Hey all,

I'm new here and hoping I can get some help for my 10yo Albino Oscar.

About 2weeks ago I moved him and his 4ft tank to my house. Up till then, he was living at my mum's as although she tried, she wasn't looking after him very well.

He seemed to cope pretty well during the move, which all up from the time he was taken out of the tank to the time to the time he went back in at his new home was about 3-4 hours.

I noticed straight away that he appears to have HITH and I have treated him with Metronidazole. I've got him on pellets with bloodworms.

What I have noticed though, is that he seems to be losing all his scales. I am siphoning every 2-3 days doing 25% changes and notice there are always scales on the gravel floor.
He is in a tank by himself with some driftwood and I've never seen him rub on it or the gravel.

He also has started pacing his tank - swimming the same pattern up and down. His appetite seems to have improved since coming home, however it really seems as if he can't see the pellets on the surface? When I feed him bloodworms or other raw mix, I 'hand feed' him and he takes it straight away, but only when it's right at his mouth.

I have no idea what to do for him - I don't really know a whole lot about fish and up till I left him at my mums about 12months ago, he was perfectly normal and healthy.

If anyone has any insight or suggestions they would be greatly appreciated. I love this fish and have had him since he was only about 5cm but I'm scared something is really wrong.

Thanks in advance...

Hi Stormie welcome to OFL

Please start by posting you water parameters

Ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/PH/temperature

Without these we really cant tell what's going on..

Hi Stormie, welcome, you have come to the right place. For the experts to help you better please post as much info as you can about the water...do you have a test kit? your tank set up...filter etc. It sounds like he is a much loved member of your family, hopefuly this site can give you some help. The fact that he is eating and swimming is great but it sounds like he does have some health issues, poor fella...Shaz

THank you.

I don't have a test kit right now but I ordered one this week so should hopefully be here soon.

Basically I have a 4ft x 1ft x 1.5ft tank with only a hang on filter at the moment until the new external canister one arrives. I have no idea of the specs of it unfortunately, but I don't believe it's all that appropriate for the size of his tank. The new filter coming is a 1000lt/hr Aqua One.

I have a light which goes on usually at about 630am and goes off at about 8pm.

I have to admit whilst he was at my mums I don't think the water condition was that great at all.

I really hope it's not too late

I've read some info about adding multivitamins to their food or water, but have been too scared to add much to the water once I saw him losing scales.
I don't know for sure as I've never made a hobby out of touching him but I just lightly ran my fingers over him and he felt really smooth - like a fish that's been completely scaled...

Is there anything I should be adding to the water to aid protection if he has indeed got no scales?

I'm not an expert, but I have learnt quite a bit from the guys and gals on this site. Someone else will be with you soon, but in the mean time I would say..

Don't add anything to the water until you know it's quality - poor water will kill a fish more quickly than pretty much any other ailment and meds just stuff it up further.

If he has had prolonged exposure to poor water, a recent move and insufficient filtration there is a good bet that your water aint great at the moment. Do you have any Prime by Seachem? It is a water conditioner that you would normally add at waterchange time with the added benefit of removing ammonia and detoxifying Nitrate / Nitrate. If you have that then it would not hurt to do another water change, making sure that it is the right temp...what is your temp by the way?

You really need that test kit. API make a really great one, just make sure you get a liquid test kit and not strips. If you don't have Prime, get some ASAP.

If he does have issues with his skin / scales, HITH, or any other physical problems, it is going to be crucial for you to attain pristine water if he is going to recover. Focus on that for the time being and the experts here will help you with his other problems.

Good Luck, hope the old bloke is OK...Shaz

Oh yes, don't touch him for the time being, his slime coat is his protective barrier to the world and you damage it by touching him too much...Prime is also good for slime coat.

I don't have any Prime at the moment but it's on the way with my filter (Aqua One Aquis 1000) and test kit.
I have ordered the API Freshwater Master Test Kit - does this test for the essentials or will I need something else?

I've also got a new heater coming as the current one looks a bit rusty.

Current temp is 27.

I've never touched him before and don't intend to again but I just wanted to try and get an idea of his scale coverage.

There's no obvious slime but I assume it can be present without being really obvious.

Anything else you think I should get, just say the word!!

Thanks so much for the help so far!

stormie wrote:


That is the same filter as mine, it is a good reliable one, ....The test kit is also the same as mine and that is all you will need. The others will be with you soon..just in different time zones around the world...which country are you in? Sounds like you love your fish...you have had him for ages! Shaz

Thanks Shaz!

I'm in Sydney, Australia.

The really sucky thing is that I have just found out I have to move house again seeing my current rental was just sold so means another big move for him in the next 8 weeks

stormie wrote:


What a bugger...and it can be so hard to find a place. I am in Tweed Heads and am renting. Had to move a couple of years ago and it took me months just to find a landlord willing to accept 5 kids and 2 dogs. The thought of moving now that I have a gazillion fish would do my head in.

You should be able to stabilise your little old fella by the time you move and can have a good strategy to keep him happy in the process. The people on this site are really good and really friendly and they LOVE THEIR FISH!! The good thing about being is Aus is that while we are sleeping tonight, people from all over the world are pondering your problem and writing you down their best advice. By the morning you should have a plan of action..If he is mobile and eating then he has a good chance. Maybe their eyesight goes with age????, Maybe his scales are a sign of prolonged exposure to ammonia? Not really sure but good clean water will make him feel much better.... I don't really know about geriatric oscar health, mine are only about 4 years old down to newborn TODAY..fishy grandma again!..Good Luck, Shaz

Oh yep, rentals are hard to find especially when you have a dog the size of a small pony!


He's (I'm assuming he's a boy here!!) so active but the pacing behaviour does bother me. I'm worried he's lost his eye sight and also worried it might be from the HITH?
He used to always come to the front of the tank and follow me as I walked past but that doesn't happen any more. He has no idea when I'm there for feeding and have to wait until he's in a good position to get the food to him. But once there, he takes it straight away.

I might see if I can get some photos of him too in case people can easily see something I can't.

I really want to get some more accessories for his tank but unless it will improve his health, its not a top priority. I'd love to get some plants in there but never had any success in the past due to his digging, but wondering whether some hardy species of potted plants might be suitable?
But maybe I should wait until I'm settled in my next place...

The general consensus here is that, except in a few cases, plants and oscars don't mix. I have a plant anchored in driftwood in with my adults, they chew it and rip off the leaves but it is still alive. I have no experience with HITH so I can't give you anything more than what is on this site..have you checked out all the Health stuff and articles?

If you can post some pics it would be good, in fact they will probably say without pics they can't tell you one way or the other..so snap some tonite so they can look at them straight away.

Poor fella.

What sort of dog do you have?