Bloated Oscar - is this bad?

Hi!

Been a busy guy this christmas and new years holiday. As such my weekly waterchange schedule on the tank in my parents house was missed, and it went 10 days between water changes. My dad has been feeding my Oscar most of the time, rather small but frequent portions. He said he has possibly fed a little bit too much the last few days, but no crazy amount.

My tank gets a healthy mix of food, mostly Ocean Nutrition and Hikari, but also some tetramin to spread the diet out a bit. 10 different pellets mixed up, usually. The Oscar gets mainly Ocean Nutrition sinking pellets, floating pellets. Also small and large Hikari pellets mixed in, Ocean Nutrition Cichlid Sticks, Tetramin Cichlid Sticks & Grenules. He does however sometimes steal my pleco food, and this might be causing bloat?

Been keeping this Oscar now for 5 years, healthy grower with no problems at all. Water parameters should be fine (can't test right now, unfortunately). I see a lot of newborn baby plecos, and all fish behave and act normally - I would be extremely shocked if the water was bad at all. Great filtration, with 10x volume being passed every hour.

Nothing is added to the tank as of 4 years now. No new fish (other than the ones being born in the tank), no plants, no new rocks, etc. Have not done any major cleaning or such, so nothing should cause an ammonia spike.

I keep the tank at 25.5C, but raised this to 26.2C to help combat the bloat a little. Anything more I should do other than no food for a couple days, and increased temp? Perhaps peas, maybe soak food in epsom salts? I am very wary of dosing meds, as I really find this to be overkill and harmful unless very necessary.

Other than the Oscar in the tank, I have 1 sailfin pleco, 2 albino plecos, 2 common plecos, 2 L333 plecos, 4 Yoyo loaches (can these handle epsom salts? I do not wish to move the Oscar, as this will surely stress him out a great deal). There are also an unknown number of newborn baby plecos.
It's a 500 liter tank, and has excellent filtration. It is not dosed with anything. I have had no deaths in the tank in the last 5 years.

Bloat is on both sides. Maybe slightly more on one side than the other, but that is hard to tell. Scales are not raised. I doubt it's parasites or such, as the tank has had no new additions nor health problems. He behaves normally, and ate today (before I saw the bloat, then I fished out all the uneaten pellets). He swims normally, but is MAYBE a TINY bit more sluggish.

Thank you a bunch for any suggestions!

 

Please fill out the emergency template and add a picture of the whole fish and the whole tank. There's barely any useful info in your post.

 

Please fill out the emergency template and add a picture of the whole fish and the whole tank. There's barely any useful info in your post.

I wrote pretty much all of that information in the post, but I'll go through the list and organise it. I'll post it in a few minutes when done.
Tank
What is the water volume of the tank? 500l
How long has the tank been running? 7 years
Does it have a filter? Yes, plenty of filtration. 10x volume per hour, 2 large external canister filters.
Does it have a heater? Yes.
What is the water temperature? 25.5C, now raised to 26.2C.
What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.)
Oscar
Sailfin Pleco
2x Albino pleco
2x Common pleco
2x L333 pleco
4x Yoyo loaches
Unknown amount of baby pleco

Maintenance
How often do you change the water? Weekly (Every 7 days usually, sometimes 9-10 days on rare occasions)
How much of the water do you change? 35-50%
What do you use to treat your water? Nothing. Virtually chlorine free water, straight from tap, with temperature to match tank. Been able to keep fish and shrimp with great success this way for a decade.
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water? Usually gravel vac parts of the tank

*Parameters - Very Important
Did you cycle your tank before adding fish? Yes
What do you use to test the water? Liquid test kit, but not at parents home right now to test. Very much doubt its this, as all other fish behave fine and are breeding actively.
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.
Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish? 6 days a week, one meal per day.
How much do you feed your fish? Quite little. A hungry fish is a healthy fish. However concerned my Oscar might have gotten a bit too much of my pleco food, which would cause recent meals to be too large.
What brand of food do you feed your fish? Hikari, Ocean Nutrition, Tetra. Mostly Hikari/ON. 10+ different pellets mixed up.
Do you feed frozen? Not really/very rarely.
Do you feed freeze-dried foods? Not really/very rarely.

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this fish? 5-6 years
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms? Today
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms? Bloated. On both sides, MAYBE slightly more on one side. Behaves normally other than this, perhaps a little sluggish but eats (no more food now though), and swims normally.
Have you started any treatment for the illness? No food.
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase? No. Old fish.
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all? No, noticed today.

Explain your emergency situation in detail.
(Please give a clear explanation of what is going on, include details from the beginning of the illness leading up to now)

See original post.

Include pictures

Pictures attached. Not sure why you need one of full tank, but unfortunately do not have that available today. If that is really needed, then I will arrange for one to be sent tomorrow.
It looks like an aquarium. Clean water, not disgusting nor filled with poop. No plants, obviously (Oscar ripped them out). Nice thick gravel layer, plenty of airstones and surface motion, External filters so some outlets (surface and middle of water coloumb). Some rocks and large pieces of driftwood. A single fake plant that my Oscar plays with. A large bare spot of gravel that he calls home (gravel he moved away).
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Please note that picture above is worse than the first picture, which shows the bloat far more clearly. A picture of the full Oscar was requested.
Also if it matters, the filters are a Fluval fx6 and a JBL e1502.

 

Good news: The fish is just a bit chubby and may have had too much dry foods. A picture of the whole fish was indeed helpful.
You are right about the food but not the way you think. Maybe vary the food a bit, add frozen sprats (or similar small sea fish), shrimps or mussels (all thawed and washed) to the menu.
Otherwise give the fish 1-2 extra fast days this week and keep an eye on it.

Pictures attached. Not sure why you need one of full tank, but unfortunately do not have that available today. If that is really needed, then I will arrange for one to be sent tomorrow.

A picture of a tank tells an experienced fishkeeper more than a thousand words even if one asks super specific questions and if a tank is just described, ideas and definitions like "densely planted" or "lots of algae" can vary widely. But one would have to come up with these questions first and usually a possible emergency needs quick response so there is not much time.

What do you use to test the water? Liquid test kit, but not at parents home right now to test. Very much doubt its this, as all other fish behave fine and are breeding actively.
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.
Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:

You might doubt it's the water quality, but this can be part of a multi-cause problem. It's often more than one factor. If you don't check regularly, your business, but when asking for help those numbers (incl. GH/KH) are really helpful to the people you ask for help.

It's well meant if you "prefilter" the info, but it only distorts the picture.

Anything more I should do other than no food for a couple days, and increased temp? Perhaps peas, maybe soak food in epsom salts? I am very wary of dosing meds, as I really find this to be overkill and harmful unless very necessary.

Also a few things here:
- If suspecting something in the intestines or maybe dropsy, you can expect bacteria behind it. Never raise temp in case of a suspected bacterial infection.
- Peas are an urban legend as they appeared to have helped goldfish alledgedly. Not based on anything substantial.
- Epsom salt is used as a bath in cases of dropsy to alleviate the swelling by use of osmotic pressire.

I agree on keeping meds as a last resort (except for certain parasites).

 

Good news: The fish is just a bit chubby and may have had too much dry foods. A picture of the whole fish was indeed helpful.
You are right about the food but not the way you think. Maybe vary the food a bit, add frozen sprats (or similar small sea fish), shrimps or mussels (all thawed and washed) to the menu.
Otherwise give the fish 1-2 extra fast days this week and keep an eye on it.


A picture of a tank tells an experienced fishkeeper more than a thousand words even if one asks super specific questions and if a tank is just described, ideas and definitions like "densely planted" or "lots of algae" can vary widely. But one would have to come up with these questions first and usually a possible emergency needs quick response so there is not much time.

You might doubt it's the water quality, but this can be part of a multi-cause problem. It's often more than one factor. If you don't check regularly, your business, but when asking for help those numbers (incl. GH/KH) are really helpful to the people you ask for help.

It's well meant if you "prefilter" the info, but it only distorts the picture.


Also a few things here:
- If suspecting something in the intestines or maybe dropsy, you can expect bacteria behind it. Never raise temp in case of a suspected bacterial infection.
- Peas are an urban legend as they appeared to have helped goldfish alledgedly. Not based on anything substantial.
- Epsom salt is used as a bath in cases of dropsy to alleviate the swelling by use of osmotic pressire.

I agree on keeping meds as a last resort (except for certain parasites).

Thanks!
Yes, I think he just is getting chubby. Maybe managed to snag 10 wafers a few days in a row, that would easily be 300% of his normal feeding.
I'll get the water checked, tomorrow hopefully. I usually check it quite often, and never have anything but perfect parameters. Can't really see how they would change now from just a 3 day delay in waterchanges, but I will check anyways
Went ahead and did a 55% WC and brought tank up 0.7C (from 25.5 to 26.2). As you said, if this is bacteria, I don't want to raise higher. However I believe its only constipation, in which case the slight increase should help him out - right?

Ordered some Epsom salt just incase. 100% pure "bathing salt", only ingredient says "magnesium sulfate". Should be the right thing, correct? Should I bother soaking food in it for him already now, or fast him a few days and see if it goes down by itself first?

Thanks a bunch mate, helps a lot!

 

brought tank up 0.7C (from 25.5 to 26.2). As you said, if this is bacteria, I don't want to raise higher. However I believe its only constipation, in which case the slight increase should help him out - right?

Erm... I meant not to raise the temp AT ALL, keeping it the normal temp for the tank.
And I disagree with the constipation but your call.

Ordered some Epsom salt just incase. 100% pure "bathing salt", only ingredient says "magnesium sulfate". Should be the right thing, correct?

I would have saved the money. But also your call.

Should I bother soaking food in it for him already now, or fast him a few days and see if it goes down by itself first?

I would under no circumstances feed it to the fish. It's for extrernal use only in a separate container. And there is no indication of this to be remotely necessary.

Credit to your willingness to do something, but just leave it and just give the fish a few extra fast days (not in a row) and that's it. Often observation for some days will reveal if there is anything you will have to intervene with. And in most cases it's not necessary.

Also many attempts at helping the fish like salt baths and the like stress the fish. As long as there is no serious problem detected stick to observation and some changes in the feeding regimen and maybe do some extra waterchanges.

 

Erm... I meant not to raise the temp AT ALL, keeping it the normal temp for the tank.
And I disagree with the constipation but your call.


I would have saved the money. But also your call.


I would under no circumstances feed it to the fish. It's for extrernal use only in a separate container. And there is no indication of this to be remotely necessary.

Credit to your willingness to do something, but just leave it and just give the fish a few extra fast days (not in a row) and that's it. Often observation for some days will reveal if there is anything you will have to intervene with. And in most cases it's not necessary.

Also many attempts at helping the fish like salt baths and the like stress the fish. As long as there is no serious problem detected stick to observation and some changes in the feeding regimen and maybe do some extra waterchanges.

Sounds good. I'll lower the temp back to 25.5 tomorrow then.
Read on quite a few places that epsom salt soaked foods help digestion and prevent constipation, but not willing to try it unless it doesn't go down in a few days.

 

Read on quite a few places that epsom salt soaked foods help digestion and prevent constipation, but not willing to try it unless it doesn't go down in a few days.

I would take these sources with heaped tablespoons of salt. Epsom salt is just magnesium sulfate and I know of no practical and beneficial application of that stuff in fishfood, let alone any therapeutic value without side effects and risks.

 

No major update, but had dad check today. Belly still a bit round (same as before). No new poops in the water. I will give him another day, then tomorrow I will do yet another 50% waterchange and some tests of the water. Did a 50-55% change yesterday night so want to spread it out a bit.

He is behaving normal, and begging for food. My guess: He ate a pleco baby that wasn't a baby anymore. That would explain the bloat.

All other fish still behaving normally.

Also, when you mention foods for him, you said shrimp. Will any raw small shrimp do, or is there something else I should check for?
Ecological? How about salt content, noticed almost all frozen shrimp have salt listed as an ingredient? Raw and cook them, raw and serve raw, or precooked?

Thanks a bunch for your suggestions

EDIT:
Maybe just feed some frozen bloodworms, krill, etc? Should I bother thawing those? Used to do that when I had gouramis and ropefish, but guessing my Oscar would have a easier time eating the entire cube if it was frozen. Would a single cube be too much, or good? Would it being frozen present a hazard?

 

Also, when you mention foods for him, you said shrimp. Will any raw small shrimp do, or is there something else I should check for?

Get quality shrimp. Food grade. I'd go fo raw but de-shelled.

Ecological?

You mean organic? That would definitely be best, because those don't contain residual antibiotics. Good thing about feeding saltwater critters to freshwater fish: You can't transmit any diseases or parasites that way.

How about salt content, noticed almost all frozen shrimp have salt listed as an ingredient?

That's why I said thaw and wash them before feeding.

Raw and cook them, raw and serve raw, or precooked?

Feed raw with tongs. Depending on size 3-5 per feeding day are more than enough.

 

Get quality shrimp. Food grade. I'd go fo raw but de-shelled.


You mean organic? That would definitely be best, because those don't contain residual antibiotics. Good thing about feeding saltwater critters to freshwater fish: You can't transmit any diseases or parasites that way.


That's why I said thaw and wash them before feeding.


Feed raw with tongs. Depending on size 3-5 per feeding day are more than enough.

I'll look for that!
Shrimp are pretty crazy expensive here. Could likely get frozen fish food for the same price, if that is healthier?

If its a better choice, should I bother thawing those? Used to do that when I had gouramis and ropefish, but guessing my Oscar would have a easier time eating the entire cube if it was frozen. Would a single cube be too much, or good? Would it being frozen present a hazard?

Here is my local selection:
Frysfoder - köp på HORNBACH.se

(Google translate to english works well )


EDIT:
Perhaps the Discus garlic one? Seems to contain a pretty healthy mix:
mussel meat, shrimp meat, lobster eggs, spinach, paprika, wolffia, spirulina, milk yeast, garlic, salmon oil, canthaxanthin

 

The Oscar is eating too much pleco food, so instead of waters he can chow maybe try something that won’t fit in his mouth like this?

 

The Oscar is eating too much pleco food, so instead of waters he can chow maybe try something that won’t fit in his mouth like this?

I have to feed in multiple places, else the only one who will eat is the bully Sailfin pleco. I'll just have dad feed the pleco after lights are out, the Oscar sleeps pretty deeply then.

 

Shrimp are pretty crazy expensive here. Could likely get frozen fish food for the same price, if that is healthier?

Doesn't make much difference, it's a big fish, usually frozen foods are small. Maybe even so small an oscar might not realize it's food.

Here is my local selection:
Frysfoder - köp på HORNBACH.se

(Google translate to english works well )

I speak Danish and understand Swedish and Norwegian. Plus I can simply set the website to German if I wanted. It's a german company. But thanks.

Gammarus, Krill eller musselkött är ok på en oscar. Du kan okså försöka det sköldpaddsfoder. (Sorry for my ... attempt (?)... at writing swedish...)

If its a better choice, should I bother thawing those? Used to do that when I had gouramis and ropefish, but guessing my Oscar would have a easier time eating the entire cube if it was frozen. Would a single cube be too much, or good? Would it being frozen present a hazard?

A tropical fish gulping ice... let that sink in for a moment.
Just because the water the food is frozen in tends to be contaminated with lots of phosphates and other stuff I always recommend thawing and a quick rinse.

 

Doesn't make much difference, it's a big fish, usually frozen foods are small. Maybe even so small an oscar might not realize it's food.


I speak Danish and understand Swedish and Norwegian. Plus I can simply set the website to German if I wanted. It's a german company. But thanks.

Gammarus, Krill eller musselkött är ok på en oscar. Du kan okså försöka det sköldpaddsfoder. (Sorry for my ... attempt (?)... at writing swedish...)


A tropical fish gulping ice... let that sink in for a moment.
Just because the water the food is frozen in tends to be contaminated with lots of phosphates and other stuff I always recommend thawing and a quick rinse.

Ok, I'll give it a quick rinse!
Think just plain meat like that would be better than the discus one? Liked that the discus one had a mix, but perhaps that isn't so important since it won't be a staple meal.

The bloat has still not gone down after 1.5 days of fasting. Should I give him a small meal today? Would some frozen food be a good idea - like, would it help with his blockage?

Thanks!

 

Think just plain meat like that would be better than the discus one? Liked that the discus one had a mix, but perhaps that isn't so important since it won't be a staple meal.

The Diskus stuff is just too small. Cut to pieces a Discus can eat. An Oscar needs something more substantial than that.

The bloat has still not gone down after 1.5 days of fasting. Should I give him a small meal today? Would some frozen food be a good idea - like, would it help with his blockage?

We can't even tell whether there is a blockage or whether the fish just put on weight. A little won't hurt. That way you can also keep monitoring the fishes appetite.

 

The Diskus stuff is just too small. Cut to pieces a Discus can eat. An Oscar needs something more substantial than that.


We can't even tell whether there is a blockage or whether the fish just put on weight. A little won't hurt. That way you can also keep monitoring the fishes appetite.

If he put on weight, it happened in 10 days of tiny overfeeding. So kind of doubt its that (atleast not only that). Plus no Oscar poops visible in the tank, so likely he hasn't gone for quite a few days.

Does frozen food help with constipation at all; i.e. not make it worse? Which do you think would be easiest on his digestion?

I'm leaning towards the mussle meat. I believe those are larger chunks (been a while since I bought them though). Or the tropical mix:
6 x red and 6 x white mosquito larvae, 3 x mussel meat, 6 x cyclops, 3 x mysis, 6 x artemia

 

Does frozen food help with constipation at all; i.e. not make it worse? Which do you think would be easiest on his digestion?

It should not make it worse and it doesn't really make a difference.

I'm leaning towards the mussle meat. I believe those are larger chunks (been a while since I bought them though)

Good choice.

6 x red and 6 x white mosquito larvae, 3 x mussel meat, 6 x cyclops, 3 x mysis, 6 x artemia

All very small stuff I feed to my tetras. An adult oscar will likely not see such small particles as food.

 

It should not make it worse and it doesn't really make a difference.


Good choice.

All very small stuff I feed to my tetras. An adult oscar will likely not see such small particles as food.

Gave him some of that clam meat now. Unfortunately it sinks, so he only got like 1/10 of the cube. Bad to feed it frozen, because I believe he will get more of it then?

If its bad I'll just buy a different alternative another day.

Got some new pictures. Noticed a white "bulge" on his anus. Not entirely sure if that is normal or not, attached picture. Bloat has not gone down.
Edit: Another picture

 

Bad to feed it frozen, because I believe he will get more of it then?

Don't feed it frozen. Also don't add all of it at once if thawed. Best is to put it in a small cup and add small amounts, wait until eaten, then some more.

Got some new pictures. Noticed a white "bulge" on his anus. Not entirely sure if that is normal or not, attached picture. Bloat has not gone down.
Edit: Another picture

The white is due to the fishes general colouration, but the bulge is important to note. Until now it didn't look very pronounced.
2-3 fast days, observe, wait.

 

Don't feed it frozen. Also don't add all of it at once if thawed. Best is to put it in a small cup and add small amounts, wait until eaten, then some more.


The white is due to the fishes general colouration, but the bulge is important to note. Until now it didn't look very pronounced.
2-3 fast days, observe, wait.

2-3 more days?
I'd call today a fast day also, he barely got anything (like 5% of a meal). So this is 2 days so far of fasting.

He isn't really swollen around his anus, it just looks larger. Like, its a larger hole/pit around the anus.

Should I do more waterchanges, or is that just increased stress?

 

2-3 more days?
I'd call today a fast day also, he barely got anything (like 5% of a meal). So this is 2 days so far of fasting.

2-3 more, yes. We're talking big fish here, they can handle it.

Should I do more waterchanges, or is that just increased stress?

Waterchanges are always a good idea.

 

2-3 more, yes. We're talking big fish here, they can handle it.


Waterchanges are always a good idea.

Good good! Poor guy will need to be hungry then
Should I give him anything at all so he doesn't go after the other fish, or will that be negative to his health? I care far more about him than the other fish in the tank.

 

Poor guy will need to be hungry then

It's for the best.

Should I give him anything at all so he doesn't go after the other fish, or will that be negative to his health?

Honestly, I can't assess that from here. Your call.

I care far more about him than the other fish in the tank.

Don't prioritize one fish over the others. That can backfire.

 

It's for the best.

Honestly, I can't assess that from here. Your call.

Don't prioritize one fish over the others. That can backfire.

If he eats one of the large amount of small pleco babies, would it be terrible? Guessing they are too fast or too big for him, most of them. But just the thought of catching all in the tank and moving, or moving him, feels extremely stressful for them all.

All the adult fish he won't be able to eat. But there are some smaller pleco babies that could become food (and probably do become food every now and then).

 

If he eats one of the large amount of small pleco babies, would it be terrible? Guessing they are too fast or too big for him, most of them.

There is a saying about cichlids: If it fits in the mouth... it will be eaten. At least attempts will be made.
Terrible... for the plecos - yes. For the Cichlid - no.

But just the thought of catching all in the tank and moving, or moving him, feels extremely stressful for them all.

If any I would move the Oscar.

You're overthinking. Keep observing, keep waterchanging. All you can do right now anyway.

 

Bloating has gone down a little bit. Still no poop visible though.

Also noticed this; he has had a small black spot on his head for several months. It looks bigger now. Almost like a hole, but it has a layer of transparent skin over it. Just odd skin coloration?
I think HITH has a hole without skin over it, correct?
I don't run carbon and keep the water clean, so HITH also feels kinda unlikely.

 

MacZ
Been a week now. I think bloating is down a little, and some small poops likely belonging to him have now been seen!
After a week of starving and another week of 30% feedings I think it's time to bring him up to 70%. Thoughts?

New pictures attached
Another pic

 

Been back on a normal diet now. Still no improvement though. Behaves the same as always.
Is there anything I can/should do; or just ignore it?

I have seen some poop I believe belongs to him.

He looks normal, but it almost looks like he has swallowed a golf ball. Normal, but a lump on the bottom of the stomach. Bit uneven distribution between the sides. See attached photo (ignore the white spots on him, those are airbubbles from the waterchange)

MacZ anything I can/should do?

 

Hi!

Pretty sure the thread I had going ended up in a dead subsection.

I have a Oscar fish who has gotten pretty bloated as of the last couple weeks. He behaves normally, eats normally, etc. Fasting did not result in bloating going away.
I have seen some poops which I believe belongs to him.

He has a good diet, with quality food (Hikari and Ocean Nutrition mainly).
120 gallon tank with frequent waterchanges and good filtration. He is about 6-7 years old.

His body looks normal, but it looks like he has swallowed a golfball. Just like a large bump on either side of his lower stomach. Slightly more on one side than the other. What can this be?
More info in old thread, but newer pictures attached here also: Bloated Oscar - is this bad? | Oscar Cichlid Forum


From previous thread:
Tank
What is the water volume of the tank? 500l
How long has the tank been running? 7 years
Does it have a filter? Yes, plenty of filtration. 10x volume per hour, 2 large external canister filters.
Does it have a heater? Yes.
What is the water temperature? 25.5C.
What is the entire stocking of this tank? (Please list all fish and inverts.)
Oscar
Sailfin Pleco
2x Albino pleco
2x Common pleco
2x L333 pleco
4x Yoyo loaches
Unknown amount of baby pleco

Maintenance
How often do you change the water? Weekly (Every 7 days usually, sometimes 9-10 days on rare occasions)
How much of the water do you change? 35-50%
What do you use to treat your water? Nothing. Virtually chlorine free water, straight from tap, with temperature to match tank. Been able to keep fish and shrimp with great success this way for a decade.
Do you vacuum the substrate or just the water? Usually gravel vac parts of the tank

*Parameters - Very Important
Did you cycle your tank before adding fish? Yes
What do you use to test the water? Liquid test kit, but not at parents home right now to test. Very much doubt its this, as all other fish behave fine and are breeding actively.
What are your parameters? We need to know the exact numbers, not just “fine” or “safe”.
Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
pH:

Feeding
How often do you feed your fish? 6 days a week, one meal per day.
How much do you feed your fish? Quite little. A hungry fish is a healthy fish. However concerned my Oscar might have gotten a bit too much of my pleco food, which would cause recent meals to be too large.
What brand of food do you feed your fish? Hikari, Ocean Nutrition, Tetra. Mostly Hikari/ON. 10+ different pellets mixed up.
Do you feed frozen? Not really/very rarely. Once per week as of late.
Do you feed freeze-dried foods? Not really/very rarely.

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this fish? 6 years
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms? 2 weeks ago
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms? Bloated. On both sides, slightly more on one side perhaps. Behaves normally other than this, perhaps a little sluggish but eats and swims normally.
Have you started any treatment for the illness? No food for 4 days. 1/3 meals for 4 days. Then 2/3 meals for 1 week.
Was your fish physically ill or injured upon purchase? No.
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all? No
Attached pictures

 

Chances are the Oscar is just over
weight. It could be the beginning of a "Bloat" situation, which would be bad. Bloat often leads to a fatal intestinal bactera infection.
Either way it would be a good idea to cut down on the groceries until things level out.

 

Chances are the Oscar is just over
weight. It could be the beginning of a "Bloat" situation, which would be bad. Bloat often leads to a fatal intestinal bactera infection.
Either way it would be a good idea to cut down on the groceries until things level out.

He's been on a diet now for 2.5-3 weeks (5 days starving, 1 week 1/2ish dose, now back to 70% dose). It came so suddenly I think (or I just didnt notice it, but certainly took at the most 3 weeks to reach this level.

He is pooping and behaving normally still, but no improvements on the fatness.
What should I do? Worried about my "little" guy.

 

Maybe switch up the food to a brand with a higher % of protein.
I'm not a big fan of Hikari. New Life Spectrum & Omega One Cichlid pellets have done well for my Cichlids.

 

I agree on Hikari, expensive and not very good ingredients and most fish don’t seem that keen. My cichlids get omega one, bug bites and Azoo ultra fresh mainly.

Would it be possible that it is a female and egg bound (if that can happen with fish). I don’t know, I mean often a female cichlid will spawn even if there are no males present. But could that be a possibility? Or a tumor perhaps?

 

Maybe switch up the food to a brand with a higher % of protein.
I'm not a big fan of Hikari. New Life Spectrum & Omega One Cichlid pellets have done well for my Cichlids.

I do feed new life spectrum. Started feeding krill also, is that good? Anything more I can try?

I agree on Hikari, expensive and not very good ingredients and most fish don’t seem that keen. My cichlids get omega one, bug bites and Azoo ultra fresh mainly.

Would it be possible that it is a female and egg bound (if that can happen with fish). I don’t know, I mean often a female cichlid will spawn even if there are no males present. But could that be a possibility? Or a tumor perhaps?

Gosh, hope it isnt a tumor. It grew fast in that case then stopped growing. So seems unlikely?

 

I do feed new life spectrum. Started feeding krill also, is that good? Anything more I can try?

Gosh, hope it isnt a tumor. It grew fast in that case then stopped growing. So seems unlikely?

I think it is unlikely as well, since the fish is behaving normally and it is on both sides.

 

Maybe switch up the food to a brand with a higher % of protein.
I'm not a big fan of Hikari. New Life Spectrum & Omega One Cichlid pellets have done well for my Cichlids.

Hmm, looked at the food now. The hikari pellets and cichlid sticks are 40% protein, while the NLS only are 34-37%?

I have the following for my Oscar:
NLS Large Fish Formula (36% protein)
NLS Float (37% protein)
Hikari Cichlid Gold (40% protein)
Hikari Food Sticks (40% protein)
Tetra cichlid mini granules (44% protein)
Tetra cichlid sticks (46% protein)

What/which should I feed?

 

Looks like there is plenty protein in the diet.
I once bought Hikari Cichlid Gold pellets in a pinch. The normally ravenous group of Cichlids I kept at the time more or less ignored it. I never bought Hikari again.
That's just my experience. I'm sure others have positive feelings towards Hikari.

 

Looks like there is plenty protein in the diet.
I once bought Hikari Cichlid Gold pellets in a pinch. The normally ravenous group of Cichlids I kept at the time more or less ignored it. I never bought Hikari again.
That's just my experience. I'm sure others have positive feelings towards Hikari.

Mine loves it. But not a bad thing to feed then, at 40% protein?

 

I think the menu you are feeding is varied & very healthy for your Oscar.