HELP!!! Oscar Fish Acting Wierd??? 10 pts best answer?

Question

I got my Oscar today at Petsmart. I got him home and let him float for about 15 minutes. He seemed to be doing fine but about 10 minutes later he was at the bottom just sitting there. I went to work today and got home and he HAS moved to the other side of the tank but he is just sitting there kinda leaning to the side. Is he dying??? He was doing fine inside the Petsmart tanks. But now I'm afraid he is going to die. My water is 100% fine, PH, High Range PH, Nitrite, Nitrate, and ammonia is all perfect because I cleaned my tank out and let it sit about two weeks with nothing in it. Although the water is very slightly cloudy. I have 1 feeder fish in there just to see if he would eat and he wont.

He is about 5 inches long in a 40 gallon tank.

He has no white spots or anything.

WHAT IS WRONG!?!?!?!

10 pts best answer!!!

Answer 1

is the tank heated

Answer 2

It depends on how far to the side he is leaning. If he is almost horizontal he may be sick or dying. However, it is normal for these fish to sit on the bottom and not move much. They are predator fish and live on the bottom of the river. He may also be stressed and worried because of the change in tanks and housing. He may not eat because there is only one feeder fish in the tank. Try to feed him worms, crickets, and/or more than one feeder fish. You can also try to feed him really orange fish to make them more easily noticed. Try going to www.oscarfishlover.com

Answer 3

Levia is pretty dead on. Throughout keeping these fish they will rest on the bottom or lean on the side of the tank. he is just stressed and should come alive in a couple of days. You sound like everything is on point so don't stress out. Put some rosey gold fish in there, or guppies. He will eat when he gets hungry, just amke sure they fit in his mouth. Enjoy!

Answer 4

ok here is the whole deal about your fish and your tank if you pay close attention the fish will be fine if you don't it will end up dieing

first off the oscar is getting use to his new home and sitting on the bottom is normal

but your tank is not fine and here is why the cloudyness you mentioned is the tank starting the cycle process this process takes about a month not 2 weeks if you tested the water you will find you have an ammonia level as long as it is at 1.0 or lower your fine if it gets above 1.0 you need to do a partial water change asap your nitrite level will also be regestering something ritght now the cloudiness your seeing is the bacteria that converts ammonia into nitrite

when the cycle is done the tanks ammonia level and nitrite levels will be 0 and you will also notice the tank will be clear no cloudyness  

this is where you stand right now with your tank the oscar is acting normal for being in a new tank but if you don't keep a close eye on the tank cycle situation you are in the tanks ammonia level will kill it

if you doubt this info test the tank for ammonia if it is anything except 0 then I am right

Answer 5

Put some cycle in your tank, it helps relieve the stress on your fish. Chances are the fish is just stressed. But the cloudiness could become a problem, go to your local pet store tommorow and ask them what you should put in your tank to remove the cloudiness. Good luck with your new fish, oscars are beautiful!

Answer 6

Need a little more help here actually.  First glance, I don't think it's dying.

"My water is 100% fine, PH, High Range PH, Nitrite, Nitrate, and ammonia is all perfect because I cleaned my tank out and let it sit about two weeks with nothing in it."

Problem here.  You had nothing in your tank for two weeks, that means you just wiped out your beneficial bacteria which copes with your nitrogen compounds, unless you were adding ammonia or fish food.  You won't see it now, but after a day or two, you start checking your ammonia, you're going to find it in your tank.

I doubt after just one day and if cleaned water, that's the issue.  Part of what I suspect is a few things.

1.  "I got him home and let him float for about 15 minutes"

Ok, probably needed a little more time floating, but he didn't outright die.  When doing this though, did you add any tank water to the bag so he could also adjust to your tank's PH and hardness?

2.  40 gallons is ok for now, but you are going to need to upgrade your tank size within 6 months or so. You should know that a single Oscar, regardless of size is going to need at least a 55 gallon tank as this is a 14-18 inch adult fish.  Other then the feeder, I take it no tank mates?

3.  "Although the water is very slightly cloudy. I have 1 feeder fish in there just to see if he would eat and he wont."

Couple things on this.  Ok I'd agree as you admitted to having an empty tank for a couple weeks, you have a bacterial bloom setting in.  However, you are going to want to also ditch giving feeder fish.  Not only are they a poor choice of food, they easily can pass an unwanted pathogen to your Oscar, and giving feeder fish is a sure way to promote Hole in the Head.

Oscars do lay on their sides, this isn't unusual.  He may have been carrying something from Petsmart though.  I can't really say many Petsmarts give proper care nor advice when it comes to fish, so this is possible.

You're going to need to cope with the upcomming ammonia.  Sorry to say, you're going to go through another cycle.  Get a product called Prime for the time being.  This will ionize any ammonia and nitrite in your tank, but leave it useful for your bacteria.  Additionally, I've yet to find a dechlorinator that can perform as well as Prime, one capful per 50 gallons.  

For now, continue to monitor him, get some Prime in that tank so ammonia exposure don't kill him outright, change up that diet please, to flake foods, and occasionally brine shrimp or blood worm cubes, and be prepared to do water changes.

Answer 7

he is just prob. getting used to the tank

Answer 8

mine did the same thing and ive had him for 2 weeks this saturday he is just very stressed out mine still is a little stressed but he is swimming make sure you have hiding spots to make him feel safe and when you come up to the tank if he hides thats normal when he realizes you giv him food and dont hurt him he will come around trust me he will be perfectly fine as long as you keep the water levels right and feed him

Answer 9

This happened to one of my Mollies,It maybe sick and need help so ask your pet shop owner he/she will probably know whats wrong hope all turns out well!!!!! :)