baby peru O adjustment ideas

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petspoiler

petspoiler

Piranha
MFK Member
Jan 7, 2011
3,352
33
81
rural Calif.
I have a new little guy from another MFKer...SO excited! He'll be the 1st O I've raised up.
He's maybe 3inches, & in small QT tank. it's by my kitchen sink now, LOL, where I can spoil him!
I'm doing multiple daily water changes without filtration. bubbler & heater in tank.
Temp 80.
Water clean/fresh at all times.
He was transported here in a bucket w/battery op'd air for 24 hrs, & acting very 'oscar-drama' stressed upon arrival. but he perked up & is physically ok.

I'm raising him for a wet-pet.
He's used to having tank mates. hasn't eaten anything here yet. being originally a Rapps fish, I know he's not picky.
I think it's bcuz of no others to stimulate feeding? he's still timid.
There's fake plants & flower pot in there.

I put a gentle african in, hoping that he would join in eating. but no luck yet. The african mutt is a little bolder than him, but not mean. He eats in there, but by himself near his cave, not making it a joint venture. I don't think the O even sees him eat, bcuz he's hiding in plants.

So my question/options for input are:
1: Considering my purpose for him- Whether it's best to leave him all alone, & wait for him to adjust (hard for me, I already caved in). I want him to feel safe.
2: If I don't do that, will he have to readjust all over again when I remove other fish?
He hasn't connected people= food yet, (that's my first goal) and he pays no attention to food left in tank either.

3: Maybe to overcome his shyness, I could remove the african & get some little top-feeding schoolers like danios or something. they'd make him feel like a king, stimulate feeding and he could just eat them later on.

What ya all do?... if you were all excited about raising a real pet, like I am. LOL.
 
Oscar will become a wet pet regardless if it has tankmates or not. Once it realize that people mean food it won't matter because it will always respond as a wet pet after that. I would be really cautious about mixing it with an african cichlid because even at a small size it could easily overtake it. Just give him time to adjust and he will be fine.
 
Chrisplosion said:
Oscar will become a wet pet regardless if it has tankmates or not. Once it realize that people mean food it won't matter because it will always respond as a wet pet after that. I would be really cautious about mixing it with an african cichlid because even at a small size it could easily overtake it. Just give him time to adjust and he will be fine.
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who do you mean? the oscar overtake the african, or the african overtake the O?
the african is some kind of accidental blue hybrid, always been the underdog & smaller than the O. I have been watching them real close.
??
 
Chrisplosion said:
The African Cichlid. Oscars are all show and no bite typically so it would probably lose in conflict with an African Cichlid.
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Oh. I know that's the norm. I wouldn't have put just any african in there, believe me. this hybrid guy has no bite or even chase, really...dunno what he is, but definately not aggressive. right now the O is in front of tank staring at him, the african is inside his log cave where he feels safe. only his face is showing. LOL. he has been a victim his whole life!
but I am keeping an eye on everything. Just as if I had paid 1K for the O. I might try to buddy up to Jay, we can talk about watching our live baby cams together. LOL.
I know O's all get beggarly eventually, but I'm all excited with no patience. LOL. and the O is so timid now if he sees me STARING at him: my eyeballs must look huge. haha
Would you switch to Danio's, Chris? I thought of maybe a small gourami, but then I'd have to keep it later. that's how I am: a sucker.
 
I had Danios in with mine when he was little but eventually turned on them as he grew. I did always keep mine with a baby Parrot, they were kept for almost two years together up until January when I had to rehome the Oscar.
 
I wouldn't care if the O to ate the danios fairly soon. I'm just thinking of top feeders that would build his confidence.
 
I guess the first question is, when will you be moving him to a tank with filtration? And how big is the tank he's in now?

Cichlids take time to adjust, especially if they are the only one of their kind at a small size. Most young cichlids find safety in numbers and he may be feeling a bit nervous right now. I wouldn't go adding a bunch of fish to his tank until you have a filter.

Also, keep in mind that your African cichlid could have been bullied his whole life because he was the lowest fish on the pecking order. Now that he's been moved into a new tank with a timid oscar, there's always the chance that he will claim a territory and try to become dominant over the oscar, which could cause problems depending on how small the tank is. You'd be surprised at how the personality of a fish can change just by changing its surroundings and tankmates. Keep your eye on them.
 
ryansmith83 said:
I guess the first question is, when will you be moving him to a tank with filtration? And how big is the tank he's in now?

Cichlids take time to adjust, especially if they are the only one of their kind at a small size. Most young cichlids find safety in numbers and he may be feeling a bit nervous right now. I wouldn't go adding a bunch of fish to his tank until you have a filter.

Also, keep in mind that your African cichlid could have been bullied his whole life because he was the lowest fish on the pecking order. Now that he's been moved into a new tank with a timid oscar, there's always the chance that he will claim a territory and try to become dominant over the oscar, which could cause problems depending on how small the tank is. You'd be surprised at how the personality of a fish can change just by changing its surroundings and tankmates. Keep your eye on them.
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Thanks for replying. The african has a very mild temperament. I keep a tank divider between him & a super aggressive kenyi. but have put him briefly with non-africans, and he's just mellow. He hasn't been left him to get physically bullied. but a couple times he got over with the kenyi. the poor guy figured out how to Become One & vertical with a corner strip, & swim/breathe with so little movement that the kenyi couldn't see him. LOL in a pathetic way. not a mark on him. I couldn't even hardly find him & thought he got out. then I saw this tiny little pectoral fin barely waving in a shadow, and put him right back. He was fine. I leave him in his usual divided tank bcuz he & the kenyi both enjoy it. I know it's unusual that he doesn't get aggressive with other fish. but he has his own hollow log, and when I move him, the log goes with him. He loves it like a dog loves their bed. I guess it has become like his territory, but instead of defending it, he hides in it. I posted elsewhere about him & the kenyi. It was never my intention to have a real african community, I don't like crowded tanks. My husband brought the kenyi home & this works great.
ANYWAY, my little O ate 2 small pellets & is becoming more venturous, so I put 'ol bluey back. The O is alone & enjoys the water changes a LOT.
This post isn't about tank size and filters, but I do understand if PPL feel obligated to 'go there', just to be safe.
He is in QT, it's temporary, I'm home all day & keep the water immaculate with repeated drainings & refills ;-)
just like the pros, except manually. I have hoses everywhere.
I wasn't gonna add "a bunch of fish", only some small dithers who would be eaten pretty soon. However, if the O isn't acting timid I won't even do that.
His permanent tank will be fine. There's a method to my madness, trust me. LOL.
When my husband gets tired of tripping over hoses & having oscar eyes watch him pour his first cup of morning Java, a real big tank will be On The Way.
ROFL.
I do have a 60G, but looking for bigger too!

;-)
A girls' gotta do what a girls gotta DO!
 
For now I'd just keep him alone. He should come around. If he sees you a lot and you spend a lot of time in and around the tank, it won't take him long to associate you with food. Oscars can definitely be pouty when they've been moved or disturbed.

You better get him into that 60 once he starts packing away the pellets. He's going to grow fast. :D
 
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