Possible Oscar Problems? not sure

[SWerner13]

Hi,

I have a 3" young tiger oscar by himself. While inspecting him I noticed some sort of white something on his body near his back fin. It looks to me almost as if he is peeling or like a sort of mold. Ill try and get some pictures but he is a bit camera shy and I don't know good camera techniques for focusing on him in his tank. Is this the healing signs of an injury? Could it be a possible sign of HITH? Or maybe even a sign of high ammonia? What are the signs of HITH? What are the signs of high ammonia? My current solution is to increase the frequency of water changes just in case. If any one has any helpful information I would greatly appreaciate it.

 

[kribensis12]

Can you do a water test? Also, ammonia burns would be red, and HTH is a indentation by the eye. Turn your camera either on macro( make sure oyur flash is off) or on image stabilization so it focuses better.

 

[Zagz]

It may be a bacterial infection or a fungus. Test your parameters and post them and they may give some information to us to help you. What size tank do you have him in and how often are you doing water changes?

 

[SWerner13]

I will admit I jumped into the aquarist world without doing any research. That being said I have learned a great deal in the bast two weeks do to this forum and talking to my LFS.

He is currently in a 10 gallon tank. It was unwisely not cycled before hand. I do not have a test kit yet but I will purchasing one tomorrow. Also I am aware of his fast growth and have a 55 gallon tank that needs a few more things and I will begin to cycle it as soon as possible. I understand a lot more about cycling and all that now but would still love to salvage my current fish. That being said. Things I have done to correct the current situation. I have purchases a liquid neutralizer for his tank. I have increased the temprature to close to 80. I have added salt today as I did not previously have any. I have also been doing a 20% water change everyday for the last five days. I also picked up an anti fungal medicine and have begun to apply it. Aside from giving the exact water parameters I think I have done everything there is to be done. I will be getting the test kit tomorrow as well as the last few things for the new tanks. I have some liquid bacteria and some frozen krill and I was thinking about using that to begin to cycle the new tank. If you have any other advice or if you think what I have done is correct please let me know!

Thanks

 

[kribensis12]

A liquid neutralizer, as in, it takes out the ammonia ect.? If so, it will prevent a cycle from happening. Do you know of anyone with a established tank? If so, put some of their filter media in your tank, instant cycle. Whe you get your test kit, get the LIQUID version. Strips arent very reliable.

 

[SWerner13]

Ya i read it would inhibit the cycle process but i figured that would be better than losing my fish. And I will talk to a friend about either getting his filter media or maybe some rocks would help. And I went to the store today and found an all in one water kit I just didn't have money with me. Finally how effective are the solutions which include bacteria?

 

[kribensis12]

Well, once the bacteria are in, give it a couple hours, and your Ammonia that weas once ( example) 8 is now 2. Give a couple more hours, and its all gone , and will stay that way. Same with NitrItes. NitrAtes you have to physically remove.

 

[SWerner13]

well I have added cycle and i have done an 40% water change. I have purchased a test kit and ammonia, while still in existence, is with a reasonable range (hard to tell you what it is because my test kit is parts per liter lol) and the nitrates are also in a reasonable range. I will continue to monitor everything and hope as that balances out that my oscars problems will also go away.

 

[kribensis12]

Cycle, as in the product? That stuff dosent work. You can't bottle a bacteria. I would take it back, saying your not satisfied.

 

[SWerner13]

Haha the lady swears by it at the store but I wasn't planning on buying more, and it came free with my new 55 gallon so I figure it won't hurt

Also I have a picture of what his "problem" looks like. How do I post pictures? When I click the button it ask me for the url?

 

[kribensis12]

Upload it on a site, such as photobucket. Then, under the picture will be different options. Click on IMG code, and paste it on here. Once you post, the picture will appear on the page.

 

[Zagz]

You can also load pics directly to the site by choosing the advanced option in the reply section and add attachement.

 

[SWerner13]

Here is a pic. Please give me your expertise.

 

[kribensis12]

Hmm. It looks to be a fungus. I would try and treat him with either Methylene Blue or MarOxy. Can you try and get a pic without a glare?

 

[SWerner13]

ya its kinda hard to get a picture bright enough without flash i really haven't felt like setting up a lamp anyway try this one.

 

[kribensis12]

I vote fungus.

 

[FishCrazyBenBOMB]

^^^ I agree, looks like fungus to me.

 

[kribensis12]

Methylene Blue is your best bet. Just follow the instructions on the bottle.

 

[SWerner13]

I have Maracyn right now. Which is for [Fin and Tail Rot, Popeye and "Body Fungus"]What causes this? Before today I did not have a water test kit so its very possible that high ammonia or nitrites could have been present. But after doing a 40% water change today and testing it everything is in the good to ok range. Ammonia is not zero however so I would assume the cycle is not yet complete. Hopefully this Anti-Biotic and frequent water changes will do the trick?

 

[kribensis12]

The cycle wont be complete for over a month. Whatever you do, do NOT rinse out your filter media. Also, stop adding the cycke inhibitor.