We need some help fast. One of our two tiger oscars has been floating on her side at the top of the tank now for over a month now. We have tried tetracycline treating the tank with no success. She has exhibited this behavior in the past but would usually snap out of it after a week or two and would continue eating during the spells. This time however, she has stopped eating for the past 2 weeks atleast. Surprisingly the other Oscar we have in the tank with her does not bother her but does nudge her occassionally. Any suggestions on what could be wrong with this mysteriously floating fish?

Welcome to the site

How are your water conditions? Ammonia, nitrite, nitrates and pH, we really need to know these. Is it possible to get a photograph so we can see for ourselves, even some video footage if possible.

Swim bladder disorders normally only affect the fishes movement in the water, unless it's a very serious case, they normally still want to eat so I am not sure if this is the problem, but obviously I could be wrong.

Is the fish showing signs of laboured breathing, i.e. opening and closing its mouth, rapid gill movement.

Get back to us with some answers and we will see what we can do it, but the situation does not sound good I'm afraid.

As far as the exact water conditions I will need to get back on those we have not tested the water before and have had no problems at all with the second oscar in the tank and we got them at same time 5 years ago. She does not have labored breathing, she is not gasping for air, and an update of eating--she is eating. It seems as though she just cant swim right anymore, if I gently push her down in the water she will swim for a few seconds then float to the top again. On some occassion as when she is feeding she will swim upright but always with the top of her body sticking out of the water. She can maintain that position for about 2 to 5 minutes, then back floating on her side at the top of the tank.

This does rather sound like a swim bladder disorder. There are a couple of treatments that you could try, I'll have to get back to you on this. However, swim bladder disorders are often permanent and there's nothing you can do about them. Having said that, many fish can live with a some bladder disorder, as long as they can eat, they will survive.

Would you describe your fish as whirling, or wobbling in the aquarium?

i'm afraid your fish got a swim bladder problem..... when one is infected and
the other is not doesn't mean you have good water condition. one may be more
resistant than the other......just curious, how big are your fishes????
having them for 5 years is already an accomplishment..

defiantly sounds like swim bladder unfortunately there inst a lot you can do is she pooping ok if not she might have a blockage could try pees with the outer hull removed????? I h ad a fish do this and it was a blockage or hard bowel that was pushing on the bladder she passed it and was ok just a thought

Thank you all for the responses, they alone are a relief as I can find nothing on this topic on the web anywhere else. This particular fish has had this problem before and has recovered I will watch to see how she is pooping and try the hulled pees recommendation. As for her "swim style", all I can say is that she TRIES to swim and will get to the bottom occasional but as she struggles she just floats to the top and eventually gives up and rests. She will do this several times during the day. As I said we are treating with Tetracycline and any other recommendations for treatment will be tried. These Oscars were bought quarter size and are now easily 10 to 12 inches long, they are not only named but trained to play with ping pong balls and can be hand fed and touched by certain members of the family. A definate source of pride for my 11 year old daughter and 7 year old son who they were bought for. I might add that the two Oscars, Raja and Shear Kahn, do occassionally fight in the tank, causing each other to hit the sides of the tank and splash water out of the tank, and it is usually after these play sessions that Raja starts her floating. We are amazed that she has held out this long, a month and a half now, and can only hope she holds out until we can find some way to help her swim normal again; as long as she keeps trying we will. Keep the suggestions coming please, it never hurts to try.

as long as she is eating....she has a good chance to survive....just keep
the water in tip top condition couple with good feeding habit.

can you post pictures..... we love to see aged oscar huh!

okay from what ive read... this fish hasnt eaten in weeks, its laying on its side floating... not eating... basically this fish is dying because it cannot control its buoyancy. i would vent it(ducks and hides from the other members) just for the sake of trying to save its life... maybe just a cure for the symptom and not disease, but thats better than doing nothing and just watching it die a slow death.... just my 2 cents...

im not telling you to do this by any means... but the option is there.

www.flseagrant.org/index.php?option=com_...;id=54&Itemid=34

OK this is first time trying to add pics to the forum I hope the link works lol

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=132928&id=100000188869727

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=132928&id=100000188869727#/photo.php?pid=132933&id=100000188869727

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10635&id=100000188869727&saved#/photo.php?pid=132934&id=100000188869727

zielinski9 wrote:

the pictures confirm you have swim bladder problem..plus...sign of HITH.
nevertheless, the other fish seems to be okey....i suggest you keep the
water in good condition to give her a chance to recover.