Rafael Antonio R asked:
sometimes he just lays near bottom not moving , he is 4 years old.
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Tags: Darts, Fish Oscar, Moving, Tank
Rafael Antonio R asked:
sometimes he just lays near bottom not moving , he is 4 years old.
Click here to go to the ultimate Baseball Darts Store
Tags: Darts, Fish Oscar, Moving, Tank
It is probably for real that time of the month. When it is time to mate for a fish they go into weird habits.
Check your water and make sure the parameters are okay. When was the last time you have done a water change? What size is the tank and how many oscars are in there? I know what you mean by darting about the tank and crashing into the bottom they do this when the water parameters are making them sick. Your oscar is stressed out and I would do a vacuum and water change (at least 30%) and add some stress coat. You might need to do several water changes over the next 24-48 hrs depending on what you water test results reveal. I hope you get this correctly quickly.
Lots of info on this board.
How big is your tank and what are your water parameters? Ammonia and nitrites should be 0ppm. Nitrates should be 20ppm or less. 40ppm is approaching dangerous levels as high nitrate levels will cause your oscar to become lethargic and lose its appetite. Check your nitrAte level!! Oscars prefer slightly acidic (6.5 – 6.8) to neutral water (7.0). 7.0 is ideal; However, stable pH is always better than fluctuating pH. Generally, pH isn’t the culprit when encountering the problems you describe, so don’t worry too much about pH.
Oscars are big fish and should have 55 gallons (minimum!) of water of its own. While not the most aggressive cichlids, oscars can present challenges for less than “expert” handlers should you try to keep more than one in a tank. Tank mates are generally not a good idea for Oscars unless you have a breeding in a 125 gallon tank or larger.
If the water quality is poor, the fish could be reacting to this as well. Your water temperature should be 72F – 82F. If your temps have fluctuated recently, this could be adding to your problem.
Hope this helps & Good Luck