First of all thanks for a great site. I've learned much that past 8 months here...lurking.

However, now I have a problem:

My 9 month old Oscar got constipated about 6 weeks ago. After a week of not feeding him anything but peas (which he did not eat much of) I put him in a hospital tank with some Epsom salt for a few days. While in the tank he went nuts and dislocated his jaw when I put the lights on. Well, I did some reading and tried to re-set it, but did not get it back to where it was. This is not my problem though as he's healed up fairly well.

Ever since this 'incident' 5 weeks ago he has done nothing but hide from me. As soon as he sees me he goes into the corner, turns pale, and lays there scared $h*tless. He will only eat after I leave the area for the most part. I've been trying to make some peace with him, but now I'm concerned that he will blame me forever for his injury. This was a great fish before - always active, jumping out of the water for food, very friendly, etc. Now, he's a different fish.

I don't have a lot of patience to begin with, but this is getting on my nerves. Anyone have issues with their Oscar like this before? How long would you think it will take to trust me again, if ever? The other fish in the tank seem to follow his lead as they hide much more often as well. I guess the bottom line is that this fish hates my guts. :angry: Any advice? Thanks!

Tank: 75G
1 8" Oscar
1 4" Salvini
1 4" Jack Dempsey
1 3" Firemouth

(eventually I'll have to split the tank up when they get a bit larger, I know)

0 Ammonia
0 Nitrite
5 Nitrate
pH 7.6
25% PWC's every week - 50% once a month.

Diet: Hikari Gold as staple, zucchini, crickets, bloodworm, mysis shrimp, earthworm.

starve him for two days, give him live worm on the 3rd day,
he will be glad to meet you every day for foods...with wiggling
tails of course.

PAUL wrote:


Thanks, but I've already tried that a couple times not feeding him for 3 days. He will still hide and sometimes just lay on his side. When I am far away from the tank, he will wait a bit and then eat a little. As soon as I go back toward the tank, he sits on the bottom with that scared look.

I'm starting to think that he needs a change in environment - meaning another owner that he isn't so afraid of. He acts like I've abused him. I know Oscar's can be sensitive and go into short term 'funks', but this is getting ridiculous!

better check your water parameters again. that is symptoms of having
poor water quality. what type is your testing kit?

PAUL wrote:


API liquid test kit. I check the parameters often and they are good. He's been like this since he hurt his jaw and apparently blames me. Maybe I shouldn't have tried to 'fix' it, but it's too late now.

Like I said, he's fairly normal when I'm away from the tank. :angry:

wow, nice oscar! the picture shows something with me.
staying in the bottom and lying on its side means it really has some
problem. maybe balancing problem or swim bladder. i am not good about
it since i haven't got that experience with it but that is my evaluation.

PAUL wrote:


Like I said, he only gets this way when I come near the tank. Otherwise he is swimming perfectly. It's entirely 'mental' with him. He does not like me since the injury. I've decided I'm going to re-home him as there has been no improvement in over a month and he is stressing the other fish out. He is a nice fish so hopefully he can get back to where he was with someone else.

Your oscar has been through a lot and he is probably worried that you will 'get him' again. Give him time and he will come round. Try feeding him his favourite food for a while