Oscar Question

jo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

My Oscar looks like it's losing it's scales. It's got a white spot
just behind his head and his top fins look rough. He's in there
with only a cat fish and an algie eater.
anyone have any idea's?

Archived from group: alt>aquaria>tropical>fish>hobbist

carlrs · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 120

jo wrote:
> My Oscar looks like it's losing it's scales. It's got a white spot
> just behind his head and his top fins look rough. He's in there
> with only a cat fish and an algie eater.
> anyone have any idea's?

How old is your oscar? How large is your oscar and aquarium?
What are your water parameters; ammonia, nitrites, pH, kH?
What do you feed? If you feed feeder goldfish they could bring in
disease, I always soak my feeders for 15 minutes in a double strength
methylene blue dip. Also in feeders around aan aquarium, the oscar can
get hurt.
Assuming everything else is fine (water parameters, ect.), I would
consider treating with kanamycin sulfate or nitrofurazone.
Here is some medication information:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Medication.html

Carl
http://groups.msn.com/EverythingAquatic

jo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

Thanks for the reply Carl

My Oscar is a little over two months (just guessing).
he's in a 55 gallon aquarium, with water temps in the 70's.
the PH, and ammonia checks out okay. I feed him shrimp pellets
and blood worms. I thinking perhaps its his diet that i may need
to change. This treatment is for sick fish?

jo

On 21 Nov 2006 06:57:36 -0800, "carlrs"
wrote:

>
>jo wrote:
>> My Oscar looks like it's losing it's scales. It's got a white spot
>> just behind his head and his top fins look rough. He's in there
>> with only a cat fish and an algie eater.
>> anyone have any idea's?
>
>How old is your oscar? How large is your oscar and aquarium?
>What are your water parameters; ammonia, nitrites, pH, kH?
>What do you feed? If you feed feeder goldfish they could bring in
>disease, I always soak my feeders for 15 minutes in a double strength
>methylene blue dip. Also in feeders around aan aquarium, the oscar can
>get hurt.
>Assuming everything else is fine (water parameters, ect.), I would
>consider treating with kanamycin sulfate or nitrofurazone.
>Here is some medication information:
>http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Medication.html
>
>Carl
>http://groups.msn.com/EverythingAquatic

carlrs · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 120

jo wrote:
> Thanks for the reply Carl
>
> My Oscar is a little over two months (just guessing).
> he's in a 55 gallon aquarium, with water temps in the 70's.
> the PH, and ammonia checks out okay. I feed him shrimp pellets
> and blood worms. I thinking perhaps its his diet that i may need
> to change. This treatment is for sick fish?
>
> jo
>
> On 21 Nov 2006 06:57:36 -0800, "carlrs"
> wrote:
>
> >
> >jo wrote:
> >> My Oscar looks like it's losing it's scales. It's got a white spot
> >> just behind his head and his top fins look rough. He's in there
> >> with only a cat fish and an algie eater.
> >> anyone have any idea's?
> >
> >How old is your oscar? How large is your oscar and aquarium?
> >What are your water parameters; ammonia, nitrites, pH, kH?
> >What do you feed? If you feed feeder goldfish they could bring in
> >disease, I always soak my feeders for 15 minutes in a double strength
> >methylene blue dip. Also in feeders around aan aquarium, the oscar can
> >get hurt.
> >Assuming everything else is fine (water parameters, ect.), I would
> >consider treating with kanamycin sulfate or nitrofurazone.
> >Here is some medication information:
> >http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Medication.html
> >
> >Carl
> >http://groups.msn.com/EverythingAquatic

Yes this treatment is for sick fish (bacterial).
Diet can affect fish health, I would broaden your Oscar's diet to
include a pellet food such as Sanyu or Hikari, both are excellent
foods.Blood worms are an excellent source of protein, but is not a
complete diet, especially for oscars (which need some vegetable matter
in their diet; usually provided in the gut of fish they consume).
Shrimp pellets are also poor complete diets and are not made up of the
best amino acids. Whole fish meal is a better source of amino acids.
This all said, I would treeat your fish with either Kanacyn or
nitrofurazone (pimafix for a natural remedy, but not as strong).
Also you did not mention your kH, the calcium level in your aquarium is
very important to fish health and fish osmodic processes.

Here is an article about fish nutrition:
http://americanaquariumproducts.com/Quality_Fish_Food.html
Basic information including kH:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Information.html

Carl