:angry: I never had so many problems with fish before these oscars are the weakest fish i have ever owned they always seem to die off or get some kind of sickness...maybe due to over inbreeding or something.... I had 17 discus in my tank before i got oscars and never once had a problem with them...I had normal tropical fish also before and also never had a problem ...I had 6 caribi piranha's and also never had a problem...But with these oscars nothing but problems now they have marks on them like as if you stuck a burning cigarette into your arm they have these marks on there sides... I used meds for hole in the head for 5 days straight they still have the problem and now i been treating with the malifix stuff both types for bacteria and fungus for 3 days now also and still nothings working.... these oscars are just weak fish like i said i owned many other types of fish even electric blue dempsy's and they where stronger than these oscars... and they are small 2 to 4 inches and i changed half my 125Gl tanks water every week and till have problems....I don't get it... they say discus are hard to keep well they where much easier to keep than these oscars that's for sure!

its such a shame you feel that way .......about the greatest fish on the planet !!!! LOL

Are you using a strong filter system? How does your water test? I've found O's to be very hardy even though I had a problem with fungus. I'm glad he got it though cause it brought me here.
I think you will have to medicate a little longer before you see results, they heal fast but not that fast. You have a pretty big tank but how many fish are in it? Can you send pics? Test your water and let us know what it says. I'm sure we can help

Hi the fish are small 2 to 4 inches or so and i have 5 of them. the water is perfect 5ppm nitrate and i will be doing a 50% water change this tuesday no amonia at all... i have loads of filtration
one of the biggest double bio wheel filters and the biggest aqua clear filter and the 250gph magnum canister plus a reana 350gph canister.
Maybe i got a week batch of em maybe they where inbread a lot or something?

seems a little strange. oscars are often very resistant.

Actually, I would agree with you to a certain extent. I've had more problems with Oscars than any other fish I've ever owned as well. One of my Oscars in the 125 gallon tank is battling either hith, or some other similar type of illness. My water's fine, I carry out regular tank maintenance, I don't know what else I can do, but he still continues to suffer from this. Sometimes it improves for a while, then it comes back. I think I put it down to him having a damaged immune system or something like that because the other one is perfectly okay. I also have four CL in the same tank and they have been okay in the five years I've had them.

However, Oscars are my first love I wouldn't be without them whatsoever

Hi why I think some people have major problems with oscars is we may be the ones that got them from a place that inbreeds them to much ...all mine came from the same place so i think this is the cause of there weakness they must have came from a bad inbred batch..

my oscars are the stongest fish ive ever had... i rarely give the tank a good clean but change water every 2 -3 weeks... once i moved houses and left my o's set up at the old place for a month before i moved them.. in that time they never had their tank cleaned and were only feed every 3 - 4 days... they picked off my convict and albino shark but the left the red tail and the angelfish.
My fish have never had a disease or health issue in the two years ive had them, never had to treat water or anything... maybe the more of these products you put in your water, the weaker the fishs immune system becomes... just my thought

and are still living quite happily with the angelfish and red tail shark... now they also have their 8ft tank spilt up with a juvinile alibno tiger on the other side.
p.s i have a red tiger and an albino tiger breeding pair

biancawinter wrote:
i believe i can totally concur on this.

i had been raising fish of different species and of different situation.
in vast ponds, tilapia, milkfish, catfish, king crab, and mud fish are the easiest kind to grow commercially.

in aquarium as hobby, i find oscar as the easiest to have. next is the pangasius.

since we are in the different region with different situation, i can not contradict what you think and feel about your experience. but oscar is one of the easiest specie to raise.

and please don't get mad at me.... oscar taste better that grouper.
remember, i started this hobby as part of my back yard food production
project and i raise oscar, pangasius, tilapia, catfish, mudfish,
fresh water lobster and all kinds of vegetables. we tend to cook all of them.

PAUL wrote:


and please don't get mad at me.... oscar taste better that grouper.
remember, i started this hobby as part of my back yard food production
project and i raise oscar, pangasius, tilapia, catfish, mudfish,
fresh water lobster and all kinds of vegetables. we tend to cook all of them. [/quote]

LMAO Paul, We were just talking about that today. My dad wants to eat my babies:( ..... Glad to know if we were starving we could eat them...

first of all, they are very clean since we know what we feed them.
2nd, we always keep the water in good condition....
but lately, due to my attachment with them, i bury my oscars when
i lost them due to strong storm...... i did not even think to give
them to my brothers who had waited for my go signal.

i don't know why... perhaps i became too much attached with them.