Hi all, my oscar that had the strange shaped tail, looks unwell and not growing, he/she always has its bottom fins tucked up on one side, and looks long and thin in shape and always pale in colour this oscar was the biggest out of the two.It some time swims in a very strange way like having a seizure .My water is good and we do a water change each week my other 2 oscars are doing well growing+++++++ .





My big oscar




My oscars together!!

Hi Hun! Is he getting any food??? Is he being bullied?

Sometimes there are major health issues from breeding. If this is the cane there really isn't much you can do... I lost one that way..

I hope he gets better soon!

Is the fish eating okay?

He/she eats earthworms prawns but not the cichlid gold pellets . it seems to stay in the same place most of the time , a little bulliing going on but not much!!!

tjwads wrote:


Perhaps he is a British?

johnnyphoenix wrote:


cheeky git

Difficult to say really, if it was refusing to eat then that could be a cause for concern. Whether or not there is something seriously wrong is difficult to say because the Oscar is eating. They often turn their noses up at food so that's not a concern that he is not eating pellets. How long have you been concerned for it, when did it start looking a little bit off-colour?

johnnyphoenix wrote:



pale in colour maybe!!! !!!!!!

several weeks back when i noticed its tail go an odd shape !!! the o will sometimes swim with its body in an odd shape (bent in the middle) i think thats the best way to say ??

I will have to have a look in my health but tomorrow, but I believe that parasitic infestations can cause scoliosis and curvature of the spine.

Sorry, I don't really have much of a clue at the moment. Obviously we're any going by your photos and descriptions, it is always difficult to try and diagnose a problem when you haven't got much information.

It doesnt always swim in a strange way , what other information would you like ? do you think he /she look unwell?sorry for the silly question ??

Your fish maybe being bullied and not getting enough food. Some fish that are been bullied will not feed much. They can have a hollow belly and they sometimes swim funny, level but with the tail down a bit. Does this sound like your oscar?

You may just have an oscar that is sick for no obvious reason. It may have bad genes

You fish doesnt look that ill, however it does look a little underweight in picture 2. It looks like the head is a little large. Do you see what I mean. This may just be the camera/fish angle. It looks ok in the last picture

we have decided to divide the fish up to see if it helps it has been 24 hours the small o is still not eatting well, but the large healthy o is very upset, pulling at the plants and pulled up the air pipe like a shark attacking something lol!!!I hope he doesnt become ill!!