How can I cheer up my Oscar?

[Backfromthedead]

2 Jack Dempsey, I’ve had one for 5 years
2 Vieja X
1 Royal Acara
1 Blood Parrot (his name is Donald )
His previous home was trying to kill him
1 SB Midas X (best guess) has her 5 years
1 Pleco— about 12”, he was being offered on CL with the 30 gal tank they had... barely enough room to move around, so I bought him separate.
1 medium Oscar (the one she rejected, Petco reject also).

There’s some convict cichlids, 2 adults, and eight 2” babies which I had put in there around 1” to see if the fish would eat them and thin the herd. But, it turns out they only eat fish I spend money on

It’s a little crowded IMO, I’ve seen worse, but I think they would be happier with less tankmates or a larger aquarium.

I had the smaller Vieja X, one JD, and the smaller Oscar on CL to give them more room. There were several responses, but the tanks were small, already overcrowded, not cycled, etc. There was one person who seemed like they would be wonderful, but since I’m a full time student with 2 part time jobs (~50 hours a week), I couldn’t read/respond to the 25 indecisive texts he sent, and 20 hours later he sent a text that included:
“...And your post was pathetic! Are u serious?... they’re just fish lol!!! Flush it down the toilet and put it out of its misery! I love u anyway. Good luck pawning off you problematic fish.”

Had he not turned into an impatient psycho, I probably would have given him the fish for free... but, wow, am I glad I was super busy that day.
That’s when I decided that I would rather try and build an outside pond for some of the fish, than risk them going to a home that views them as “just fish” or potentially more overcrowded than mine. I don’t take rehoming animals that I’m responsible for lightly, these guys are my buddies.

The little Oscar is trying sooo hard to be her friend right now. I’m watching it swim next to her and try and tough tails with her.

Honestly, I would never house a fish by itself in a tank, unless it was extremely aggressive. Fish living in solitary confinement have substantially decreased amounts of neural pathways. Even if they’re regularly solitary animals, in the wild they would have a much richer life with other mental stimulati to promote brain health and well-being.

Could be the vieja or midas have finally decided theyre not sharing territory and are taking out the weaker competition. Ime oscars cant hang with big CA cichlids, even in a fairly large tank.

I would say the remaining oscar is more likely cowering in fear for itself rather than the loss of its friend, but thats just me. Maybe try to find a cheap 75 gallon or comparable to house the oscar in if you really want to save it.

 

[DirtyPaws949]

Thanks everyone for replying, by the way

I’m excited about the outdoor pond, I didn’t get a hard “no” when I brought it up, and the space where it would be is on the side yard where nobody but me hangs out I sit out there to watch the birds that I feed. If I can figure out how to hide all the equipment, it would add a lot of aesthetics to the yard. I’m almost certain that I can manipulate reasonings to be in my favor and win the debate, if tested.

I looked at the space today with a measuring tape, and playing it conservatively, it would be around 350 gallons. 6’ long, 4’ wide, 2’ tall. I would want to incorporate some space within the structure on the side as housing for equipment, and also a terrestrial area for the turtles (one of them loooves digging when they’re outside getting some sun).

I already have the potential decor for it, a large piece of hardwood that’s around 4” long, 2ft wide, 20” tall. It has a large arch in it, and a couple cubbies where fish can hang out. I’m just worried it’s too large, and defeat the purpose of building the pond. I’ll take some pictures.
I would be getting water lillies, hyacinth, and lettuce as the flora, and probably add mosquito fish for mosquito and microfauna control, and snacks for the big fish.

I’m pretty compassionate for most animals. Live and let live; I even feel bad about killing ants, and will even save them sometimes low-key kinda PETA about pets now, and feel sorry about their imprisonments.

 

[DirtyPaws949]

Could be the vieja or midas have finally decided theyre not sharing territory and are taking out the weaker competition. Ime oscars cant hang with big CA cichlids, even in a fairly large tank.

I would say the remaining oscar is more likely cowering in fear for itself rather than the loss of its friend, but thats just me. Maybe try to find a cheap 75 gallon or comparable to house the oscar in if you really want to save it.

The smaller of the two Vieja is extremely passive, it only takes turns chasing the BP around. The large Vieja is kind of a pest, and likes to chase several of them, but he doesn’t harass the Oscar. She will get huffy with him from time to time, and chase him though. The Midas X is also a passive fish, and will usually just find a spot in the back of the tank and post-up-shop. The MidasX and male Vieja X have a love-hate relationship, they try to breed together, but also pick on one another.

The male Vieja would probably be one of the fish to remain in the aquarium.
The remaining fish in the 150gal would likely be:
-Male Vieja Synspila hybrid (11”)
- Midas hybrid female (6”)
- Jack Dempsey male (5-6” still young)
But I might move him with the female
- Royal Acara (7”)
- Blood Parrot (8”)
I have another BP in a different tank that I would either put in the pond or 150gal, about 4” currently (also from the home that tried to kill the fish).