Sick Oscar

Hi Prof

I have a Albino/Lutino Oscar. He/she is acting very weird. I have a Parrot Cichlid, Frontosa, High fin Pleco, Lutino Oscar and a Tiger Oscar. They are in a 3 foot tank and i know it is too small. So my problem is, this morning when i was feeding the fish the tiger oscar and parrot cichlid were charging the lutino oscar as they always do, the lutino oscar then flipped over and rose to the top. I took him out and put him in a bucket of water and he was breathing but not moving during the course of the day he started swimming and i put a home bred guppy in the bucket. He loves the chase. But as soon as i put it in the bucket he froze and hasn't moved since. Is it from the tank being to small which is causing to much stress on the fish? Or could it be something else that is making the fish do this?

Thanks
Steve

 

Hi Steve,

Large cichlids are the worst when it comes to territories and space is really an issue unfortunately. From what you describe, your poor albino Oscar has become completely freaked out by all the competition and hammering. He obviously needs some space of his own and some TLC. I do not think that he has suffered permanent harm, but I would not add him back into the tank as he may then just freak out completely, and pack up and die. I would recommend that you keep him separate and if you do not have a suitable tank return him to your LFS or advertise him to someone on the forum, maybe someone can help.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Thank you Prof. I really dont wont to give him away so i am just going to bite the bullet and buy another large tank. Another question. I have a 8footer in the making (buying stuff every month) could i put him in that tank with the other fish went it is up and running or should i still keep him in his own tank? If i have to keep him alone i will then get him his own 6foot.

Thanks again
Steve

 

you should be able to keep him it the 8footer with the other just add them all at the same time so that they can all find there territory together... that is how I did it in my tank and I had no problems at all.

 

Yes, Wito,

I think that Gareth's advice is also what I would suggest that you should do.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Thanks Prof and Gareth will do that.