Back to fish keeping hobby

Many years back, i own 1 oscar, I bought it at petsmart for $1 sale during the hurricane katrina and the whole store was out off power. I raise him from 1 inch to about 10 inch, he end up die because jump out, since then i havent keep any fish.

Saw a 75 gallon on sale, bought it, get the water cycle with Seachem prime and Seachem stability. Running a FX6 . temp set at 77F-78F water all good, got it test out, ph was about 7.5, but everything else is all good.

I bought 2 tiger oscar , they are about 2.5 inch , for the 75, might be way too big for them now, but will be way too small for them later on. When they get to about 9-10 inch, I will get them a 150 gallon.

I took them home yesterday, they all swim around, happy, I dint feed them until today. just 3-4 small new life spectrum cichlid formula. well I change the 10% water, mostly just clean out the poop and some left over food. now they just lay on the tank on the corner, I think i might shock them cause of change the water way too soon, it was almost 1 week old water. i turn off all the light for now , they still stay at bottom of the tank, some time i saw they come up really quick and go back down when im moving, i hope i dont upset them too much.

 

Nice. Oscars are such cool fish.

 

Nice. Oscars are such cool fish.

Yes they are . It’s normal for them to get mad and not eating few day ? They start move around when I’m not around , when I’m around they back down in corner . This is third day they in the tank

 

Yes they are . It’s normal for them to get mad and not eating few day ? They start move around when I’m not around , when I’m around they back down in corner . This is third day they in the tank

Thats normal. They just don’t know who you are yet. They’ll get used to your face, and come closer to the glass. It just takes about a week or two. Once they know who you are, they will beg for food time

 

To be honest . The more I think about why it all happen is . 2 oscar . On second day . When they was all active . I feed them . One of the Oscar keep steal food from the other oscar . The other oscar get mad and swim away to the corner . That how it all start . The one that steal the food . He always active since the day other one stay in corner . He stay in corner too

Today I went home and the one that steal food . He come to me and I feed him . While he eating . The grumpy one come up fast too and I make sure he get food by give the drop closer to him .after all eating . They start swim again lol

 

what you can do is feed them in two different corners, so they don't have to "fight" about it

 

while we on this topic . I’m support you dose Seachem prime and stability for 7 day . This is my 5th day. I saw a lot of poop on bottom , I want to do a water change like 20% of my 75 gallon . Should I ?

 

Do you gravel vac?

 

Do you gravel vac?

Yes . It’s barebottom tank . If I do 20-25% water change now while I’m on 7 day continue dose prime and stability , I don’t know if it mess up the tank cycle .

 

It won't mess it up. The filter and the glass has way more beneficial bacteria than the water itself.

 

Well almost a week now and my 2 oscar still scare of the aquarium light . Both eat strong and healthy when the light are off . But when light are on both hide under the sprong filter . I cover half of aquarium light with foil paper and they still scared . But when I shut the light off . Both come out and swim fine

 

How is your tank setup? Maybe need more hiding places and plants.

 

How is your tank setup? Maybe need more hiding places and plants.

Just barebottom and fx6 and 2 sprong filter . I don’t plan to add any deco or fake plant . Should I ? I was thinking if I add decor ( like a cave ) . They will out grow it
Do I really need to add more hiding place or plant ?

 

Just barebottom and fx6 and 2 sprong filter . I don’t plan to add any deco or fake plant . Should I ? I was thinking if I add decor ( like a cave ) . They will out grow it
Do I really need to add more hiding place or plant ?

It could make them more comfortable. After all, you are noticing them hiding whenever the light is on.

 

Oscars are aggressive fish , they need something to fight over instead of food. A fake plant to attack or something to keep them entertained is good for the fish.

research something to entertain them and see what you can do. I’ve even known people to add floating kids toys ( clean and no chemicals ) even kinder egg balls.

 

They getting better with light on now , but still hiding , they come out eat but after eat they go back behind the filter ,

, they both always schooling together ,, but some time one will attack the other, and some time other one swim away so fast it hit the tank and then they back schooling together again , they sleep together , is this normal behavior ?


I heard to help them from hiding , I need a dither fish , I know my 75 is max out for now, I was thinking buy 1-2 silver dollar, or I should just stick with add some fake plant , any idea what kind fake plant should I get ? I just want add 1-3 fake plant,

 

Silver dollars get big. They also should be kept in a group to be comfortable, so you don't have the space for them. As for artificial plants choose any that have a heavy base. This way when your fish poke them around they are more likely to stay in place or at least upright.

 

I bought the silver dollar . About half inch . Way way larger then my 2.5 inch oscar mouth . Well within 1 hours after I got it . It’s in the oscar mouth . I dint realize how big the oscar mouth can get . Oh well I consider it as a feeder even though it broke my heart . That a $8 feeder . That will be the first and last live fish these oscar ever gonna eat .

 

No offence , but you really need to start researching for the best care of any fish you buy. Also above commented that your tank isn’t big enough for silver dollars as you need more than one.
Good luck

 

No offence , but you really need to start researching for the best care of any fish you buy. Also above commented that your tank isn’t big enough for silver dollars as you need more than one.
Good luck

This 75 are temp until 2 oscar grow out . Then they will be in 150 . I already have my eyes on the 150 on the web site . My plan was when both oscar reach about 10 inch . I will move them to 150g.

as for the silver dollar it’s was my mistake . I was going for the dither fish . As soon the silver dollar in the tank . My 2 tiger was out off hiding and swim around .

lesson learn . Any of y’all ever lost fish that make you feel bad ?

 

We all make mistakes , it’s done now, we live and learn. Research is your best friend in this hobby though , anything you want to do wait a week and think about it , unless it’s a disease then run to fish lore and research
The one I always feel about is a fire bellied newt I lost. He crawled out when I thought I’d done a good enough job of sealing the tank. I hadn’t. Found him under the couch a week later dry as a bone

 

Any of y’all ever lost fish that make you feel bad ?

I once bought 4 Chili rasboras that ended up dying within two weeks. It made me feel like I disn’t research enough. But I think they had a disease

 

We all make mistakes , it’s done now, we live and learn. Research is your best friend in this hobby though , anything you want to do wait a week and think about it , unless it’s a disease then run to fish lore and research
The one I always feel about is a fire bellied newt I lost. He crawled out when I thought I’d done a good enough job of sealing the tank. I hadn’t. Found him under the couch a week later dry as a bone

I once bought 4 Chili rasboras that ended up dying within two weeks. It made me feel like I disn’t research enough. But I think they had a disease

 

I need help guys, my 2 baby tiger oscar one of them is bite the other, i saw 3 missing scale spot . they was hungry,, one of them got bite and run away, but come back and they schooling together and go every where together.

should i divide the tank up ? i dont like seeing fish fighting. missing scale.....

 

I’m seperate them 2 right now . They both stay together before the divider lol . That what you get for being bad . They like little pitbull lol.

 

I’m seperate them 2 right now . They both stay together before the divider lol . That what you get for being bad . They like little pitbull lol.

Ok. Lol

 

I mean they both stay together between the divider lol

 

I mean they both stay together between the divider lol

Oh, ok