Sick Oscar, I Think!

[busdriver]

Bought 4 very young (about 2 inches long) oscars, 3 seem to be healthy but 1 is not eating, that I can see.
It spends most of the time either swimming alone or what appears to be resting on the bottom.
Is there something wrong with this one and how long can they go without food?

[cory]

Is it thin? is it gettin picked on by the other oscars?

[cory]

Also check to see if the poop is white and stringy, that could mean it has an internal paracite, which you should treat ASAP.

[busdriver]

Also check to see if the poop is white and stringy, that could mean it has an internal paracite, which you should treat ASAP.

Can anyone recommend something to treat the oscar for the internal parasite? Went to BigAl's but couldn't figure out which one to buy.

[squeeker]

Use Metro +.

I'd also quarantine.

If he is eating even the slightest bit, you can make a food out of it.

[busdriver]

Use Metro +.

I'd also quarantine.

If he is eating even the slightest bit, you can make a food out of it.

I guess I'm going to have to put the little guy down.
Went to Big Al's, SuperPet and PetSmart looking for either Clout or Metro +.
Big Al's sold the last bottle of Metro + to an employee and nobody else had anything other than medication that had to be eaten, this little one hasn't eaten since Tuesday.

[PaleoFishGirl]

Did you ask if someone on here has meds for you before you go to that extreme?

[squeeker]

I have metro+ if you need to borrow it.

Are you sure SP doesn't have it?  They always carried it when I worked there...

[babblefish1960]

I agree with squeek, the SP's usually have a very good stock of the stuff, and PFG made a good suggestion, there may be someone who is willing to lend you some such as squeek offered. Don't despair terry, give it a try.

[busdriver]

I went to the new SP, they didn't have very much meds.

[busdriver]

I have metro+ if you need to borrow it.

Are you sure SP doesn't have it?  They always carried it when I worked there...

Thanks for the offer, Squeeker but I will be going to the SP on Merivale after my run this morning.
Hopefully the oscar is still around when I get home.

[busdriver]

Went to SP on Merivale, it was like walking into a drug store for fish.
They recommended something called PraziPro (Treats Diseases Caused By: -flukes, -tapeworm, -flatworms and -turbellarians) extremely safe, Highly effective.
It won't work on the oscar though, it died sometime between 05:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
At least now I'm prepared if it ever happens again.
Also picked up a small quarantine tank, too.
Oh well, I've got to keep plugging away.
Thanks again for all your advice, everyone.

[cory]

Sorry to hear for your loss..as a preventative, i would mix, or find food that has garlic in it. This will help out and keep your oscars up to par. Also large waterchanges. 50% weekly is good. Oscars create sooo much waste and if not treated will create many problems down the road.

[sas]

Sorry to hear your little guy didn't make it . don't beat yourself up too much about it... I sometimes wonder if some of these guys are genetically predisposed to not make it. He could have been damaged  or stunted from day one? I've had to use PraziPro on discus, I don't believe in alot of meds.? but sometimes you have to. Just watch your water parameters really closely if you do use it.

[busdriver]

I've got another one that seems to have the same thing.
5 are as healthy as horses, so I don't know what's causing the problem.
I was wondering how I'll know when there isn't a problem anymore.
Do they start eating?

[squeeker]

Busdriver,

Prazi is great for certain things, but I don't think it will help because it is likely that your fish have an internal bacterial infection, not parasites.  Prazi is a great med, and is not a waste of money... but IMO the Metro will be more helpful now.

I am confused.  How many oscars do you have in this tank?  Your signature says 4, but you just said in your last post that 5 are healthy as horses, and one is now sick... and one just died... so you had 7 in there originally?

How long has this tank been set up, and have you tested the water for ammonia, nitrIte, nitrAte, and pH levels?

[busdriver]

Busdriver,

Prazi is great for certain things, but I don't think it will help because it is likely that your fish have an internal bacterial infection, not parasites.  Prazi is a great med, and is not a waste of money... but IMO the Metro will be more helpful now.

I am confused.  How many oscars do you have in this tank?  Your signature says 4, but you just said in your last post that 5 are healthy as horses, and one is now sick... and one just died... so you had 7 in there originally?

How long has this tank been set up, and have you tested the water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH levels?

Squeeker, I guess when I go to any LFS I need someone to hold my hand
I took the recommendation from the guy in the store that this Prazi was what I needed.
And yes, I did have seven oscars, but the last three I just got on Wednesday and by the looks of it only one of those is going to survive, one died last night, there's another one in the big tank that isn't doing to well.
The 150 gal. has been up and running for about a year, it's way past cycled.
So, out of the seven, one has died from the original four, and so far one has died from the three I bought on Wednesday, with one more that doesn't look like it's going to make it.
I went and bought a quarantine tank yesterday, put the sick fish in it, there was nothing but treated water, a heater and a power head with filter attached and one fish.
If they keep dying, I'm going to have a 150 gal. up for sale, pretty quick, I'm getting really frustrated.

[squeeker]

Terry,

You mention your tank has been up and running for a year.  What kind of fish occupied the tank before the oscars?  How long was the tank empty of fish before you put the oscars in?  Have you tested the water chemistry lately?

I only ask because 7 oscars will produce a ton more waste than your average tropical fish.  If you've tested it lately (ie today, yesterday, this week) and your readings are good, then you're dealing with illness.  But don't just assume that your parameters are ok!

The quarantine tank - is it cycled?  If not, be sure to be doing daily 50% (at least!) water changes, and matching temperature & pH will be VERY important so as to avoid stressing the sick fish further.  Also, pick up some Prime from BA's as it neutralizes ammonia.

To minimize stress, I would recommend leaving the tank lights off for the time being.  This can really help!

[ariel*under*the*sea]

Bought 4 very young (about 2 inches long) oscars, 3 seem to be healthy but 1 is not eating, that I can see.
It spends most of the time either swimming alone or what appears to be resting on the bottom.
Is there something wrong with this one and how long can they go without food?

I have seen many, many, many, baby oscars and unfortunately at the size you describe it could be no more than a month (two tops) old, and at that age / size they are extremely sensitive. It's likely going to die, from the sounds of things it probably has chemical shock. The sensitivity of the babies is one of the reasons that oscars spawn hundreds of babies at a time, half of them don't survive. I used to breed them and i get order a lot at the store were i work... they're very hard to maintain at the age, but one thing i would recommend is dosing them heavily with a chemical called Stress Coat, and treat them with melafix and pimafix the second you get them home. I've had the better luck doing that than anything else.
good luck!
Kay

[busdriver]

By the looks of things, the dying has stopped.
4 left, not getting anymore!
One red, 3 tigers, one of the tigers looks a lot different than the other two.