JakeTeque

- Water parameters are fine
- Tank set up for about 5 months
- Tankmates - 3 oscars total, firemouth, convict
- water change 2-3 times a week
- feeding them krill and hikiri cichlid pellets
- 100gal, 2 hang out filters (looking to get cannister as oscars grow)
- Fish are not stressed, convict and firemouth leave the oscars alone...at least when I have observed them.

So, my largest Oscar in the tank (Probably 5 or 6 inches now) recently injured his forehead a couple weeks ago. Luckily he still acted fine and didn't seem to have dangerously hurt himself. He basically had an abrasion on his forehead, that took about a week to completely go away.

A couple days ago I woke up to find some more unusual marks on his face again, This time I freaked out because it almost looked like Hole In The Head, but after watching it all day and the next, it began to heal and not look any worse, and I could tell from pictures it was not hole in the head, the pattern looked like he scraped himself in one area.

Then after those healed up, He injured himself a 3rd time! Not too bad this time, a minor scratch.

I never see him trying to jump out during the day, but a few times I have slept on the couch I hear some splashing noises. The times I have, I turned the lights on, and the Oscars are just chilling at the top of the water, floating around and dreaming.

There is some driftwood and 1 or 2 rocks he could possibly be hurting himself on, but he does not hang out around them, he likes the mid - high water areas, and sleeps at the top every night, So I feel he is trying to jump out and hitting the lids! (Acrylic).

Has anyone had this problem? I know Oscars are jumpers, but do they jump in their sleep? Any thing I can do so he doesn't have massive head trauma when he is a full grown adult?

Thanks everyone!!

Shawnie

oscars cannot have any driftwood or rocks that are sharp as they grow older..the almost do somersaults and swim very erratically and anything they can bang into they will..id suggest moving out anything hard or sharp that will continue to hurt him ..they sleep very well and almost on their sides so im betting its more during the day when you arent around that hes hurting himself....

JakeTeque

Really? No driftwood? Sad.

Nick G

Shawnie wasn't saying they can't have driftwood, just not sharp driftwood. I sanded down the wood in my Oscar tank before it went in. All nice and smooth!

Shawnie

shawnie was saying no driftwood..if you have juvies , its ok...but the solid decorations will eventually hurt them as they get bigger...they are totally crazy fish trying to do things that they really shouldnt because of their size....anything that will stick out or up and wont flex when they hit it, should be removed eventually as they grow...

JakeTeque

I have totally revamped my aquascape. I will post pictures soon.