My Oscar constantly snaps at lid
- Thread starter Poseidon2.0
- Start date
Felix is about 2 years old now, and he bangs things on occasion. It was worse when he was by himself, but now he can see fish in two other tanks in the same room. The fish all watch each other from time to time and I think it keeps them busy.
He was in a bare tank for a while, and the reflections drove him nuts.
He was in a bare tank for a while, and the reflections drove him nuts.
That's a nice red O. Miss mine. I can't imagine what Darth Vader (my Bumblebee) would do in a bare tank. His brain would explode I think.
This was my other O, before I had to rehome him. Never had this issue with him, but he lived with other fish the whole time I had him.
View attachment DSC_4621a.JPG
That's a very handsome fish Poseidon.
Felix lives alone now. I thought about introducing other fish to his tank but he's only in a 55 now. I should be upgrading him soon. He's over 11 in and can almost touch both front and back of the 12" tank.
When he was young I had a pleco with him in the tank and they fought constantly. I gave them caves and plants and rocks to hide in but nothing worked.
Eventually he drove the pleco nuts, and one day when I had the lid off and wasn't looking it jumped out of the tank and died.
Felix lives alone now. I thought about introducing other fish to his tank but he's only in a 55 now. I should be upgrading him soon. He's over 11 in and can almost touch both front and back of the 12" tank.
When he was young I had a pleco with him in the tank and they fought constantly. I gave them caves and plants and rocks to hide in but nothing worked.
Eventually he drove the pleco nuts, and one day when I had the lid off and wasn't looking it jumped out of the tank and died.
You could actually get some silver dollars before that. May want to look at the FS section for a while and pick up any deals.
Make sure they are fairly big. 3 or 4 should work. My oscars are a trip. They will eye my pleco but they don't mess with it other than "unintentionally" slightly bump into it. I actually think they do it on purpose. Sometimes a couple will get up really close and eyeball him.
They are just curious. Anybody eating anything gets them interested.
I have a fairly crowded tank which keeps them occupied. Also helps that there are 4 oscars. I'm getting a new larger tank and am torn on what to do with the 4. They don't really fight but they flare the gills and stuff. All part of growing up. Just hoping one doesnt go ballistic. Right now they are a family that grew up together. Hope it stays that way.
How big is your tank now?
I've had silver dollars before and they lived for over 10 years. One lived to be nearly 15, and they would have all probably lived longer had I given them a larger tank.
But with just a 55 I don't feel comfortable adding more fish. I'm changing Felix's water 50% twice a week. I'm planning a larger tank for him and I will consider tankmates at that point.
- Dec 2, 2018
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I'm very surprised you're comfortable with keeping the oscar in a 55. The biggest thing you can keep in a 55 is a sen. They are much dumber than oscars and can cope with much harsher water conditions. You don't need to get a bigger tank soon, you need to get a bigger tank NOW. A fully grown oscar will only be happy in a 90 or higher (by itself). I don't care if your nitrates stay below 20. The argument that you can stock as much as you want as long as your water params are fine is stupid. Believe it or not, fish need space. Especially oscars, you like enrichment and have actual personalities. Not giving oscars space is as unpleasant to them as having stagnant water. No way could you get any tankmates.
I had a 40 gal hex with 5 silver dollars. 2 were about 8 years old 3 about 5 yrs. I never took care of this tank. Didn't care. Just add some water and change the filter (not a good fishkeeper). Then one day I said I am getting back into the hobby. I read and read. I had to move the hex for the new tank and during this the 2 older dollars died. Set up the new tank (48" X 20" X 33")and cycled with the silver dollars (no choice). Within 2.5 months tank stocked with 4 oscars, 2 pbass, 2 geos, pleco and plants.
After 5 years these silver dollars that made it are growing, AGAIN. I am amazed.
But you a right to be concerned. No harm in waiting I guess. Just looking at that oscar alone....
Also, silver dollars are good at eating what comes out of the oscar's gills and what drops to the bottom. They examine the gravel and help the geos.
Well there's fish keeping and then there's fish keeping. Because of his tank he gets lots of Special Care and attention.
But please don't imagine that I am comfortable.
