Me + Oscars = No good

[Katie217]

Well, apparently I just cannot keep oscars alive, or at least healthy. My Albino is still alive, but obviously not doing well...Just recently stopped eating and looks like the internal parasites are back. I'm going to start dosing the tank with PraziPro again, and if the oscar lives then thats great BUT if the oscar dies, what should I do to completely disinfect the tank from the parasites? I have catfish in the tank (2pictus, 1common plec) both fish I'm getting rid of because I dont even feed them, and all they do is freaking poo. So do you think if I just completely over dosed PraziPro for a however long (?) and then let the tank re-cycle, do you think the parasites will be gone?

On another note, IF the oscar dies, I'm taking suggestions for other Larger common wet-pet CA/SA cichlids. Thanks

 

[MissFishy]

I'm no cichlid expert, but I would say to get rid of the fish you're going to get rid of now. Dose the tank per instructions, perhaps a little longer than they recommend. If the Oscar dies, raise the temp really high (90?) for a couple weeks to kill off anything that could be in there, perhaps add some ammonia to keep the bacteria alive. Then hopefully start over!

 

[sweetpickles7]

Convicts,Firemouth meeki,and salvinis are my favorite CA cichlids.I dont know that much about doubling your dose.If everything dies i would take everything out and scrub it all.Im not an expert on diseases though.

 

[Katie217]

Hmm...
Im thinking of taking out all the rocks and substrate in the tank, and letting it re-cycle after a dose of PraziPro.Also removing all the fish and starting new.
Convicts and Firemouths dont really get as large as I'd like...I'm wanting a larger fish, 8-10inches or so. As a wet-pet...Other suggestions would be great

 

[straitjacket]

Do you have any idea of what type of parasite might be bothering the fish?

 

[Katie217]

Im pretty sure its an internal parasite...the white stringy poo, stops eating, breaths heavily...

 

[casshan]

get a red devil! better than oscars. stronger bodied, looks sleeker, prettier colors, and smarter.

 

[Hamburgler]

get a red devil! better than oscars. stronger bodied, looks sleeker, prettier colors, and smarter.

Only if ya got a 75 minimum. Those suckers can get big as an oscar and are a lot more active.

Blue acara comes to mind...

 

[djb3848]

red devils are very smart.. thats what led me to recently buy the two juvies i have.

Derek

 

[Katie217]

I'd love a red devil, a beastly one like Sinister Kisses'
But I'm afraid my tank would be too small
My oscar died the other day, I knew it was comming so I was ready for it
Whats strange is, that my common plec, and 2 pictus cats have survived the numerous over dosings of PraziPro. Tough lil guys.

Still taking suggestions for fish that'll fit in the tank, and please dont say something that obviously wont fit (ex. dovii) thanks

 

[straitjacket]

Why not use it for the severum?

 

[Katie217]

Because I'm not 100% sure that the tank is 110% save yet. I dont want to risk the life of my severum...but that is something I might consider.

 

[straitjacket]

How is it not safe yet? *curious*

 

[Katie217]

Not too sure if the parasites are out of the tank yet
And I'm planning on taking out all the substrate, and rock, and putting sand and driftwood and making it into a SA tank...planted too...maybe

 

[straitjacket]

Oh. Well obviously it would be a good idea to give the tank a thorough cleaning.

After that though I think it would be best put to use as a new home for the sev, since the sev will outgrow the 33 gallon tank.

 

[big54bob]

Nail a couple of angel pairs in a community tank.
here
2 pairs of angels
10 Buenos Aieres/Head &Taillight/Coloumbian Tetras
2 BN plecos
and keep them pictuses

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Angels are overrated, especially in a community.

Put the sev in there and fill it in a bit. Bleh to oscars anyway!

 

[dbleoh7]

get some green terrors! my roommate had 2 of those and 2 jack dempseys a few years back in a 125 i think and they were really cool fish. great colors.

 

[straitjacket]

Nail a couple of angel pairs in a community tank.
here
2 pairs of angels
10 Buenos Aieres Tetras
2 BN plecos
and keep them pictuses

Buenos Aires tetras aren't a good idea to keep with fish who have long flowy fins.


The pictus cats would be perfect company for Sevvy anyway.

 

[Katie217]

I'll probably end up doing what you said straitjacket.
Think I could pull off two Sevs in the 56? My friend might be selling his wild caught turqouise (sp?) sev, whos about the same size as mine is (~5")