[vash]

bell, bummer. sorry to hear about the death of your oscar.

but 6 oscars is too much, they are damn territorial and will fight when bigger. all is happy when they are small, but once they get big, look out. i think dropsy is the disease that kills fish that are plugged up. but i thought it was caused by a bacteria and not gravel. my fish dude, told me that oscars typically die because the owners get it all up in their heads that the fish needs live food. goldfish in particular, carry a myriad of badstuff. the breeding conditions to generate feeder fish are hideous. and that is how our fish get sick. hole in the head disease is the most common. i typically get the baby oscars used to pellets right away. no probs.

have you seen that "red sea" gravel. very pricey, but it is a medium with fertilizer that really gets plants going. but oscars and plants dont mix and play well.