AboutRon Coleman Expertise I am an expert on cichlid fishes, particularly New World cichlids. My broader expertise includes the behavior, ecology and reproduction of fishes in general. (I am NOT an expert on Goldfish. Please do not ask me questions about why your goldfish are sick -- they are almost always sick due to the way that they are sold). Also, please do not use abbreviations, such as "my GT has a swollen
eye" because I don't know what a "GT" is. The more clearly you can explain your question, the better chance I have of understanding what it is that you seek. Thanks.
Experience I teach at the California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I run a website, called the Cichlid Research Home Page . I also write for many popular aquarist magazines, and I am editor of Cichlid News magazine. I am a scientist and I spend my time teaching fish biology, ecology, behavior and evolution and doing research on the reproductive biology of fishes, particularly cichlids. I do research in the laboratory and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico. My main interest is understanding the evolution of parental care in fishes. I am interested in encouraging greater public awareness, understanding and participation in science.
Organizations belong to American Cichlid Association, Pacific Coast Cichlid Association, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, etc
Publications Cichlid News, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Copeia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, AUK, Environmental Biology of Fishes
Question Hi i have a big oscar and he gets like little white snakes in the tank. what is the problems. do i have to change al least 25% of the water? what is causing this and how can i treat it. i also have a crustacious
Answer Hi Michelle,
Are they more like little tiny wiggling white worms? If so, that indciates that there are too many free nutrients in the water. This is common with oscars because they eat a lot and they are messy eaters.
The solution is to do regular weekly partial water changes of 25%, i.e., you should be changing 25% of the water once a week, every week to keep your fish and his tank happy and healthy.
In the short term, I suggest you do a 25% water change today, another tommorrow and one more a third day. The worms will go away on their own if you do that. I do not recommend adding any medications or chemicals to the water. After all of that, go on the once a week schedule and things will probably be fine.
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
