So i relocated my little Oscar since hes wounded and a little stressed, so i thought i would give him a treat like i usually do, a earthworm. Not a large one! so i dropped it in and he got it in his mouth, when suddenly...OMG THE WORM CAME OUT OF HIS GILLS!!!!!
Is my little Oscar going to die, this left side gill is purplish, and looks...spread apart!
I dont know if hes going to make it, hes been through a lot!!!

You have to post a pic or a vid of something like that. Just describing it is no help, although i suspect you are overreacting. How big is he again anyways?

that normally wouldnt be a problem but the purple color has me wondering. was it purple before the worm incident? Can you post a pic?

Well it has already happened the worm literally went into his mouth and out his gills! than he kinda swam really fast around the tank and finally got the worm out! and i will go take some pictures.

Seems as though i have misplaced my camera....

I assume again that he'll probably be fine since he got the worm out...you would know if there was any real gill damage because he would probably be gasping and gulping, and perhaps hovering near the surface. If he is a younger oscar from now on just cut the worms into halves or thirds. My oscar is over 10 inches and I still at least cut the worms in half.

I cut it into 4ths, and he seems to be slightly gasping, but he isnt near the surface, just swimming and resting near the bottom.

Maybe it's like when you are drinking and then you laugh and the drink comes out your nose...or am I the only one who does that.... Really, if you break it down, you would know by now if there was a serious gil problem..air intake is a critical thing..so it was probably just a bazarre thing that you can tease him about....don't inhale your food! Shaz

sharyn wrote:


X2 sounds like the worm managed to go out of the gills rather than in the stomach. Strange but it could be true