Oscar help!!!

Ok I just got a new oscar. I put him in my 30 gallon and he is just sitting at the bottom doing nothing. Tried feeding him and he won't eat. The tank water is fairly clean however the temperature is only 72deg farenheit. Is this too low? Are they usually this lazy or am I just freaking out for no reason? Thanks for the help.

 

Well a lazy oscar is usually a bad sign in my experiences. My best bet is it's either the temperature (try to get it at 76 degrees), or you purchased a sick oscar (that was my case with my last oscar). Are there any signs of weird behavior like swimming on its side? What are the water parameters?

 

He hasnt been swimming on his side but he does lay on his side some (not completely either, more just on one fin. His tailfin has 3-4 cuts in it. Other than that he looks pretty good. Don't know the ph His color looks good and no other sign of damage.

 

an oscar should be in at least a 50 gal tank

 

It's fairly common for new oscars to sulk. However, just to make sure it isn't something more serious, please post your readings for ammonia, nitrIte, and nitrAte.

Also, 72 is too low for oscars. They are tropical fish and need a temperature closer to 78 - 80. And like Fish Addict said, 30 gallons is way too small for an oscar. They grow very large, very quickly (at least 1"/month). He will be too big for a 30 gallon by the time he's about 6". Eventually he can reach 12" - 14" so 50 gallons is the bare minimum for a single oscar, but 75 would actually be better because it's wider than a standard 55 gallon.

-Chelle

 

Temp Temp Temp Temp

80 degrees my oscar did the same thing till i got a heater.