Hello,

I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Judy and I live in New York State, USA. I came upon my first Oscar, "Toad" a little over one week ago. This poor Tiger Oscar was one of 3 or four. I found him at a pet shop lying on his side, weakly flapping his fin which was torn and surrounded with fungus at its base. I adopted him on site with plans of treating his injuries and or illnesses and finding a good home for him.

I put him on five days of antibiotics, a prophylactic dose of antiparasitic medication and an antifungal. He is about 3-4 inches long. Over one week later he is doing just fine. He is still in his 10 gallon hospital tank with a Penguin 150 Filter, to which I have now added Bio Spira, a product by Marineland to help cycle his tank. I am 90 percent sure he has stolen my heart and when I move in two months he will be moving with me and into his new home a 75-100 gallon tank.

I need all the help I can get as I have only had a 3 gallon Eclipse tank and one Betta a Cory cat for well over one year. Other than that it has been 37 years since I have had aquariums in my home. The tank ph is 7.0, NH3 and NO2 are zero and NO3 is currently 5.0. I keep his tank at about 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

I am a Microbiologist by trade, and I love all technical aspects of fish keeping and "Toad" has quite the personality to enjoy as well. Right now he has no interest in frozen blood worms,beef heart, krill, shrimp or a combo frozen food called Cichlid Delight. His only interest is in Tetra's Cichlid small pellets and sticks which he was fed at the pet shop. I have tried numerous other brands of pellets, flakes, freeze dried foods etc., but I will have to slowly win him over to a better diet.

Thank you for what seems like a very friendly and informative site.

Good morning from here, Judy And congrats on your new friend, they are famous for stealing hearts

Glad to hear he recovered so well. They grow quickly so your 10 gallon will look small soon, but since you're planning on an appropriate tank after moving I reckon it will work somehow, just keep watching your water quality, they are messy fish.

Oscar can be picky with food, especially when used to always the same, but you're right in trying to offer him different stuff. Mine won't eat (thawed) shrimps but can't resist an earthworm or nightcrawler. Still think he would eat shrimps if it was all there was, but if yours eats pellets (well a certain brand) at least you can take your time with trying out different things.

Have fun here and just ask whatever comes to your mind, lots of helpful articles here too. Cool job btw, can help you lots probably with fish keeping

Hi and welcome too ofl.com

hey Judy, welcome! my Tiger is completely opposite of your Toad! he doesn't lke pellets at all, never eat them he eats shrimps, small fish and bloodworms! pretty cool fish to have!

welcome to ofl.com

Welcome to the site!

Hallo:)

welcome

Hi,
I just wanted to send my sincere thanks to all of you who are welcoming me to the website. My "Toad" and I will be much the better for your help and insight into a pretty big fish.
Judy alias Bennybadoo