Greetings

[jlennon]

Hello there! I am new to this whole fish community but my parents have always had like 10 tanks around while growing up so i should say this is the first time i have done it on my own. I have two tanks one is with feeders and two plecos and i have a 5 inch Oscar named Ollie. The oscar i got from a pets store where the animals were rather abused. The new owners do not know a lot of the field and sold me the oscar for $20. If i had to guess i would say she is about 2 years old. I have had her for about three months now and have gone though a couple tank mates and plenty of feeders. She now has a 30 gallon tank to herself that i keep well maintaned. But in the past two days my oscar has been acting really weird. Just last night she tried to jump out of her tank but i do have a rather heavey hood so she just bounced off. After three of four times of doing this she put a nice gash in her head and tore her side up pretty bad. I also noticed that she has become really sensitive to light. Since she beat herself up she hasn't eaten which i am not to worried about because i know oscars can go for a while without eating. So how sensitive are fish to a schedule? and is a 30 gallon tank big enough for my Ollie fish?

[cocoa_pleco]

your tank may be good enough. One oscar can live in a 33, but the best is a 55g. Fish can go for about 1 month without food. For the injuries, use melafix and pimafix, and he should be fine.


welcome

[jlennon]

Thank you for the reply. I will try the meds in the next day or so. I have noticed from the fights she has gotten into with tankmates that she heals really quick. She has just got me a little worried this time. I actually have a 55 gallon tank just not ready for her. I have a small apt and will be moving soon. The 30 gallon will soon be home for my one pleco at least. He has grown about two inches in the two and half months i have had him. Thanx again.

[Abbeys_Mom]

Welcome to the forum :)

[cocoa_pleco]

Is the oscar bleeding at all?? If so, its serious. But most fish that get injured without bleeding are fine. Ive seen a electric blue with a HUGE gash in its left side of its face, and you could see its nerves but it was fine

[jlennon]

Nope she is not bleeding. I came down with the Flu yesterday and then sat up all night watching my oscar. I went to bed at 2am so i could have some sleep before i hit work at 8am. She did not show any signs of blood but she does have a huge gash on her dome. I did put some feeders in with her to may be cheer her up but it seemed only to make her mad. now she is pouting in her tank. It is really amazing how much attitude she has. How can you not fall in love with a fish who acts like a puppy. I just want my Ollie to get better. Thanx again.

[jlennon]

Thanx for the warm and quick welcome.

[Lady Hobbs]

Welcome to AC.

[jeffs99dime]

welcome to a.c.thumbs2:

[cocoa_pleco]

well, at least theres no bleeding. Are you sure its not hole-in-the-head hes got?

[jlennon]

My oscar was fine untill she tried to jump out of the tank. Today is the first time i heard of Hole in the head. You can believe i freaked out. She got stabbed by a pleco when they were in the tank together so i am hoping i can tell the differance. That and when i cleaned her tank up a little bit i found the piece of fish skin she ripped off. From what i read on hole in the head it has happen way to fast and is to big. Not to mention i did see her hit the hood and what she looked like before and after. I will continue to watch her and i really hope i am right.

[cocoa_pleco]

try to keep the water as clean as possible

[jlennon]

I cleaned her tank up a little tonight and got her eating some beefhearts so i think she will be fine. Altough she did turn down some feeders. But if i were her i wouldn't want to be chasing anything around either.

[Severus]

Welcome to AC