New to me

**Foreverhis31907** · 05-16-2008, 07:13 AM

Hi everyone I'm new here and to having fish. My husband wanted a tiger oscar fish for awhile so I got him one for our anniversary. I know nothing about fish I have never had one of any kind but he has. Everything was fine and dandy he was the one to soely take care of it. Well now he's locked up. Now it's on me to take care of it. I know everyone is thinking give it away. But I refuse. My hubby loves the fish and I have grown attached to it as well.

I don't even know if it is a male or female or how old it is. It was doing really good eating like a pig! But the tank no matter how much I changed the water it was soo green so I changed 80% of the water and added alge treatment to it. Since then it won't eat. It gets all excited when I get it's food out and drop it in, it will eat it then spit it right back out and it just wont even bother today. And it will trow little fitsy and just start banging its head and body against the tank and try to jump out. It hasn't eatten for 2 days now and I am getting worried.

**Boertjie** · 05-16-2008, 08:38 AM

Welcome to AC. You will find a lot of support and help here. It is like a big family. What food did you give him? Did you test the water?

**Foreverhis31907** · 05-16-2008, 09:20 AM

I give him pellets I dunno know how to test the waters??

**Boertjie** · 05-16-2008, 09:44 AM

When you did a water change, did you use normal tap water or did you treat the water to neutralize the chlorine level?
You can buy kits that test the water for Ammonia wich should be 0ppm, ph which should be between 6.0 to 8.0. The temperature for them is about 22 to 25 deg Celcius.
They love meaty foods like bloodworm as they are carnivores.
I think it is something to do with the water.

**Foreverhis31907** · 05-16-2008, 10:03 AM

Can I get a water test kit that will work at walmart? Cus that is the only store we have were I live. I dont think they carry blood worms..this is a stupied question I am sure but what is a blood worm?? Is it alive?? I used tap water but I put in some "clorine out" stuff we got. We have had the oscar for 2 months and have always did the water change the same way and he has been fine. Except this time I put in alge treatmen in. He wants to eat he swims to my hand but when he sees its his normal food the pellets he opens his mouth out at me if he had a tongue I am sure he woud stick it out at me!

**angelcakes** · 05-16-2008, 10:17 AM

this is a bloodworm...............

**angelcakes** · 05-16-2008, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Foreverhis31907

Can I get a water test kit that will work at walmart? Cus that is the only store we have were I live. I dont think they carry blood worms..this is a stupied question I am sure but what is a blood worm?? Is it alive?? I used tap water but I put in some "clorine out" stuff we got. We have had the oscar for 2 months and have always did the water change the same way and he has been fine. Except this time I put in alge treatmen in. He wants to eat he swims to my hand but when he sees its his normal food the pellets he opens his mouth out at me if he had a tongue I am sure he woud stick it out at me!

i cant help you with your test kits has we've no walmart,i'd advise if you can to use aquasafe tap water conditioner as its simple to use ,oscars are very hungry fish,as for bloodworm most or all fish enjoy these,they come in freeze dried,frozen or live (cultered??) frozen is best to use,

**Nick_Pavlovski** · 05-16-2008, 12:51 PM

G'day and welcome!
Perhaps he felt more comfortable with some greenery around. Are there live plants in the tank? And are you able to buy another type of food?