I was sitting on the couch this morning, and heard a banginf from our office. I thought maybe the cat knocked some books off a shelf. I walk in there and the cover for my oscar's tank is in the bottom of the tank and he is laying on the floor. I reach to just pick him up, and he goes nuts jumping around. Finally after running into the kitchen and grabbing a big bowl, and 2 tried later, I got him back into the tank. He was out of the water a total of about 3 min, but in that time, he got the fibers of the carpet all over him. He is acting pretty much normal now, but he looks like he got into a fight, he has some scales missing, and he looks like he has moss growing on him, he has so much stuff from the carpet on him. he also has it on his eyes.

My first question is why do they jump out of the water like that. He is about 6 yrs old, about 10" long, and I have him in a 35 gal tank. He from time to time jumps and hits the lid of his tank, but he has never jumped out.

My second question, is how can I get all that stuff off him? He will not let anyone or anything touch him. Will it just fall off him, or what?

Any help is appreciated. He is part of that family. We talk to him, and play with him quite a bit, so I know he gets attention.


Thanks Phillip

First off glad you got him back in the tank! Now you say he's 10"s in a 35!!! I'd jump out to... He needs a bigger tank and soon! The fibers from the carpet should fall off with time just make sure your water is prime. Good luck with it!

TF

SlowDelSol wrote:

oscar, arowana and other fish jump out of the tank because they thought that the it is still another open space to explore. oscar in particular use to jump our to reach some foods. that is why we normally recommend to have a lid on top. you are not alone on this, i had just lost my 14 inches oscar when i forgot to close down the lid.

those carpet stuff and dust will fall off normally. your fish will develop whitish covering all over the body due to the injury, plus maybe a blurred eyes later. just make sure to check your water and keep it in tiptop condition to help healing.

that is normal to most responsible fish keepers...btw, any plan to upgrade the tank. 6 years old oscar should be beyond the 14 inches mark if given a good size tank, pristine water, and varied food. Nevertheless...6 years is already an accomplishment

x2 carpet fibers should just come off but once floating in the water you should make an effort to remove as much as possible. fine hair and nylon fibers can irritate the gills if they get stuck inside as the fish breaths and sucks them in by mistake.

X2 again on a bigger tank.

Please please get him a bigger tank, at that size he needs at the very least a 75 gallon. You sound like you love him, please do what's best for him and he'll live longer and be happier. Keep us posted please.

you were one of the lucky ones lol but yea like everyone else said you gotta at least upgrade him to a 55gallon but i prefer 72 to 75 though

My Oscar jumped out one day while feeding him luckily it was then..and thanks to my football days I caught him mid air and back in he went...He was a little more cautious after that. I also stopped having him jump for his food. He now takes it from my fingers. I believe it's much safer and it has even gotten to the point where he rubs against my hand and I give him a a gentle stroke with a finger. It's nice to do but I know this contact should be limited. I mean you shouldn't stroke him all day. It can damage their natural protective coating. Always keep a lid down and refrain from teaching them to jump. It can be fun, but would happen if he tried alone and I wasn't there to catch him? Or you weren't there to place him back in his home? I know a few good people who have lost their oscars in a scenario similar to this.
Have a good day