(Natalie) wrote in message . com...
I just got this new Oscar and he swims very strange head pointed up to
the top of the tank all the time, and tail end down. he has been in
there 2 days and is only about 1.5 inches long. Could anyone tell me
why it is doing this or is it normal? How are they with eating ghost
shrimp also?? or maybe rose reds. ~Natalie


Natalie:

Is your oscar eating at all? I know that my oscar will be in a almost
vertical position when eating floating food, but only then. I am no
expert, but if he looks like it is taking alot of work to swim, he
might have a swim bladder problem, IMO. In that case, I would exchange
it (if you still can.) Was he swimming like that when you got him?

As for feeding, oscars will eat anything that literally fits in their
mouth. I feed mine a variety of foods: rosey reds, pellets, cichlid
flakes, freeze dried krill, freeze dried bloodworms, and tubifex worm
cubes. Not all at once though! I will switch between them each day.
Don't overfeed though. Oscars always seem to be hungry, but don't give
into that. Two meals a day is just fine. I always make sure to have my
oscar eat either pellets or flakes with one meal a day. I am not sure
about ghost shrimp. You could give it a try, but oscars aren't really
bottom feeders, (their mouth is upturned.)

Before you go dumping food into the tank, make sure that your fish is
healthy and doesn't have a swim bladder disorder or something.

Good luck!

-Cookie