Kingy Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Hi everyone and anyone, I am new to the fish game, and have recently got myself a small (approx 3-4 inches) Oscar. Got one of these for all the same reasons as everyone else, namely they are supposed to be relatively easy to care for and quite playful fish. Our little guy hides from us at every opportunity. We quite often come into the room where his tank is to find him swimming about, only to hide behind his driftwood and effectively 'play dead' as soon as he is aware of us. And when i say play dead, he lies against the gravel on the bottom of the tank and leans against his driftwood. I dont think he is sick (as we catch him swimming around), however he plays dead to the extent that unless his food sinks (or is pushed by the incoming filter water) down near him. Does anyone have any ideas? We have only had him about 5 days, and have been told he could be still adjusting to his new environment, however everyone (pet / aquarium shops) have told us they generally come to the glass (rather than hide) anytime someone is around because they want food. In fact, this is how he acted at the pet shop before we bought him. I would be grateful for any ideas or advice on this. Also, i have been getting contradicting advice on water conditions. According to some internet sites his pH should be between 6.5 and 7.5, however a guy at one of the aquarium shops, who kept Oscars for a number of years, said more like 8.0 pH. Also, the hardness of the water? I have been told about 400ppm? Our tempertaure is currently set to 26 degrees, is this about right? Any additional advice would be greatly appreciated, we are hoping our little Oscar can take as much pleasure from us as we hope to from him, if he ever comes out of hiding! Many thanks in advance, Kingy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D6C1 Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 Welcome to the forum!! Any tank mates? He is ok. Give him time to adjust. Some americans can be quite sulky and take a while to adapt to new environments... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prosavage Posted April 21, 2009 Share Posted April 21, 2009 He just needs some time to get used to his new environment You can try to give some food that he'll go for sure, like frozen bloodworm, as soon as he associates you with food, he'll come out and play for sure when you're around Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teenbies Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Oscars are BIG sooks, LOL!!! He'll be right after a while!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingy Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 He is in the tank on his own, as i am wary about the size. it is only a 7 gallon tank, which i was originally told by the pet shop would be fine for 6 months. i have since worked out this is rubbish, so am looking to get him a suitable home as soon as possible. then i am told introducing some other fish (tetras?) might bring him out a bit more. any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fry_2_buy Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 Tetras? lol They'd bring him out as fast as a mouthful of food sinking down the tank would. Your oscar is perfectly fine and does not need anything to become less shy. Fish will adapt and get use to their owner when they are good and ready. Tetras on the other hand will only be good until they end up in your oscar's mouth, which I'm 100% sure will happen when his/her mouth is big enough (if it isn't already). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingy Posted April 22, 2009 Author Share Posted April 22, 2009 The problem is i cant get any fish food sinking down to him! and i am happy for him to feast on the tetras, provided they bring him out to associate first! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fry_2_buy Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 That may not be wise though anyway, feeding any source of live food can lead and expose the fish to potentially fatal diseases, which being new to the hobby isn't something you want to go through. Trust me when I say time and patience is the best remedy. Fish keeping is all based around patience if the keeper wishes to have the best success within the hobby. If you really wish to feed your fish something that will bring him out perhaps try some live or frozen bloodworms, they are usually quality controlled and free from "bad stuff" and I guarantee will spark a new personality in the oscar. (remember not to overfeed though). Cheers, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leone Posted April 22, 2009 Share Posted April 22, 2009 hate to be a pain in the bum.. but how long have you had the tank up and running? Is it properly cycled? I know you seem to have the PH under control, but what about the amonia, nitrites and nitrates? Can you do readings of those and let us know.. It might just be the water quality that is the problem.. also the 7 gallon tank??? wow - he will need at least a 50gallon tank and that is only for the 1st 6 months - by the time he is fully grown he will be happy in a 100g tank. Honestly, you really do need to make sure that your water conditions are right 1st - let us know how you go. Everyone in here will be more than happy to help out. good luck Leone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott_to4 Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 yep definately agree th etank is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy too small. needs minimum a 4ft tank to himself or maybe a 4x18x18 as a minimu if you want him to have some suitable tankmates. You will also need some good filtration and keep on top of your maintenance cause these guys are damn messy feeders. They eat heaps and heaps of food means heaps of poo. believe me i know i had one grow to 13 inches!! dont let this turn you off them though they are an awesome fish, very smart, and have big personality. Can teach them tricks too if you want to and have good patience. Enjoy him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingy Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 i havent got anything to test the amonnia levels yet, as i said, the petshop i got everything from is useless. im looking at getting all of that sorted on the weekend. the tank has been running for 2 weeks now, a week before he went in there. any advice when we get the new, bigger tank in terms of what to put in the bottom (gravel? someone hastold me coral is good?) as substrate and in terms of plants / rocks / caves / etc. and should we set it up and leave the tank (water / heater / filter running) a certain amount of time before putting him in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crick13 Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 hi , great choice for a first fish, they have awsome personality. and yes ive found they can be very sulky if things arent the way they like it. when i first got mine it went into a community 2foot and he was only 2 .5 inches long and very soon fish started dissapearing. so i got him his own tank and some friends of simmilar size and aggression levels. i found he hated being alone. i feed him hikari sinking pellets and bloodworms. he goes mental every time he sees me going to the fridge . he thinks hes getting a feed . hes now ten inches long and a gentle giant unless a fish will fit in his mouth , then its history. he now shares a six by 2 by 2 tank with another oscar , 1 jackdempsy ,1 green terror, 1 texas, 1 big jag with serious attitude problem, 2 large trimacs and 1 red devil. .... ive found american cichlids to be very interactive with there owners and have very individual personalities. and yes ph can be a problem if you over feed them and dont do enough water changes. i do 20% every week and keep feeding to a minimum and ive ive added a small amound of coral to help ph a bit closer to nuetral but i wouldnt use coral sand because if he likes to put it in his mouth it might irritate his gills and hurt him. hope u enjoy your new friend , iam sure he will come out of his shell in time . and i have found if the tank is down lower to the ground they tend to be a bit timmid. anyway good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leone Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 i havent got anything to test the amonnia levels yet, as i said, the petshop i got everything from is useless. im looking at getting all of that sorted on the weekend. the tank has been running for 2 weeks now, a week before he went in there. any advice when we get the new, bigger tank in terms of what to put in the bottom (gravel? someone hastold me coral is good?) as substrate and in terms of plants / rocks / caves / etc. and should we set it up and leave the tank (water / heater / filter running) a certain amount of time before putting him in? When you get the new tank set up, put some of the filter media from your small tank into the filter of the big thank. Also, when you do put him in, put the water from your old tank in it.. If your tank has only been up and running a few weeks, and the oscar is the 1st fish you have put in it, I suggest you do 50% water changes every other day, as the tank would not of cycled yet and there is a fair chance that it has amonia and/or nitrites. This is probably why he is lethargic.. once your water is right he will be a bursting bubble of fun. good luck btw, does he/she have a name? My oscar is Rex - he lives in a 6 x 2 x 2 community tank with some silver dollars, clown loaches and angel fish. He parades up and down the front of the tank when ever anyone (especially me) is in the room.. such good fun. He eats out of my hands, and if I put my whole hand into the tank, he will come up to it and I can pat him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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