2 black and red oscars fighting. What to do?

[West1]

A friend at work has a pair of black Oscars (about 7-8") and one is way more dominant than the other. The more aggressive one doesn't let the other one rise from the bottom of the tank and is constantly picking at the side of the less aggressive one. What can he do to stop this? Is a divider the only way?
By the way the fish are in an 80gl long tank (I want to say 4 to 5' long)
Doesn't know how to sex them either.

 

[Aussienative]

put them in a 10g and place bets?

Seperate them...or get them a bigger tank with lots of plants etc to hide in.

 

[West1]

Yeah, he knows about the tank size. Hes working on it
For know what can he do? Will salt maybe calm them down

 

[evilxyardxgnome]

Seperate them, hopefully the tank 100+. Oscars need atleast 50 gallons of space as a general rule. Most users will fight it and say they are happier in 75, which yes bigger is always better. But 50 gallons per fish is a rule to usually go by. Also adding rockwork and drift wood to break line of sight helps as well.

 

[evilxyardxgnome]

Yeah, he knows about the tank size. Hes working on it
For know what can he do? Will salt maybe calm them down

No, salt will not calm them down.

 

[West1]

You guys think a divider will help for now? Also a move of decorations?

 

[south coast nelly]

if its constant fighting then he will HAVE to remove one before they kill each other then hes got none....seriously take one back to the lfs...you will find we have all had to do this with cichlids,,,you chose the take mates but they decide wther or not they like to live with them...the tank is awee small for them,,or get a big tank today or another atleast 75us gallon tank

 

[West1]

Nicely said SouthCoast! I have to get him to read this Some almost the same words that I said

 

[south coast nelly]

mate ive done all the same things as him,,,had a 3ft tank brought 2 oscars and within 2months they went from 2inches -about 5inches,,so went and brought my 150us tank,,,as it happens my vieja biff has beaten up my jack dempsey today so iam about to rehome the jack dempsey at my sisters house,if vieja continues to bully then iam going to have to change him,,,

 

[south coast nelly]

this was my 3ft

when i got the tigers

fight with a convict

in febuary this year<5inches>

nowish

june this year

tank today