Need Some Help!

[RieJo003]

I've been trying to find something that can help answer my question. So i have decided to try this. Here is my question: Lately the past couple days or so my Tiger Oscar has been going to the bottom of the tank and lying on his side, so to speak. I have read that this means the water is to cold for them so I have turned to temp. up to 80 degrees. So my question to anyone is, is there something really wrong w/ my Tiger Oscar or is it b/c of the temp? If you could plz help me on this one i would be very thankful!

 

[Purple]

what was the temp before ?

 

[moricollins]

if it is lying on its side there are far more serious problems than the temperature, unless the temperature was extremely low,
what size of tank is it in? what kind of filtration? tankmates?

 

[RieJo003]

Temp was at 74, now 80. The tank size is a 55gal. undergravle filtration (4 separate tubes) and one pleco for tank mate.

 

[moricollins]

did you cycle the tank first?(i'm assuming you have recently put the oscar into that tank.

the temperature was NOT the problem, if indeed it was at 74, i keep my oscars at around 74-76 degrees.

undergravel filtration will not be successful with an oscar, they are simply too messy for this type of filtration. A wise investment would be a new filter, such as an aquaclear 500

 

[Lotus]

How often are you doing water changes? Does he seem to perk up after them?

 

[RieJo003]

No, the fish has been in the tank since we got him. The asst. manager of Earl May's (pet store) told us that under gravel filtration was the one they use and it's a good filtration. We did a water change when he started looking the way he did and he didn't seem to change. So that is when i turned up the temp. Since then he has actually been better. He is swiming around and eating. Also he has been trying to bite the pleco, could he want live food or telling us he is hungry?
Thank You For All Your Help!