Poor Fish :-(

[newcichlidlover]

Hello all,
I am a oscar lover and have had my 2 oscars for about 2 weeks now. Me and the hubby was doing a water change when, i believe, one of my little friends got pushed up against the filter. When i realized it i kinda pushed him off of it. BAD IDEA :( . He started acting crazy and swimming around like a maniac. He even tried to attack my other oscar. Well later on that day i went to check on him to see if he was doing okay------i think he was taking his last couple of breaths, cause later on he was gone :( .

Did we do something wrong in the water change. I refilled the tank with spring water, i bought at the Walmart. Or was he shocked/stressed from the filter incident. Need to know so this doesn't happen to my other oscar (Cloe). Also, i want to get another oscar today, cause i don't want Cloe to become upset :) . Is this a good idea???

[Rudy]

Sounds like he died of shock. I would say it was the water that did it, but the filter incident that made it worse.

You put bottled water in the tank? Unless your water is nothing short of toxic that is really not a good idea, as the content is so incredibly different from your tap water assumably and this can cause any fish to go into shock. If you are going to change the water with something that is out of the norm, I would change a very small amount at time.

I know your intentions were good. I am sorry it turned out that way.

As for getting another oscar as long as you introduce him to the tank very slowly adding a bit of your water to his bag water he should be o.k.

[newcichlidlover]

Thank You so much Rudy!!!!!! I think i will make alot of husbands happy when i say, "My husband was right, and i was absolutely wrong". He said we shouldn't add that sping water. I didn't think about the dramatic change, just tried to treat my babies like royalty. I got my new buddy yesterday and he/she is enjoying hisself. Cloe was so happy to see him-she was sooo depressed before he arrived. But thank you so much for your help........This is the best forum i've ever seen :D :D :D

[Rudy]

No problem. I am glad everything worked out for you. Oscars are great. You will love them

For future reference they are an american cichlid.

You are right this is the best forum. :)