Need help ASAP with my dieing oscar

[Margarita]

I have a 8" Oscar that is in distress for a few days now. He is in a 75 gallon tank with another 8" inch oscar that is doing well its only him. I did a water change n took him out and that was a bad idea had to throw him back in and he has been laying at the bottom of the tank with rapid breathing with his gills opening n closing. I did about 5 water changes tested the water for ammonia it was low but i still put ammonia remover and aquarium salt but i dont know what else to do. I am hoping someone can pick him up for free as long as hes cared for because I dont know how to.

 

[revhtree]

Welcome to your new home for saltwater reef aquarium resources and fun! Welcome to the family!

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

Welcome! Are Oscar's brackish fish? I have never had them myself.

 

[Fish Fan]

I have a 8" Oscar that is in distress for a few days now. He is in a 75 gallon tank with another 8" inch oscar that is doing well its only him. I did a water change n took him out and that was a bad idea had to throw him back in and he has been laying at the bottom of the tank with rapid breathing with his gills opening n closing. I did about 5 water changes tested the water for ammonia it was low but i still put ammonia remover and aquarium salt but i dont know what else to do. I am hoping someone can pick him up for free as long as hes cared for because I dont know how to.

Sorry to hear about your Oscar! I have kept Oscars before, they are one of my favorite freshwater fish.

How long have you had them? Did this just start suddenly?

When you say you took him out, what do you mean?

I can say from experience, Oscars can be big babies. It's possible your guy is just stressed and playing possum, so to speak. If there's no other obvious signs of illness or stressors in the tank like high ammonia, I'd give him some time. He may come out of his funk in a day or so. I think it's best to leave him be and not stress him further, unless again you see obvious signs of illness that needs to be treated.

Good luck!

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome! Are Oscar's brackish fish? I have never had them myself.

No sir. South American Cichlid, very much a freshwater fish. Big personalities for a freshwater fish, one of my favorites for sure. My wife's too.

 

[Fish Fan]

Also, how much salt are you adding to your tank? A tiny, tiny bit can be beneficial to Oscars, but these are freshwater fish, hardy ones at that, and unless your tap water is really bad, I think most people keep them in fresh, dechlorinated tap water, and do not add extra salt.

I just noticed this in your original post. Maybe that's why @Dread Pirate Dave was confused about them being brackish?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Oscar ocellatus are very tough as nails species. I had 4 that reached 12"+. These fish get startled during the night and hit their heads on tank covers and jump out. In your case, often its water quality that will affect them and they as you know are messy housekeepers.
Adding ammonia remover which rarely works is a no-no
Did you add water the same temperature and not colder?
Additionally adding epsom salt is a good conditioner. Add air stone to increase oxygen and how are you testing for ammonia?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Welcome! Are Oscar's brackish fish? I have never had them myself.

Oscars are freshwater and native to Florida

 

[CO2TLEY]

 

[Fish Fan]

Oscars are freshwater and native to Florida

I believe they are South American, Amazon River Basin area, that have been introduced to Florida.

 

[Fish Fan]

oscar ocellatus are very tough species.

In my experience, they are very hardy, easy to care for Cichlids. I've had many over the years, they are kind of like underwater dogs, sort of like the big puffer fish. We had one about 8" that somehow the cat managed to pull out of the tank and it flopped four feet to the floor in the middle of the night. The only reason we knew about it was because the dog started going crazy, and we came running out to a fish flopping on the floor. The fish had bad contusions and developed hole in the head, which Oscars are susceptible to, and it genuinely seemed to be brain damaged from oxygen depravation. We set her up in a 10 gallon and nursed her back to health, and that fish lived another four years or so back in her 75.

 

[vetteguy53081]

In my experience, they are very hardy, easy to care for Cichlids. I've had many over the years, they are kind of like underwater dogs, sort of like the big puffer fish. We had one about 8" that somehow the cat managed to pull out of the tank and it flopped four feet to the floor in the middle of the night. The only reason we knew about it was because the dog started going crazy, and we came running out to a fish flopping on the floor. The fish had bad contusions and developed hole in the head, which Oscars are susceptible to, and it genuinely seemed to be brain damaged from oxygen depravation. We set her up in a 10 gallon and nursed her back to health, and that fish lived another four years or so back in her 75.

My word tough is they are rugged die-hards. I sold a couple hundred at my lfs with many customers freaking out when they quickly reached 6" or more and resorting to a dozen feeder goldfish 2x a week

 

[Fish Fan]

My word tough is they are rugged die-hards. I sold a couple hundred at my lfs with many customers freaking out when they quickly reached 6" or more and resorting to a dozen feeder goldfish 2x a week

My apologies, I completely misread your original post. I read that as tough to keep. Thank you for clarifying!

EDIT: But my wife and I still talk about my story of the night our Oscar took a nose dive and was subsequently healed against all odds, it seemed. Not a lot of people setup a ten gallon on their kitchen counter for a fish. But they are so personable and we love all our pets, and that darn Oscar made a full recovery, and lived a long time afterwards.

 

[zheka757]

sorry cant help, i would start with making sure water quality is good, and oxygenated. also i dont know why, but I'm feeling that tank is not cycled.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Oscars are freshwater and native to Florida

They are not native to Florida. They have been released and are an invasive species. They are native to south America. Only Texas cichlids are native to North America they are found in Texas and Mexico

 

[Fish Fan]

They are not native to Florida. They have been released and are an invasive species. They are native to south America. Only Texas cichlids are native to North America they are found in Texas and Mexico

I was kind of hoping you'd stop by. Do you have any further advice for the OP? Thanks for your help!

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I have a 8" Oscar that is in distress for a few days now. He is in a 75 gallon tank with another 8" inch oscar that is doing well its only him. I did a water change n took him out and that was a bad idea had to throw him back in and he has been laying at the bottom of the tank with rapid breathing with his gills opening n closing. I did about 5 water changes tested the water for ammonia it was low but i still put ammonia remover and aquarium salt but i dont know what else to do. I am hoping someone can pick him up for free as long as hes cared for because I dont know how to.

Hello, so best practices, a 75 is bare minimum for one Oscar. I mean bare. These guys get 10 to twelve inches. More than likely the healthy Oscar has been picking on the other one do to both being in a small space and they are reaching sexual maturity. I had the same issue years ago.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Hello, so best practices, a 75 is bare minimum for one Oscar. I mean bare. These guys get 10 to twelve inches. More than likely the healthy Oscar has been picking on the other one do to both being in a small space and they are reaching sexual maturity. I had the same issue years ago.

To add, Oscar fish are huge drama queens! They will sulk just because you moved a rock.

 

[Fish Fan]

To add, Oscar fish are huge drama queens! They will sulk just because you moved a rock.

Yes! Big, huge babies! And then they come back to life and claim they haven't been fed in three years.

EDIT: I have a cat just like this lol!

 

[Cichlid Dad]

This was my two Oscar in a 75, right before the big one almost killed the other. Both raised together