Breeding Oscars: Q&A

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daveman12345

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 17, 2008
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Hi guys, my Oscars are breeding for the first time so I figured I'd create a Q&A in case anyone is a) going through the same situation, or b) has gone through the situation. This way we can share the knowledge and have a good wealth of info right here. I've done a lot of reading so can help anyone else out.

My first question: My Oscar finally layed some eggs today. I would say only about 100 or so. I then tried to scoop out my Pleco. He ran right near the eggs and a bunch of substrate landed over the clean area where the Oscars, I suspected, were going to lay more eggs. It has been about 12 hours now, and the scattered rocks are covering the area that the Oscars had cleared. Has the Pleco (and I) disrupted the egg-laying routine of the Oscars? Should I manually clear the rocks for them? Will they lay more eggs?

Thanks.
 
daveman12345;3336078; said:
Hi guys, my Oscars are breeding for the first time so I figured I'd create a Q&A in case anyone is a) going through the same situation, or b) has gone through the situation. This way we can share the knowledge and have a good wealth of info right here. I've done a lot of reading so can help anyone else out.

My first question: My Oscar finally layed some eggs today. I would say only about 100 or so. I then tried to scoop out my Pleco. He ran right near the eggs and a bunch of substrate landed over the clean area where the Oscars, I suspected, were going to lay more eggs. It has been about 12 hours now, and the scattered rocks are covering the area that the Oscars had cleared. Has the Pleco (and I) disrupted the egg-laying routine of the Oscars? Should I manually clear the rocks for them? Will they lay more eggs?

Thanks.
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Congratulations!
I think oscars are difficult to breed, so you certainly have done something right with them.
I don't think you need to clear up the substrate -- you mentioned they themselves cleared the area. Chances are good that they will be able to figure out what to do with the extra substrate :) I also think that if they've done it once, they will do it again -- barring any major changes to the water chemistry. Just keep doing what you are doing, and you should have more eggs (and hopefully, fry!) soon.
 
Cool thanks Oscar Guy. I recounted the eggs this morning and it looks like their were more in a small area. I compared it to pictures online, and I guess the closeups were zoomed in. I thought it would spread across a wider area, but it was in a small area.

In my tank, I don't have the option of removing the Oscars since I have two 18" Arowana's swimming above them and I can't remove the Aro's anywhere. I plan to remove the fry once they hatch. I've been researching and cannot find how soon after I should remove the fry. Do you have any suggestions? I plan on putting them in a 10 gallon tank with 100% of the same water from the main tank so the parameters stay the same. I just don't know how soon after that I should do it.
 
Dont move the fry. The parents will take cere of them and can do a better job than you can. 100 or so eggs is normal for a first spawn. When mt Oscars spawned for the first time (years ago) they killed my silver aro and both my plecos. Keep an eye on your aros. Good luck bro. Let us know.
 
bdevilcasey;3338278; said:
Dont move the fry. The parents will take cere of them and can do a better job than you can. 100 or so eggs is normal for a first spawn. When mt Oscars spawned for the first time (years ago) they killed my silver aro and both my plecos. Keep an eye on your aros. Good luck bro. Let us know.
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Thanks for the reply. I'm on the fence now because I was leaning towards separating them. I just worry that with the big tank, I have 1) a 24" oxygen bubble maker, and 2) a canister filter which I wrapped with a sponge. I need those b/c of 2 monster silvers, and the 2 big Oscars. 1) I don't think Fry will survive around the bubble maker. 2) f they swim to the top, the silvers will snack on them, 3) The tanks poop at the bottom is building since I left the tank and substrate alone.

With those 3 reasons, doesn't it sound like it'd make more sense to separate the Fry into a 10 gallon tank, with 100% of the same water and the exact same temperature? Better yet, move like 80% of the fish and leave some for the Oscar to take care of? Maybe with a 80/20 distribution, I can get a first hand idea of how it is for a newcomer to raise babies on brine shrimp, compared to how many survive living with the parents.
 
You can put a slate for them and when the spawning finished move the slate to your 10g. its way easier than moving the fry.

feeding newly hatched brine shrimps, 10g works for 2-3 weeks with sponge filter and suitable water changes.

and I use fresh water for eggs or fry, better works than the tank's water IME. it should be treated for chlorine and be in same temperature , PH and hardness.
 
Blu-ray;3348623; said:
You can put a slate for them and when the spawning finished move the slate to your 10g. its way easier than moving the fry.

feeding newly hatched brine shrimps, 10g works for 2-3 weeks with sponge filter and suitable water changes.

and I use fresh water for eggs or fry, better works than the tank's water IME. it should be treated for chlorine and be in same temperature , PH and hardness.
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so it's ok for the eggs to touch air?
 
You can put a bag or bucket into the tank and fill it with water, then put the slate in it. I'd keep them wet to prevent thermal shock.
 
Knifegill is right, its more safe that way.
but if theres not much difference in the room and tank's temp, touching air for a few seconds won't cause any problem. I walk moving the slate to the new tank.
 
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