Anyone got oscars that don't eat fish?

[brown2010]

I suppose this comes down to nurture and not nature. I've had four three year old oscars for about six months now. The guy who gave them to me moved to San Antonio. The tank was grossly overstocked but they were still peaceful, except when it was feeding time. They were never fed a fish in their lives. I was curious as to whether or not they would take some guppies. I offered them a handful as I would offer them pellets, and nothing. They just kind of stared at the fish then ignored them. Is this behavior strange?

i have 2x 12-14 in oscars with a 3-4 in jewel cichlid and they don't bother him. even tho the jewel would easily fit in their mouths'. idk why... i even put the jewel in after the oscars where in there. and i have fed them feeders befor and they devour them.

 

[perfect_prefect]

i have 2x 12-14 in oscars with a 3-4 in jewel cichlid and they don't bother him. even tho the jewel would easily fit in their mouths'. idk why... i even put the jewel in after the oscars where in there. and i have fed them feeders befor and they devour them.

this may have to do with the attitude of the fish, feeders have that flight instinct and act like a bait fish, the jewel has fight instinct and would try to stand his ground and take the fight to the oscars. alot of this has to do with heart rate, fish can hear other fish's heart rates.

 

[brown2010]

Really??? thats interesting! i have seen the jewel stand his ground with the oscars before now that you mention this. fish never cease to amaze me!

 

[perfect_prefect]

there are alot of other factors that come into play too, those are just a couple reasons why your particular fish go after feeders but havent eaten the jewel

 

[livebearerfreak]

i have two 6 inche oscars with a bunch of platys ( 2 inches max for some ) and 3 swordtails and they dont even take a 2nd look at them... plus a 1 inch female pink con to.. soo yah that may change when there older theo.

 

[Noddy]

my first oscar isn't interested in eating fish and will even tolorate smaller tankmates, like a ceylon barb.
My new tiger steals the feeders from my gar when i try to handfeed him.
Now my 2 year old red is tempted to have a fish now and then.
I have to gently grab my oscar by his head and push away the tiger to get him out of the way, to make sure the gar will get his share of fish.lol

 

[marksuttonjr]

I had a large red bellied pacu that would not eat feeders. Shortly after I got him I added approx 4 dox. feeder platties to his tank after a few months the number of platties had gone way up. I added 2 GT that were only about 2 1/2" and in only about 2 weeks all feeder fish are gone. I traded the Pacu for some drift wood a few days ago. Just like my pacu your O might not want to eat the feeders.

 

[driftwood]

I totally stopped giving my fish feeders many years ago. Too many risks involved. A good quality pellet, some flake, Frozen Krill and veggies are all my fish get now and I have very few health issues.

 

[Chicklette]

They really like earth worms, go to a bait shop and get some, they love them.

 

[buddha1200]

i have a breeding pair of oscars,that never had feeders,and to this day they will not eat feeders,i tried it a few times because the lady down the street from me has a goldfish pond and gives me some babies(about two inches)to get rid of some of them and my oscars will not eat them i end up giving them to some one else because all they do is grow in my tank.