me to do my thing too.

 

This is good to hear. Hope everything goes better now.

 

Well, he just had another one of those attacks and has gone all over the place lucky he did not hit anything that would hurt him he does however hit the sides of the tank really hard and with some force.....

Thanks to Ansu and Kel-Sol for the contacts at onderstepoort I will mail them and ask for advice but unfortunately I have not the financial and endless resources to spend on him. Or take him there to get checked out.

 

Larch Hi..hope that your oscar is doing better...Just so that you know i have seen the behavior before in discus...im sure the Prof will correct me with the correct names etc..A friend of mine Gavin ,also a friend of the Prof, showed me a discus that displayed the same symptoms.The fish would be chillaxing happily then all hell breaks loose the fish bolting all over the tank.Gavin then told me that depending on where the fish originated from and probably from the east...the breeders over there feed loads of live tubifex worms to the live stock,the locals pitching up everyday with buckets of the live stuff and selling it to the breeders.If you google tubifex habitat you will check that they are founf in some really dodgy places filtering stuff from the silt they live in..inturn passing and viral and bacterial infections on to the fish,yes yes i know im going to get we feed our fish freeze dried tubifex..the freeze dry method kills off the bad crap...Gavin told me the fish was suffering with a worm in the brain and is not curable and is a result of being fed the live tubifex...look im not saying your fish has this so called "brain worm" im just telling you what i have been shown by "Prof back me up" one of the top discus breeders in the country..Gavin Mccann..Anyway once agian hope your Oscar is getting better ....regards Shaun

 

Thanks Shaun. Well I am leaning towards what you are saying Shaun as I have most likely eliminated every possibility I can think of. And at some point I will have to make a choice because he is becoming a danger to himself and everything inside the tank....

 

Bro by all means text me or call me on 0716306292 and i will gladly give you Gavins number so you can verify what i have told you...its really bad i know but at some stage you have to do whats good for the fish as bolting around like that you can see his not even....you cant even call it stressing its "phsyco"...you actually sit there thinking oh my word how or what must this poor dude have going on to make him so crazy...sad thing is your fish looks like a beaut...sorry Bro...like i said i hope its not but if this helps ay all im glad..

 

It is fine dude thanks I will just make a post in the Prof section just to get a final verdict on whats going on here. I have gotten attached to the guy, but I also cant let him suffer like this its terrible watching him doing this...

 

Fish euthanasia ..... that will be hot topic

not making light of your situation there larch, best of luck

 

Hi Larch

This could be fish lice, take the lessen below;


Fish Lice are not all that common. However, they are nasty when they do occur. They are often left unnoticed, which can be quite detrimental to the fishes health, they can be mistaken for algae or dirt. It reaches up to 5 mm in diameter. (0.2 inch) .
The free swimming parasite is usually brought in on new fish or plants. They will multiply and attach to the fish, burrowing in slightly so they can feed off the fish. The feed by using a straw-like structure into the fish, injecting digestive enzymes (similar to a spider!) and then sucking out the liquefied flesh. This causes great irritation to the fish, and may cause dangerous bacterial infections.
The harm comes from major tissue damage (that can cause scarring) or as a secondary infection. The fish also become very stressed, and become quite susceptible to other parasites such as white spot.
Symptoms:
Being the largest fish parasite, it is quite obvious to the naked eye (if you're looking for them). They often reside in protected areas, such as behind the fins or near eyes and gills. The louse will appear clear and somewhat transparent and may be seen moving around. There may also be red markings, ulcers or inflamed areas where the lice have previously been.
The fish will scratch against aquarium objects and flash in an effort to remove the parasites.
As the fish becomes more stressed it may exhibit clamped fins and appear restless.
Cure:
The traditional method of removing fish lice was by holding the fish in a damp cloth, using tweezers to remove any lice viewable. This is not always preferable, so medications that treat whole tank have been developed. With the first mentioned method, it is advisable to treat the whole tank with medication as well to kill any free swimming parasites. Organophosphates are often suggested as a excellent cure. Removing the lice with tweezes does offer some temporary relief, however. It is not essential, so it's up to you. After treating with the medication, treat with a mild antibiotic to ensure secondary infections will not occur. And make sure water parameters are optimal!



Remember, water quality is always extremely important- so always check that first as it is often the cause of disease in aquarium fish. When treating sick fish, try to put the least amount of stress on them as possible, as stress will hinder the heeling process. Another thing is to remember is that generally, a healthy fish is a happy fish.

 

Keshen Singh thanks for the advice, but I doubt it is lice, reason being he does not flash or scratch himself against anything he eats normally and acts normally too till he has these wild attacks were he just goes nuts.