Broke the rules with oscars

[Vetteacher]

Okay, this seems like a safe place to admit what we have done with our oscars and get some valid advice. We will also take criticism, but please make it constructive. What's done is done and we want to make it better.

In July 2002, we got a tiger oscar to put in the 60 gal "cichlid" tank. There were other fish, but they were either wiped out by ich (lesson 1 - don't use feeder goldfish from the store), lost in the move to a new house or given away. We had her 6 months and were planning on getting a larger tank, so we got an albino and a "black" (lesson 2 - know what you are buying and lesson 3 - have the bigger tank before buying fish for it). Well, for many reasons we never got the bigger tank and have added more fish.

So, four years later..... we have 3 full grown oscars, 2 4 line pims and an opaline gourami (oscar #1's pet, his brother died of old age) in this 60 gal tank. Yes, massive filtration, water changes, good diet, etc. have been provided and they are all very healthy and spawning regularly (the female chooses which ever male has her favorite rock at the time). There is minimal aggression rarely resulting in any injuries. There is some wrestling, especially when the female is ripe with eggs, but usually the worst thing that happens is the emptying of a few gallons of water from the tank.

So, we admit all of this to get your advice on the following....

We are really getting ready to buy the bigger tank, promise! We rent this house, so we think a 125/135 gal is going to be what we can fit in (otherwise we would be more than happy to knock down a wall or two for them). Given what they have been in, will this be sufficient or will it just allow them to actually establish territory and begin to fight? What are the odds we could put another female in for the odd man out? (we figured on introducing her first, then her mate and then the others to the tank. And, yes, we realize how lucky we are the three get along - maybe because they were raised together?)

Also, the "black" (very similar to the tiger, but much darker) is not as big as the other two and the angle of his forhead is different. He does have a malformed eye (had when we got him, wasn't noticable until he grew), so we are not sure if this is genetic defect/environment thing or if he is a different species. Any ideas?We don't have a camera right now, but I can get ahold of one if we need pictures.

So, your input? And, please be kind......

 

[Dovii dude]

WHAT,ARE YOU CRAZY?!?!No just kidding(ha,ha,ha)Listen i think alot of people at 1 time or another could admit to being guilty of the same thing(i know i have,and sometimes still do,shhh)As long as you are going to update to a larger tank soon,i really dont see a problem,and as long as they are all healthy no damage done.Hey it must be crazy at feeding time huh??And when you put the fish into the new tank they will go absolutly nuts!!!But being Oscars they probably will sulk for awhile and may fast for awhile,but dont worry they will come around.

 

[Oddball]

Welcome to MFK!!!

Your situation is not new. Most of us have been there before with fish growing faster than the opportunities to go to larger setups. But, it sounds like you're doing everything right by your oscars if they're spawning on a regular basis.
You may have some sparring once you move to a larger tank. I'd suggest to move them all at once so everyone is starting fresh (including the new female). Just be wary of the common pitfall that hits all fishkeepers. Once you see a little elbow room around your previously cramped fish, resist the urge of convincing yourself that "I think another one will fit". Otherwise, a year down the road, you'll be posting..."they're in a 135 and we had plans of going to a 240. But,..."
It's hard to say what your darker oscar may be. It would be better if you could post a pic before the 'guess' machine confuses everything.

 

[Vetteacher]

Listen i think alot of people at 1 time or another could admit to being guilty of the same thing(i know i have,and sometimes still do,shhh)

I won't tell if you won't!

Once you see a little elbow room around your previously cramped fish, resist the urge of convincing yourself that "I think another one will fit". Otherwise, a year down the road, you'll be posting..."they're in a 135 and we had plans of going to a 240. But,..."

I guarantee that won't happen. We are seriously afflicted with MTS, but other than the oscars, we have been very good.

Thanks for the encouragement and I'll bring the camera home to get some pics of the one. By the way, I forgot earlier....

How are pims with plecos? I have a common that came with a 40gal that was given to me almost two years ago. He had been used as a scavenger and was very thin and sickly. Right now, he is still in that tank, but with some TLC has regained his health and is growing well (he's up to ~8", now). I have no idea how much his growth will be stunted, but wanted to plan for his future housing in case he does get close to full size. Could he go into the 135 or should he go somewhere else?

Thanks again!

 

[SphericalCube]

Welcome. Overstocking is one of my specialties, so I'll offer my advice. The only difference is that I overstock on purpose, I think it makes my fish more active and keeps them from establishing large territories.

When you go to move them, LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON 24/7 at least until they've settled in and stopped pouting. Make sure you have a few good items of "furniture" in your tank, and for the first week move those pieces of furniture around a little bit on a daily basis. Every time you rearrange a tank you force the fish inside to establish new territories which will make them accept other fish more readily. You hear us talk about pouting O's, you won't believe it until you see it happen but it's true. They don't like change. When you finally stop moving around their furniture, they should get along well enough.

Otherwise some other great ideas from these other guys, add them all at once, I like to feed within 5 minutes of adding fish. They hardly ever eat, but it puts into their mind that food is going to be plentiful in this new environment. Best of luck and let us know how it goes.

P.S. Best place to pick up a big tank is the classified in the paper. I just got a 150g DAS tank ready to run for $400, that's cheaper than a new 55g. Just be patient, you'll find a good deal eventually.

As far as that wicked ich from the pet shop, what store were you buying your feeders at? A quality fish store should have top quality feeders. . . but if you're shopping at Wal-Mart for your goldfish, then you're just inviting the plague into your home.

 

[Vetteacher]

You hear us talk about pouting O's, you won't believe it until you see it happen but it's true. They don't like change.

As far as that wicked ich from the pet shop, what store were you buying your feeders at? A quality fish store should have top quality feeders. . . but if you're shopping at Wal-Mart for your goldfish, then you're just inviting the plague into your home.

Oh, we've seen them pout! Put a powerhead back where it belongs, they pout. Put a rock back where it belongs, they pout. Unbury the pims, they pout. That's definitely one experience they haven't denied us.

The feeders were from Petsmart, but honestly, here in the desert, they have some of the healthiest fish in town. That was when we first experimented with live foods and we learned the lesson so well, we raise most of our own live food now.

 

[Jason_S]

I would add all the fish at once (you can try a 4th oscar, but keep a close eye on them) and then immediately turn the lights OFF for the day. give them the night to settle in and turn the lights on the next morning and feed like normal. if they don't eat then take the remove the food so it won't foul the water. keep a close eye on them for the first week or so to see how they get along in the new tank. there is a chance that in a larger tank they may not get along like they did before. they could be fine together or they may wind up fighting a lot since there's more room to establish territories.

 

[scottv]

back when I was little...I had a 55 gallon and bought 2 baby oscars...I then had to take my cousin's baby oscar from his 10 gallon and I had 3 oscars in my tank. They were all friends...never had diseases or even HITH....They grew to 9 inches months later and I gave them away to some friends that had bigger tanks....the new owners were ****ty and they all died within a week.

 

[Vetteacher]

So, i was going to bring home the digital camera today for pics of the black male, but they started rock cleaning yesterday and are in their full spawning colors. Then I decided I should to post a pic of our new "baby", then I forgot. I'll have to just tell you about her for now.

We went to pick up a few filter items, etc. yesterday and there, as if the fates demanded it, were 2 albino tiger oscars that had been turned in. We thought, no way, but when we put our hands above the tank, they presented theselves nicely and it was a male and a female. They were in good shape, not the best, but nothing irreversible. Then it hit us, we have an empty 60 gal tank waiting for the other two tank upgrades before it could start it's life in FOWLR. Since it's sitting empty anyway......

We brought the female home. (Admit it Oddball, you thought I'd break my promise already, but we only took the one! The people behind us took the male.) Of course she's in FBOP (full blown oscar pout), so she plays dead when we approach the tank. As if we can't see her swiming all around from across the room! So, the new dilemma....

She's only about 5- 6". Much too small for the 12" male she is intended for, but we've been looking for some time and this was as close as we were going to get around here. This puts off putting everyone together until she has grown some. We thought we might even the load between the two tanks and move some of those fish in with her, maybe the pims and the gourami? The next questions are obvious, in your personal experiences, at what size can she be put with the other oscars? Then, should we let her get to know the male in her tank and then move everyone into the big tank or just add her when when they all move?

I'll try to get some pics soon. Thanks for your input.

 

[Oddball]

Your big male has all but stopped growing. The female still has alot of rapid growth ahead so, she'll catch up quickly. At 9" she should be OK with the others when you move everyone to the new tank. Don't introduce her to the other trio in the smaller tank. She'll more than likely get roughed up pretty bad for 1. being a new arrival in an established territory, and 2. for being a young female.