I bought my first oscars a week ago. Now one is very active and the other hides at the bottom and doesn't eat. Is this something to worry about. Thank you

Hi Im Stacey. Im a pretty new owner to Oscars. Were they in the same tank together when you bought them? Maybe the 1 oscar wont let the other guy get the food. Actually yesterday I just upgraded my 2 small tanks that had 1 oscar each in it to a bigger tank. They just were put together for the 1st time. They seem ok so far. Are yours the same size? Im sorry Im a beginner here too. But the people on this board are AWESOME!! And will be able better to help you. Atleast to me it sounds like the 1 guy is fighting for the food. I hope this helps some. Sorry.

Yes they were in the same tank when I bought them. They are about the same size. They are not fighting for food. It just looks like it's trying to hide.

Was the tank cycled when you put them in?

By the way, welcome to the community

Thanks The tank has been set up for a few months. I tested the water and the clerk at the store tested too and said it was safe.

Sounds like everything is OK to me. Sometimes, O's are just more aggressive. I am having the same issue with my 2 in my 125 gallon tank. One swims around and gets along great with all the other fish and the other one hides in my sunken ship ornament and only comes out at feeding time. I think it's an issue of making sure you introduce them at the same time. You may want to separate them temporarily for a couple days then put them back in the tank at the same time. Just an idea.

Hi Press and welcome to the site!

The next thing we need to know is exactly what the Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and PH levels are plus your tank temp. You can not always rely on the clerks at the stores. I have learned that lesson the hard way a few times.

When I bought my 2 fish home, they hid for about 2 weeks whenever someone was in the room or walked up to the tank. They wouldn't eat either. It can take sometime for them to get use to the activity and noises in the house - and you.

HOWEVER, please try to post the levels I previously mentioned so that we can make sure that the tank really is cycled. If not, this can cause serious problems.

Brooksie

I wouldnt worry too much at the moment. Give it another week and see how it goes, oscars often sulk when they are first introduced to a new tank

Fish shops often tell you your water test results are ok even when they arent. This is why its best to buy your own testers (the bottle types not the strips- they can be inaccurate). So either buy your own testers or ask your local shop to test the water and ask for the actual figures. Then post the results and we will tell you if your water is good

You said the tank was setup for a few months, was this done with fish or food of any kind ?

If not, drooping two baby O`s in, can and most likely case a Minny cycle.
Each O is different and show, handle`s things in different way`s.
So might be you just have a drama queen.

I just found the inactive fish dead. I checked the water with the strips I have and the levels are in the safe zone. I did cycle the tank with cheap fish, five neons and six zebra kind of fish. I guess I'm back to the fish store to trade it in.

Sorry for your loss.

And sorry to say you wasted your money on test strip`s, they more time`s than not give false reading`s.
If you can, would go for a liquid test kit. More expense but well worth it.

Did the O show any other sign s of being unhealthy other than laying on the gravel ?

sorry for your loss.
It might have been just a weak fish, if waterparameters were ok...
x2 on the advice for a liquid testset.much more aqurate.