Oscar Rescue, Best Way To Proceed

Hey friends,

Long story short I had a lady contact me about rehoming her fish tank. When I went to see what she had I found 2 gold fish, an oversized pleco, and a full grown 7 year old Oscar named peaches, in probably the worst conditions I’ve ever seen. She has a pretty bad case of HITH that the owners think is just from her digging around in the rocks. So this is kind of an emergency move.

I’d like some recommendations on how to safely move her and get her into a clean tank. I’m going to save as much of her water as I can But I’d like to know exactly how much water, so I don’t shock her enough to kill her. We are bringing the 50 gallon she’s in (yeah I know, too small) and setting up a 120 gallon for her. Any advice is appreciated !

 

Have you tested your water and theirs? That will help determine how much water you should/should not save. A201 can guide you with treating the HITH but for now I'd change at least 50% of the water every one to two days

 

I’m with Nikm change 50% of the water every day. As long as the Oscar can take it. That water is probably really bad. Both the goldfish and the pleco have huge waste loads. Goldfish are probably left over feeders. For the first water change do 15 gallon and see how the Oscar reacts to the clean water. If no reaction and all is well wait about 2 hrs and do a 50% wc. This will clean up the water. Also clean out filter media in the removed water and reinstall it. Next day save 20 gallon for the 120 and add the filter from the 50 and you should be good. I would rehome the goldfish and the pleco

 

Put it in a bucket and move it ASAP. Don't worry about anything beyond temperature matching to touch. It will likely stress over the move and lay on the bottom, but do not mistake that for dying. Give it some time to calm down. The water that it is in is already toxic, more important to worry about getting that fish in clean water than how hard or acid it might be. Yes, you will have the fish in an uncycled tank, but extra water changes, perhaps 25% daily, will work just fine to keep it alive.

 

Treatment for HITH / Hexamita. If the Oscar is still eating mix food with SeaChem's Metroplex & Focus. If not eating treat the water column with Metroplex.
Sometimes just introducing a sick fish into a vastly improved environment is enough to kick start its immune system and put it on the pathway to recovery.
Transfer the Oscar to the new location in a good sized styrofoam ice chest. Do you know how to instant cycle a tank?

 

I was debating taking the old filter cleaning it in tank water and setting it up on the 120. Letting it run for an hour and then acclimate her in to the 120

 

I was debating taking the old filter cleaning it in tank water and setting it up on the 120. Letting it run for an hour and then acclimate her in to the 120

That should work fine. But I still think a slow move may be better than a quick move. Who knows how high the nitrates are in that tank. A fish going from long time high nitrates to no nitrates could go into shock. So if you take a day or 2 to make the move I believe your chances will be better for the Oscar.

 

I’ll do 50% today once I move her from point A to B.

 

That should work fine. But I still think a slow move may be better than a quick move. Who knows how high the nitrates are in that tank. A fish going from long time high nitrates to no nitrates could go into shock. So if you take a day or 2 to make the move I believe your chances will be better for the Oscar.

Nitrates are irrelevant when moving a fish to clean water. The thing to fear is turning harmless ammonium in acid water to ammonia in alkaline water with a 50% water change. That can be fatal. Fast move is better for the fish.

 

Ok I’m cautious but your right about the acid water. RiRI I would follow chromedomes advice . And good luck oscars are great fish hope this gal does great in her new home

 

Her tank is almost ready, wish me luck!




API master test kit of her water before I moved her. She’s surprisingly moving around some already. Crossing my fingers. Do you guys recommend a large or small water change tomorrow ?

 

Bless her heart. You know she can’t feel good. I’m glad you have her now.

 

API master test kit of her water before I moved her. She’s surprisingly moving around some already. Crossing my fingers. Do you guys recommend a large or small water change tomorrow ?

Go large, those nitrates have to be around 200ppm at least

 

Those reading are what I expected. The water was rarely changed. If that’s hith she is going to need some meds or a dip of some meds. Not sure what it is I’ve never seen it that bad. Could be she was banging her head on something and cut it up. As to the water change if you saved the filter and just cleaned the media it should be good. That test is from the old tank water. She’s in clean water now. So test tomorrow and see how the readings are. If the ammonia is above .50 do a 50% change if not wait and test the again 12hrs later. Good luck. I would say add some aquarium salt but not sure if it’s good for oscars.

 

I did a huge water change today, I only kept 25% of her original water. We kept her filter media but gave it a clean in her original tank. I tried to keep as much as I could to not shock her. She might have banged her head on the log when we tried to move her to the cooler, but the majority of the holes and scarring have clearly been there a while. She also has finrot in a few places. She isn’t laying on the bottom but swimming around a little bit! I will retest tomorrow and see where everything is sitting.

Okay guys 24 hours, and she is up and swimming around. She’s gasping but she was doing that in before we moved her and did a water change, is there anything I can do to help this or just wait a bit to see if this lessens ?

 

Is she eating? If so she should be alright. Keep checking the water and Change it again if it needs to or in 2 days. Try and keep her in clean water for awhile to see if just clean water will clear up those pockets marks. But if they don’t look like there healing in a week I would look into meds to see what will cure it.

 

She hasn’t eaten yet no.

 

What have you tried feeding? I've never had a fish reject frozen bloodworms

 

I think her gills are probably really rough right now. It may take her some time to stop gasping. Like a smoker who quits and it takes a while for the lungs to heal.

 

I’ve only tried the large cichlid pellets, frozen brine shrimp and some veggies. She won’t come near any of it, which is fine. I’m not expecting her to eat this week, but I will keep trying until she does

 

How is she doing?

 

Physically she is doing fantastic ! (Still won’t eat and turns into a diva when we open the lid) we’ve gotten her nitrates to about 40ppm but because of where I live(ammonia in Tap water) it’s also spiked her ammonia and nitrite to .50ppm and .25ppm respectively. While those number aren’t alarming yet, we’re going to hold off for two days and then do a small water change instead of the daily 50%.

 

Wish you luck. I wish people took care of the water pets as much as we do. Glad your trying to help.

 

View attachment 595444 View attachment 595445 Physically she is doing fantastic ! (Still won’t eat and turns into a diva when we open the lid) we’ve gotten her nitrates to about 40ppm but because of where I live(ammonia in Tap water) it’s also spiked her ammonia and nitrite to .50ppm and .25ppm respectively. While those number aren’t alarming yet, we’re going to hold off for two days and then do a small water change instead of the daily 50%.

Fantastic! She’s looking much better.

 

So we’re at the week mark, we’ve gotten her color back and her face is healing. But she isn’t swimming around anymore, she’s staying on the bottom of the tank. Still no interest in food. Is there anything I can do to help her feel better ? She pooped once when we brought her home and she is currently pooping I think? It’s white though. Something I should be concerned about or is the color from her lack of food? I have no idea when she ate last, probably 2 weeks ?


If anyone cares for an update. It’s been a week and a half since rescue and the last 3 days she’s been hanging around the bottom, pushing around a couple things we gave her. No swimming. And today I came home to her laying on her side. I’ve done a water change. She still hasn’t eaten anything. So I’m wondering if there’s anything else I can do for her or if her past situation is catching up with her ?

 

Maybe it's just "pouting." I'd give it some more time to adjust. Continue with regular maintenance, but don't do anything stressful. If it won't eat, remove food within an hour or two.

I had one particularly stubborn fish take 2 weeks to finally come out and eat. If it's healing and looking better that's a good sign

 

I know they’re known for pouting and not eating. She has improved drastically in appearance, her HITH is much better, her tail is starting to heal from fin rot, she isn’t gasping as hard, she’s incredibly bright, with some shimmer coming back into her scales, and she was up and swimming around on the weekend. I know she’s gone through more change in the last week than she has in years.

 

Sounds like your doing something right, mine would pout every time I did a water change.

 

I’ve started noticing she will flop and not really move if we are home and moving around, I’ve yet to sneak Into the house and see her swimming though. She’s staying in the bottom... is rubbing herself on the logs and new sand we got her normal? Lol I’ve never seen a fish do that but she seems to enjoy it .... still not eating worms are my next option !

 

Maybe live food is the ticket? Worms are great, or you could try isopods or maybe millipedes.

 

I’m willing to try anything at this point. This is currently our situation, as I just tried to feed her some krill..... anytime we get close to the tank she flops over. She will not eat anything I’ve tried, she doesn’t even respond to it. We’re putting in a bubbler and doing a water change today, but she’s either got something internal going on or the stress is going to kill her

 

View attachment 622246 I’m willing to try anything at this point. This is currently our situation, as I just tried to feed her some krill..... anytime we get close to the tank she flops over. She will not eat anything I’ve tried, she doesn’t even respond to it. We’re putting in a bubbler and doing a water change today, but she’s either got something internal going on or the stress is going to kill her

bless her. Do you think she has a parasite? The other possibility is her organs are being squished from stunted growth from being in a small tank all this time.

 

I think I'd try prazipro and/or metroplex assuming it's not an issue from stunting

 

Well up until we brought her home she was swimming fine and eating, she even took a bite at my fiancé. Since we’ve brought her home we’ve changed her environment, stabilized her nitrates, given her aquarium salt. Her HITH has improved significantly, and her fin rot has stopped. She’s been through a HUGE amount of changed from a tank that hasn’t changed in almost 7 years. She hops around the tank but rarely gets enough umph to get up and swim, she doesn’t seem to like us when we move around so I think she’s associating us with all the commotion.

 

They are pretty smart, that honestly seems to be a likely situation to me.

 

Update: we started her on metro 2 days ago and we haven’t seen any change, still no food and still laying on the bottom. Her water is finally about 30-40 ppm nitrates. She seems to perk up a bit when we do a water change (daily ) and when we add her medication and touch up the aquarium salt... I’m not convinced she’s going to make it at this point, 3 weeks with no food ? I’m really at a loss for what else to do

 

Maybe add some garlic guard? I'm not as familiar with how that works but I think I've heard that it can be beneficial for cichlids that aren't eating. Orange peels might work too?

 

You name it I’ve tried it...

 

I’m sorry. I don’t know how long they can really last with no food.

 

You've done an amazing job by just giving her a better place. A lot of people may frown upon this but maybe live food like feeders? I know a lot say they can introduce parasites but at this point it could be a turn around for a good deal of protein and a predatory feeling for her to search a coiple feeders down. ( I honestly feel bad saying it sorry ). I had a large 7" oscar in a 55 back 35 years ago and that was its staple food. cause I had a 10 gallon under the 55 so I would get 2 dozen and have to do that every 2 weeks at the tune of $.05 per feeder sorry