darkwolf29a

I really have to take pictures so I can introduce him/her properly.

But, this weekend, from WalMart (I know - I broke my first rule of fishkeeping...no WallyWorld fish. But, he's so cool. ), I bought an albino Oscar. He's white, with some orange markings. I had some 20 ghost shrimp, now do to 8, after rescuing them to smaller tanks. LOL He ate 12 of them...I was worried that he was overeating.

Then, last night...he ate a guppy. I saw the stalk, the stun, and the swallowing. LOL

Now...I just have to figure out how to keep him happy.

Any thoughts??

I have a couple of fake plants in there, a bunch of live ones, some rocks, some shells (real and plastic), 2 snails, and a common pleco in there.

I'm hoping to take the rest of the shrimp and breed them in a 10 gallon tank, starting later this week. I'm trying to grow them as treats. LOL

So, if you have any thoughts as to keeping Odysseus, Ody, happy...let me know.

Butterfly

t's ok we all want to save the fish at Wally World
What size is Odys tank and how long has it been set up ?
Carol

darkwolf29a

I put Ody in the 55, since there wasn't much in it. I had planned on moving the 2 guppies next weekend, since I have to find a stand or something for the 10 gallon tank that they are going to. Yes, MTS has taken over my apartment. LOL

Now, guppies and ghost shrimp will be taking over the 10 gallon, and probably 2 5s as well.

But, the pleco, Plato, and Ody, Odysseus, are living together in the 55. I might get an Australian Knifefish to go along with the Oscar...Maybe, my gf wants one, but I'm not sure yet. Must research and make sure that they won't get too big for the tank.

The tank itself has been set up for more than a month now.

I did the water tests on Saturday, just before heading to the store, and all the levels looked really good. Of course, that was with a huge cleaner crew too, that has since been eaten. LMAO

I'm planning on getting more buckets, I swear I'm gonna buy Petco out of them, and plan doing weekly 25 to 30 gallon water changes, just to keep everything as clean as possible.

I'm falling for the little guy, but he's messy. LOL

Newtankdude

Never buy fish from Wallyworld and Deathco...so sad... ...lol

darkwolf29a

Unfortunately, those are my two best choices for fish, honestly. There are a couple of stores around here, but one isn't going well yet...it's new. And the other, after watching them brutalize a fish to catch it and get into a bag, they trapped a pleco between the glass and the metal portion of the net, I'll never buy from them. So, honestly, my choices are limited.

But, I will say that both are very clean and well maintained around here, anyways. But, the WallyWorld is, surprisingly, better maintained than the Petco. LOL I never would have suspected that.

Trpimp147

i wish i could say the same thing about my wallyworld, a many of times i put ick treatment in there tanks for them when there not looking to help them fish i've walked in there and seen plecos that are white, and yellow cichlids that are now white from it i also reported them for not taking are of the fish they have gotten a little better. not much but a little.... poor fish

darkwolf29a

For some reason, not really sure why, we don't have a lot of fish stores. I can count 5 in the Green Bay area, that I know of. I'm not saying there aren't more, but I only know of that many. Of those:

2 are Petcos. The one on the West side is MUCH better than the East side of town.
1 doesn't carry fish at all. They'll special order anything though, at a huge mark up.
1 carries everything and takes care of nothing, and they are same ones that abuse, as I consider that catch, fish. I won't shop there.
1 is really new. I have hopes for them, and visit them often. But, they are really just getting going.

Other than that, it's WallyWorld or nothing.

Or the internet.

Old Sloppy

First off, a 55 gallon tank is good for one oscar.
That is all.
any other fish will result in an overcrouded tank condition.

Second, your Oscar will be contented with one or two plastic plants, if he dosen't rip them to shreads.
The live plants days are numbered.

Your Oscar will eat all of your guppies, maybe before you can move them to another tank.

Harry S.

darkwolf29a

So far, he tries to eat a bit of the plants. I'm not worried about that. Honestly, I didn't pay much for them, as I figured he'd probably do it. He just likes to pull them out of the sand. LOL I'm ok with that, since I can replant them.

Yeah, the guppy, singular, will have to be moved, if he survives until Sunday. I'm setting up a 10 gallon tank for guppies and ghost shrimp, since Ody seems to like them so much. I figure breeding treats for him isn't bad, as long as he doesn't try and jump into the tank. LOL

He cleaned out 12 shrimp the first day, and 1 guppy the next day.

I'm not too worried about that. His other tankmates are 2 snails and a pleco, that's bigger than him, for now.

He seems to tolerate the guppy too though, for now. *shrugs* Maybe spot, as I call him, will live to see Sunday, maybe not. If not...I'll know where he went. LOL

JasmynJade

Oh, darkwolf, this post reminds me to ask you.....I did NOT put any sand in the bottom of the tank that is cycling for the Oscar.....will it still be ok

darkwolf29a

Depends on the substrate you plan to add. Some sands will cloud up the water if you dump it in.

I use sandblasting sand, called silica sand, and I can add it any time I want. If I suck out too much during water changes, I just take a butter container full and add some in. The container will sink to the bottom and I can pour right out on to the bottom, with no clouding. In my estimation, that's about the best I can hope for.

Gravel should be the same way. I've added that before and it just drops to the bottom.

The only one I've heard of having issues is play sand, and I won't use that for that reason.

JasmynJade

Please explain "substrate" regarding sand Vs gravel.
Thanks!

darkwolf29a

Substrate is anything you put on the bottom of the tank, i.e. sand or gravel.

JasmynJade

Ok, so I'm assuming that gravel will be just fine, maybe not the best, but ok...

darkwolf29a

Either one will work. I don't think an Oscar will care much, honestly. Oscars are diggers, so you may find him moving gravel all over the tank. Ody has figured out the if he gets close enough and swishes his tail, he can move sand. So, he still plays with the substrate. LOL

JasmynJade

SO, is there a reason for moving the sand/gravel around, or are they just bored
and playing? I bought some rock to put in, I DID read about the plants!

darkwolf29a

Personally, I think they just like to redecorate, but I don't know the sceintific reason for it. I guess it does have something to do with the breeding patterns of cichlids. But, that's just a guess on my part.

Old Sloppy

Oscars are preparing their percieved "breeding grounds" for a future "mate".
In nature the weeds grow thick, so Oscars rip them out and then have their personal "egg laying area".
Just in case they actually do find a "mate".

Harry S.