is my oscar trying to kill himself?

[cichlidfish]

It has to be the lighting, and him seeing his reflection. Mine does it if only the tank light is on. If I turn on other lights on in the room, he is fine.

 

[greenearthlawns]

Possibly he sees his reflection when the light turns on. I doubt if he is reacting to you because Oscars are pretty laid back. One way to test this theory is to put your light switch on a timer and watch from a distance and see what happens. Don't most people use a timer for their lights?

Oscars mellow?? ha ha thats funny... I have had 3 and out of that 2 have been extremely tempermental the one surviving Oscar that I have is great but he has spasms often lately though bc I have a TSN in there that will only eat feeders he is busy chasing them around and it has mellowed him out alot!!

I'm wondering though do you feed him after turning on the lights? He might be begging for food mine does this he'll even smash his face into the gravel or front of the tank to let me know he wants FOOD!

How long have you had him? I hope he's ok and not sick but it does sound to me like "strange" but "normal" Oscar behaviour...

Oh and he's probably spooked since you usually don't have the lights on he's not that used to it so it spooks him, my catfish used to bang into everything when i turned on the lights he'd even scrape himself all up but now he has finally ajusted to the lights but it took like a year...

 

[Natural_Born_Killer]

See, what I find strange is that my oscars do the total opposite!

Lately when I turn the light on the freeze, sink down to the bottom and remain frozen. I turn the light off, and then suddenly the are all active again. Now all the fish do this. I even tried tempting them into movement by putting food in. Nothing.

 

[Olunds]

Mine would do the same thing before i bought bulbs that were less bright. I found before changing the bulbs if i turn the lights on in the room or let the sun come up and brighten the room it wouldnt go nuts.

 

[fishkeeper25]

i usually feed him before i turn the light because he wil not eat with the light on. he doesnt mind the room light just the aquarium light,and plus ive started seeing 2 or 3 bubles appearing on his chin and they havnt been leaving

 

[glennamy]

Fish can also react to color. My Pacu used to go nuts when the wife walked by but not me. Took a while but figured out it was her brighter colored clothing. They didn't seem to mind my in-n-out t-shirt...