Tiger Oscar

[ambs]

Howdy!
I have a 2 gallon tank that is sitting on my desk at work. In this tank I previously had an African cichlid that lived for a few years. I decided it was time to get another and chose the Tiger Oscar. I am pretty uneducated on this fish as I wasn't expecting to buy him at the time I did. I was going for another African, but he was so beautiful I couldn't resist.
I am assuming he is still in shock from leaving his friends since he has not moved from the spot he is in for 2 hours, which is normal right?? Anyways, my question is this.. I have the small cichlid pellets but have seen posts about feeding them live food. What would you suggest feeding him that would be easy since I am in a work environment? He is currently 2 and a half inches long. Any input/Advice you have on caring for him would be appreciated. Thank you!!

[Dan Woodland]

I really hope you meant to type 20 gallon tank not a 2 gallon.

That fish should be in a 75 gallon or larger. I'm sure it's environment is part of the problem.

[Lisachromis]

Oscars require a large tank when they grow up. A solitary specimen should have at least a 50 gallon tank and larger is better. They are messy eaters and need good filtration.
Oscars are sometimes known for "being sulky". Moves to new tanks might make them sit on the bottom and do nothing until they feel better about where they are.

If your tank is only a 2 gallon, you need to figure out what you'll do.

1) Get a much larger tank for your new oscar buddy
2) Return the oscar and get something that will fit in better with the small tank you have available.

[ambs]

Thanks guys. After your posts I called Pet Co and told them what happened. Turns out you shouldn't just trust any employee and the info they give you. I learned my leason. I will miss him, but I have 4 very tiny and very active fish to keep me company at work!! Thanks again for the info!!


And your right.. They are sulky!!!

[Lisachromis]

So... what fish did you get for the little tank?

[Con-Man-Dan]

knowing petco they probably sold you 4 pacu and promised they will stay small lol just kidding. its nice to see someone actually listen to the advice given.

[ambs]

No kidding. I don't know if I will be going back.
I ended up getting one Molly Marble who is really struggling. He stays at the bottom of the tank and when I put my hand up to make him move he never uses his back fin. Is it possible for a fish to be paralyzed or have a broken fin? Sounds stupid I know!! He lays on the rocks a lot too! ugh! Poor guy!
I also got two small black skirt tetra's and an Orange Glofish(sunburst) who seem to be doing really well.

Thank you for all of the good advice. I was happy to find a place where people knew what they were talking about

[Con-Man-Dan]

I'd get rid of the goldfish too. Goldfish can grow extremely large as well, and like the oscar they produce a lot of waste and are messy. Plus goldys like cooler water then tropical fish. Again, unless you had a bigger tank, I think people recomend 5 gallons per inch of goldfish, so an average round body goldy will usually need a 25-30 gallon alone. Comets (feeders) can push a foot in length

Personally, in a 2.5 on a desk, I'd go with a betta or a male paradise fish. Both are laybrinth fish, they breath atsmospheric air. Both would do well in a small tank like that as well. I like the paradise fish better, very colorful

[Dan Woodland]

I'd get rid of the goldfish too. Goldfish can grow extremely large as well, and like the oscar they produce a lot of waste and are messy. Plus goldys like cooler water then tropical fish. Again, unless you had a bigger tank, I think people recomend 5 gallons per inch of goldfish, so an average round body goldy will usually need a 25-30 gallon alone. Comets (feeders) can push a foot in length

Personally, in a 2.5 on a desk, I'd go with a betta or a male paradise fish. Both are laybrinth fish, they breath atsmospheric air. Both would do well in a small tank like that as well. I like the paradise fish better, very colorful

I think they meant GLO-fish, not Goldfish.

[ambs]

Yes, he is actually a Glo-Fish and not a Goldfish. From what I have read they average 2 inches at the most so I am hoping that while he is smaller he will be ok in this small tank. I really don't want to take them back again. I hate stressing the fish out. They seem to be doing ok so far, and when I can afford it, I want to get a bigger tank for my work... Any idea's on my paralized fish? haha

[Lisachromis]

Mollies are often recommended for beginner tanks and the reality is, they are not a beginner tank type fish. Usually if they have problems, they'll do a "shimmy" thing and not just lay on the bottom. It is possible for fish to break their spines and become paralyzed. However, if he (she?) swims at all, they are not paralyzed.

I suspect that the molly might not make it. I would suggest that you don't get a livebearer for that tank. You don't need to add any more fish to the tank even by accident. Maybe another GLO-fish so they each have some company.

[ambs]

Mollies are often recommended for beginner tanks and the reality is, they are not a beginner tank type fish. Usually if they have problems, they'll do a "shimmy" thing and not just lay on the bottom. It is possible for fish to break their spines and become paralyzed. However, if he (she?) swims at all, they are not paralyzed.

I suspect that the molly might not make it. I would suggest that you don't get a livebearer for that tank. You don't need to add any more fish to the tank even by accident. Maybe another GLO-fish so they each have some company.

Your right. I suspect that he won't make it either. If I put my hand by the cage he freaks out and moves from the "laying on the gravel" position. He has a very difficult time swimming. He can't control where he is going at all, and then get's exhausted and goes back to the ground. Poor guy!!
Guess I will see how he is when I get to work tomorrow. I suspect he will die of hunger since he hasn't eaten anything since I got him cause he can't make it to the top...
Can you elaborate on what a Livebearer is.. Im still new at this so it is an unfamiliar term..

Thank you!!!

[Lisachromis]

Sure... a livebearer is a fish that gives birth to live young. Most fish are egg layers. Livebearers are a common fish at petstores. Examples of livebearing fish are: mollies, swordtails, platies and guppies. Your tetras are egg layers.

Also just so you know, your fish will not die from not eating for a day. Most fish can deal without food for several days with no problems. In fact, it's probably not a bad idea for them to go without once in a while since we tend to overfeed our fish.

[Dan Woodland]

What are the parameters of your tank water, meaning temperature, chemistry (pH and hardness etc), and have you placed any salt in the water for your mollie? Which by the way is called Poecilia sphenops (poe sill e a) (ss fen ops). These measurements can be very important for keeping some species of fish happy and ensuring their long life.

Mollies require a bit of salt in the water but not too much turning the water into a brackish (saltwater lite) or a saltwater tank - although your mollie will live in a full saltwater tank. A cool little known factoid.

Here is just one of the many sites with information on mollies (the trade or common name for this fish). http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-Mollies.htm.

As you may have already noticed there is a lot to fish keeping that will keep you interested in the hobby for many years!! I've been in this hobby for nearly forty years and I'm still learning!

Look on-line for more information but be careful not to believe everything you read - opinions very. It’s better to look at multiple sources and use common sense to decipher the information – unlike the Pet Shop where you were "sold" the Oscar for your very small tank.

Good luck and welcome to the world of fish keeping!

[ambs]

It seems I am not the best caregiver to these fish!!! The Molly died this weekend which was expected, but now my Glo-Fish is at the bottom swimming very fast in place.. Almost like a shimmy. He looks very very stressed and didn't eat when I fed them this morning. ah.. what should I do.. The tetra's seem to be fine!!

[Mike Wise]

You called your "Glo-fish" a Sunburst. I know there are Sunburst mollys and platys. Does the Glo-fish look anything like your molly? Ignore color; look at the shape of the body, mouth location, etc. If it is a Sunburst Molly, then it might have the same problems as your other molly.

[ambs]

I have done a little bit of research ( as much as can be done while at work) and from what I read it sounds like the Molly may have had
Swim-bladder Disease. It seems to match what he did with his lack of balance and equilebrium being thrown off. As for the Glo-Fish, his symptoms are totally different. And yes, I am sure it is not a Molly.
http://www.glofish.com/images/glofish_009_std.jpg I cannot find anything online to indicate what is going on.
The Molly was alive on Friday when I left work, so I am not sure when he passed on but I am wondering if he may be effecting the other fish.
Let me elaborate on the Glo-Fish's symptoms. When I got him and before this weekend, he was always swimming at the top of the cage and was very fast and spunky. Always eager to eat, and full of life. Today he is swimming in one corner. He stays in place while swimming but is moving very quickly. He is staying upright but is moving so fast it almost seems like he is having seizures. You can tell that he is very stressed when looking at him but there are not apparent changes in his fins or his skin...

Don't want to loose him but I am not sure what to do..

[Dan Woodland]

It sounds to me they may have "Shimmy".

A search on "shimmy disease in tropical fish" yeilded many hits. Here is one below.

http://www.aquariumfish.net/information/signs_of_stress_and_disease.htm

[Lisachromis]

Do you have any way to test the water? Maybe take a sample to the petstore and see what the readings are. That may help us work out what's going on.

[Bberge007]

Thank the Lord for forums like this... an oscar in a two gallon, people at pet stores should really explain some things especially about large fish! Anyway, it might be that the water wasn't conditioned, or it could be that there isn't good bacteria in there that help fight infections and diseases. If you are getting desperate throw a small pinch of ionized salt in there. I really don't know if it would work with the fish you have.