Ick Away treatment on a tiger oscar with an open wound?

[Jexnell]

If you want to keep the Oscar I would suggest that you get a 6ftx18inx20in 125gal. That would make a decent forever home a single O.

Water changes really depend on tank size and occupants. That 22 with all them fish should be getting 75% every day, if not more.

I grew my O in a 55gal till she was about 7 inches. I started with weekly changes of 75%. As she grew I changed the schedule due to her putting more rubbish back into the tank. At 3in it went to 75%every 3rd day. By time she was 6in it was 50% every other day. Mind you that was just her and some Roseline sharks.

Cichlids are very messy eaters if you have not seen for yourself already. The sharks did a lot if cleaning for me but still have to get down in that gravel every water change. You see all them crumbs that fly out if the O's gills as it eats. Well that just settles on the bottom and is what causes the water to foul so much faster than say a same size tank full of tetras.

If you want to keep the Oscar I would get the 6ft tank asap. Rehome everything else. And do 50% water changes every day till you do. At 8in that O already passes poop bigger than a grown neon tetra.

Check out Craigslist, Offerup, Letgo can find deals all the time. I got Toni's tank from Craigslist for $200. It's a TruVu acrylic 6ftx18inx20in tank, stand, lights, some rocks.

 

[Jexnell]

This is my thread

https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/toni-and-nemo-my-albino-oscars.690421/

In it is the growth of this

Into this


All the good the bad and the dumb stuff I did to myself that didn't work out.

All cichlids have thier own personality and what works for one fish my or may not work for another. With that said. My view of Oscars are they are a cross of and 7 year old kid and a cute little puppy. They have intelligence that will surprise you at times, like the afore mentioned kid. And they have this cute bug eyed face, and adorable actions like puppies do.

Tips for success
1) if it can fit in it's mouth, it will try to eat it.
This can be bad, some catfish and plecos have sharp spins to prevent from getting eaten, these can end up killing both fish if O says it's snack time. Just have to make sure fish moved into a Oscars tank are well bigger than it's mouth.
2) Water change, water change, water change.....Oscars are really messy eaters and eat a lot so also poop a lot. Only real way to combat this is water changes.
3) Best thing is to get it on a good pellet food as it's main food source. A weekly treat of frozen food like blood worms,meal worms, etc is fine. This will also help with the water quality.

 

[Em J]

Thanks to all of you for your advice. I understand now that I was really under-informed when I agreed to take these fish. I did the test strips today and found I need to act right away (see the attached picture.) Is there anything else I should be doing besides changing 75% of the water? Also, the last time I did the water I got deer park from the store because I am on well water which we soften with Diamond Crystal Iron Fighter Salt Pellets. Does anyone know if my well water is safe for the cichlids now that i know they can tolerate some salt? Lastly, I hope it does not come to me having to give them away, but in case it does, do any of you know any places or people in Maryland that would be able to take some of them?

 

[Rocksor]

Liquid tests are more accurate than test strips. In the long run well water is better, since softened water can strip magnesium and calcium minerals that fish need.

 

[Em J]

Liquid tests are more accurate than test strips. In the long run well water is better, since softened water can strip magnesium and calcium minerals that fish need.

Really! So you think its safer for me to use my well water? That would save me so much trouble. But do you think i should try to get it before it goes through the red out softener?

 

[tlindsey]

Really! So you think its safer for me to use my well water? That would save me so much trouble. But do you think i should try to get it before it goes through the red out softener?

Yes like stated by Rocksor collect it before it enters the softner and use the water from the well.

 

[tlindsey]

You can also test your well water like most of us do for our water from municipal water treatment facility.

 

[tlindsey]

You can also test your well water like most of us do for our water from municipal water treatment facility.

Also like to add reasons for testing
Chlorine
Ammonia
PH
GH&KH
Nitrate

 

[Em J]

Okay, the tank has been thoroughly cleaned and the water replaced with un-softened well water. The results for when I strip tested my well water without the softener are below. You'll notice in the tank photo that the water is slightly cloudy. This is due to all the iron we have, and is the reason our water tests as very hard. When I did some research I found that hardness should not be an issue for my cichlids, by I wanted to run it by you guys first before I put my fish back in the tank.