Baby Oscar fin rot?

[Daniella2685]

Have you tested your water?

Yes

If yes, what is your ammonia?

0

If yes, what is your nitrite?

0

If yes, what is your nitrate?

0

If I did not test my water...

...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.

Do you do water changes?

Yes

What percentage of water do you change?

31-40%

How frequently do you change your water?

Every week

If I do not change my water...

...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.

Just picked up two Oscar’s yesterday and this one was so sad looking that I felt like he needed to be rescued. I am thinking he has fin rot and possibly some sort of fungal infection? What’s the best treatment? I dosed Melafix today but I want to make sure I go with the most effective method from the start.

 

[Daniella2685]

Also for reference:
The tank is cycled, 50 gallons, he came like this from my LFS.

I am feeding him frozen shrimp, and pellets.

The white dots are bits of sand stuck to him because he keeps resting in the sand so he does not have ich

 

[kno4te]

Does have a look of fin rot. Would add salt 1 tsp per g and api erythromycin. Can also try some salt and dabbing the areas with methylene blue.

 

[FJB]

However, fin rot most often appear by itself. Most times it develops upon small injuries such that occur when an individual fish is pecked on and harassed by others. Possibly at the store. It is possible harassment continues in their new home.
Nice looking fish. They grow quite quickly. Within a (very) short time the 50g tank won’t be enough for even one of them.

 

[FJB]

… does Not appear by itself…

 

[jjohnwm]

I'm curious how your apparently unplanted tank...that is cycled...shows zero nitrates. That's a good trick, if accurate.

Sadly, that little Oscar has plenty of problems, and fin rot is likely one of the lesser ones. He is very emaciated and bony-looking; his disproportionately large head seems to imply that he's been on a long slide to this state.

I get that some folks look at a fish like this in the store and their heart goes out to it; the urge to "rescue" bubbles up and the fish comes home with them. Did you buy the fish? If yes, this isn't a rescue; it's simply encouraging the marketing machine to do the same thing again, since it was profitable this time.

Putting the fish into the main tank once it gets home is really just encouraging whatever problems it might have to infect that tank and its inhabitants as well.

 

[quikv6]

Oscars are pretty tough, resilient fish. They have the ability to bounce back from pretty serious injuries....given the appropriate stress-free conditions.

I agree with the above question:

-How are you showing zero nitrates in an uncycled tank?

I will add:

-How long has the tank been up and running?

Also, I sort of disagree with the above stance, even though I completely understand the angle. It's sort of a ittle picture vs. big picture argument...and I believe both can be acceptable, pending the lens you are looking through.

If you want to try to give an animal a better home for the well-being of THAT particular animal....so be it. There are good intentions there...provided one is prepared. Taking on a challenge can ultimately make for a better fishkeeper in the long run, as knowledge and experience are gained in the process. That experience and knowledge can be paid forward, even if just in a forum like this, helping others and offering sound advice from experience. We were all new to this, and aspects of this, at some point.

As for your Oscar....clean, clean, clean water....and some salt can do wonders. Melafix is highly debatable. I have not seen success with bacterial illness, but it does seem to be somewhat effective for minor skin/scale abrasions, such as improper handling, or a spat.

Up your water changes, a bit of salt, and let us know about the zero nitates thing.

 

[jjohnwm]

For the record...I absolutely agree that the intentions here and in most such cases are good, and I hope I didn't seem to imply otherwise.

But it is most assuredly a big picture vs. little picture problem. IF the individual fish is indeed saved and returned to health, that's the rosy little picture. IF the rescuers other fish develop a problem as a result of exposure to this newcomer's unknown pathogens, the little picture is less rosy and more grey...maybe even shading to downright black if things go downhill and the fish dies along with others
in the tank.

But the big picture can't be ignored. When a store has a sad specimen like this for sale, and someone buys it...regardless of good intentions...the bottom line is that the store made money. That's their goal; there is an incentive for them to repeat this procedure. If, on the other hand, a would-be rescuer brings the problem to their attention, and explains that he/she would have bought the fish had it been a good specimen but can't do so in its sorry state...well, the retailer will possibly be more careful about where it sources its stock in future, and/or will take better care of the livestock, and/or do any number of other things that will benefit all the fish in general. The one fish may indeed die...but countless others in future might not as a result.

Don't reward a business that tries to sell unhealthy livestock by playing into their hands and giving them money because you feel bad for the fish. You are simply contributing to more fish in future being similarly mistreated. Intentions are illusory; results matter.

 

[quikv6]

Many of these retailers deal in thousands of fish, and are just a small step in the chain. These thousands of fish are often put through the ringer in regards to shipping, handling, drastically different water parameters, etc. Much, if not all of this is very hard and stressful on the livestock....and issues are incurred. And, much of this process "is what it is." Getting a fish across the world expeditiously isn't always smooth. And that isn't always the fault of the retailer. Fish will get sick....even with the most prudent of practices.

I see no issues whatsoever with a hobbyist only focusing on the small picture. The word hobby can even imply something that is a side note, or peripheral. Not every hobbyist has to fight towards a larger moral goal. If someone gets enjoyment and personal reward out of reviving a sick animal, and goes no broader.....there is nothing wrong with that at all. In fact, I believe it is true personal decency, and can certainly be lauded.

The OP came here for help with her fish....not how to improve the ethics behind the fishkeeping industry. Rather than turn her off to potential friendly help with her goal....perhaps it's just better to assist with the requested task.

Consistantly clean water, salt, and some context on the tank history could be very helpful. Please keep us posted Daniella2685

 

[jjohnwm]

Let's agree to disagree.