Recently I upgraded from a 20 gallon tank to a 55 gallon tank. In that process my Oscar Frank Lucas, who is about year old, has stopped eating. I have observed his behavior for about a week now and it is very odd. He is just as active as he was before but he isn't eating nearly as much. Before the tank change Frank would come to the top of the tank and eat now he just sits on the bottom of the tank and ignores his food when I put it in.

Also when I put feeder fish in his old tank, the 20 gallon, he would just absolutely devour them. A few days after I introduced him to the tank I noticed he was not eating as frequently as he did previously so with that in mind I purchased some rosie reds, around 16,and put them in his tank. That was last Friday. Usually Frank would have 16 feeders gone in 72 hours there are about 9 left now.

I can't think of why he is doing this but my other Oscar who I introduced a week after the tank change, "Young Money" Chev Chelios, has been eating a fair amount. I can't think of why Frank wouldn't eat but Chelios, who is about 2 months old and not even a quarter of his size, is eating. If anyone has any insight let me know. I am very concerned and I am scared of losing Frank Lucas any help would be amazing.


Also here is a picture of Frank and Young Money

Frank is adjusting to his new home and water. He's probably pouting, Oscars are famous for it. Just give him time and he will start eating again. Try not giving him anything for a day or two, let him miss it. When Young Money starts growing you're gonna have to upgrade again...to a 75 at least but bigger is better. I know you're worried but they can go for weeks without eating, at least my Green Terror did...5 whole weeks without a bite....and he's fine now Test your water and post the results please. Also try changing the tank decorations around some, sometimes they just don't like what you've done with their home
Welcome to the site and I hope this eases your mind some!!!

Have you checked your water? your tank needs to cycle before introducing a fish. i have done a couple tank upgrades and my oscars have done the same if it didnt cycle long enough. And oscars are very picky to there surroundings if they get use to a tank then u change they will do that to called (pouting) And 2 oscars in a 55 isnt big enough i would recomend doing a water test and get at least a 100 gallon to a 120 gallon. If u lived close by i would give u a good deal on a 120 gallon i have because i have a 250 gallon know.

strange... my oscars only take a few hours to adjust after a complete clean.

biancawinter wrote:

Even after a complete clean you still have your bacteria in your gravel rocks and filter. That's a lot of work though
Where are you Dalton? I might be close enough to be interested in your tank.

whos Dalton?

Dalton wrote:


This guy

Thanks for all the help I just have one question. I know everyone here probably knows a whole lot more about Oscars then I do but I always heard that the ratio of gallons to oscars was one oscar to 25 gallons at the least? The local pet stores in my area, North East P.A., all said this and told me I would be fine with a 55 gallon and 2 full grown Oscars. That having been said I trust everyone else who replied to this thread a lot more then them but frankly I don't have 600 dollars to drop on a 100 gallon set up like that. I guess what I am really asking how bad is it that I have a "smaller" tank? With the economy the way it is I don't see myself getting a tank that size any time soon...

lol me i live in the US in iowa i have quite a few tanks lol a 250, 120 x'2 55 x'2 35 and a couple 10's all US gallons my 250 i say its 250 but really like a 263

well u need at least 55 gallons for 1 oscar all a smaller tank is gonna do is stunt there growth and your nitrite and nitrate levels will be off the chart unless u do water changes all the time. like my 250 i do water changes about every 3 weeks and all thats in there is 2 oscars and 2 fire mouths. heres what my water looks like
PH 7.8
Nitrate 5
Nitrite 0
amonia 0
temp 78 degrees
with two oscars in a 55 u need a really good filter running like a bio wheel or a fx5 its a really nice filter kinda costly i have 2 running in my 250 and a bio wheel. i would at least change 25 to 30 percent of ur water 1 time a week if u keep them in a 55 gallon. and another reason is because they cant swim around as much. look in your paper or craigslist u can usally find them pritty cheap. im selling one of my 120 gallons with stand,plants,lighting,rocks, decorations and a fx5 for $300 the filter alone is worth almost 200 lol

Dalton,
Thanks for your quick response I really appreciate it but I don't think I'm coming to Iowa any time soon haha. I'll take your advice and look in craigs and the wanted ads for a bigger tank. For the time being I already consistently change my water almost about 20% a week. I have to go back to work but I will be checking my water later on tonight when I get home and I will post the results. From what I can tell you now the water is

Temp 80
pH 7.4

Do you deliver Dalton??? That's a great deal and I could kick my kid out and put it downstairs I hope you sell it to somebody that will take good care of it.
I second the advice you gave Acoro !