Need help ASAP with my dieing oscar

[vetteguy53081]

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

They originated in South America and found in everglades, mainly in Florida and due to their growth have been released in many waters similar to what is happening with lionfish, in the past snakeheads and even alligator gars

 

[Fish Fan]

Nice looking tank and fish, thank you for sharing!

I am curious, I've had Oscars before, and I'm not saying I gave them the full space I agree with you that they deserve. I've had one in 65, and two in a 75, and later two in a 125. My pair in the 75 became a genuine male/female pair, and would often lay eggs, even though there were other fish in the tank (this is the female that jumped or was grabbed by the cat). Nothing ever came of the eggs, I wasn't interested in trying to raise them at the time, but I think my pair, which were 8"+, worked in the 75 gallon because they were a pair. If they were either two males or two females, they may have needed much more real estate.

I know there's forums for freshwater fish, and indeed other forums for chatting about saltwater. But I like Reef2Reef because it's a nice interface that works well and I get notifications. I like chatting here. I do kind of wish they had an off topic, freshwater section.

 

[Fish Fan]

They originated in South America and found in everglades, mainly in Florida and due to their growth have been released in many waters similar to what is happening with lionfish, in the past snakeheads and even alligator gars

I live in Upstate New York, which shares a border with Lake Eire, one of the Great Lakes. Recently, I think in Cleveland, OH, they found an alligator someone had obviously released into Lake Erie. Idiots. And with the habitat Florida offers, it seems many animals that get released there live quite happily at the expense of the native fauna.

EDIT: Looks like Eire PA:

Alligator spotted swimming in Lake Erie prompts Pennsylvania search

The search is on for a small alligator in Erie, Pennsylvania, after it was caught on video swimming just off the shore of Lake Erie

windsorstar.com

 

[vetteguy53081]

I live in Upstate New York, which shares a border with Lake Eire, one of the Great Lakes. Recently, I think in Cleveland, OH, they found an alligator someone had obviously released into Lake Erie. Idiots. And with the habitat Florida offers, it seems many animals that get released there live quite happily at the expense of the native fauna.

EDIT: Looks like Eire PA:

Alligator spotted swimming in Lake Erie prompts Pennsylvania search

The search is on for a small alligator in Erie, Pennsylvania, after it was caught on video swimming just off the shore of Lake Erie

windsorstar.com

There is a lot of dumping occurring in tribal waters from aquarists who know the potential growth and yet acquire given species. We have people releasing cayman alligators who are cute at 10" until they reach adult size and its time to go. Oscars, pacu, piranha, gars and catfish are just some of the common dumped species into rivers and streams in the US
China and other countries have adapted oscars as they have become a food source. Same apply to lionfish

 

[Fish Fan]

There is a lot of dumping occurring in tribal waters from aquarists who know the potential growth and yet acquire given species. We have people releasing cayman alligators who are cute at 10" until they reach adult size and its time to go. Oscars, pacu, piranha, gars and catfish are just some of the common dumped species into rivers and streams in the US
China and other countries have adapted oscars as they have become a food source. Same apply to lionfish

I think at this point all that can be done is to fish for and eat the invasive species, and I am someone who loves seafood, but my wife and I are 100% catch-and-release anglers. But I know in the Great Lakes, for example, they find freshwater lampreys that are a non-native parasite for the native trout. I am pretty sure that the local Department of Wildlife advises that if you catch a trout with the lampreys, that you humanely kill and dispatch them.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Wish I could comment on your issue, but I am clueless about the topic at hand.

So Greetings and Welcome to our collective obsession!!!!

 

[Brisk]

Welcome!

 

[1112-425XL]

Good luck
and

 

[vetteguy53081]

I think at this point all that can be done is to fish for and eat the invasive species, and I am someone who loves seafood, but my wife and I are 100% catch-and-release anglers. But I know in the Great Lakes, for example, they find freshwater lampreys that are a non-native parasite for the native trout. I am pretty sure that the local Department of Wildlife advises that if you catch a trout with the lampreys, that you humanely kill and dispatch them.

Im on the great lakes in WI and we do have lampreys which leave marks on our salmon and trout and an eel known as lawyers as they are called and said to taste like lobster in plenty of numbers

 

[kevgib67]

Welcome!

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Sorry for your troubles. Welcome.

 

[Reef Wizard]

 

[Jimbhoy13]

Welcome to R2R Margarita. I know nothing about them. But the experts have come up trumps again. Well done to them

 

[shakacuz]

welcome aboard the r2r board. hello from PA!

 

[phillyb614]

 

[Margarita]

Thank you all but my oscar died

 

[Fish Fan]

Thank you all but my oscar died

I'm sorry to hear that. I hope your other Oscar is doing well.

 

[kvansloo]

Hello, and welcome. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Margarita]

Thank you very much its def a loss. My female oscar is gorgeous and is doing well. I am still a little nervous he was her mate we got them together 3 years ago. I cried for my big boy I loved him he was beautiful and had a little personality it was awesome to just watch them together. They were alot smaller and got so huge. I feel so bad but i really tried to save him. I took good care of them and my tank but so much i dont know im still learning.

 

[Fish Fan]

Again, I'm really sorry to hear about your loss. My wife and I both have genuinely grieved for lost fish, especially Oscars who have such great personalities; like underwater dogs, I swear. We have a particular Oscar (the one I said before that hit the floor and we nursed her back to health) buried under a rock we particularly like in our front yard.

Please try not to be too hard on yourself. You are learning in a hobby that can be more than a little challenging at times, and downright heartbreaking at other times. Everyone here has lost fish and other livestock, if anyone tells you otherwise they are straight-up lying. It is a blow to lose a fish like an Oscar because of their personality, but considering your female Oscar is doing so well, maybe it was just 'his time'. Sometimes, fish do get sick and there's not much we as mere hobbyists can do for them, despite wanting to do more. It sounds like you went to great lengths to help your Oscar. That earns my respect any day.

Best of luck with your tank and your female Oscar! Should you have questions about her please let us know, I, for one, would be happy to try and help if I can