Newly added Oscar attacked by JD!

[LadyVega220]

I have a 55 gal which I set up close to two months ago. It came with a 10" Pleco and about a month ago when all the water levels were within range and the tank had cycled I added a female Jack Dempsey who is now about 3.5" long. 2 nights ago I added a Tiger Oscar of similar size who was immediately bullied by the JD for what I can only assume was territorial threats. It seemed harmless at first and Oscar seemed to be standing his ground without fighting back, but the JD became more aggressive as time went on to where the Oscar started running away and hiding...but to no avail, as the JD would hunt the O out and attack it constantly! (even the 10" Pleco would get attacked by the JD if it crossed it's path! She was on warpath!) So I totally rearranged all the decor and added several new rocks to create more caves and hideaways, but that still didn't seem to help at all! The Oscar became very pale and would hide in the smallest of spots, laying on his side and looked miserable! (I'm actually surprised the O never even attempted to fight back..he's been super timid) Today, I noticed it had gotten worse overnight as the O now has jagged fins and a few scales missing! I immediately went out and bought a tank divider which is now in place with the JD quarantined away from the other two tank mates (very unhappily, mind you!). The Oscar is starting to slowly venture out of the shadows, but I don't know if the damage is too much or if they'll ever be able to get along! They now seem to just stare at each other through the divider...

The whole reason I got the tank was because I wanted a Tiger Oscar, but I don't think the JD is gonna let that happen now! Help!?

(...as a side note, I know that the 55 gal will eventually be too small for these guys (and already is for the Pleco), but I'm only borrowing it until I can upgrade to a larger tank! I figured it would be big enough for the juveniles for now...?)

 

[duanes]

It is always best to add all cichlids at the same time so they are equal as far as territory goes, and can easily work out a tolerable hierarchy within the group.
If one has already set up a territory, any newly added cichlid is at a distinct disadvantage.
Oscars are not inherently as aggressive as most North and Central American cichlids, and this includes a Jack Dempsey.

 

[ehh]

Keep them divided. See if the attitude of the jd changes.
If you bought the tank for the oscar, just keep the oscar then.



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[LadyVega220]

My plan was to add them all together in the first place, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to...Unfortunately, this week was the first time I was able to add another fish. I knew I would have to deal with aggressive behavior, but never thought it would be this bad.

How long do you think I would need to keep the divider in before knowing if I should just remove the JD or not?

Will my Oscar be ok regardless? He's still so scared and at this very moment is laying on it's side, pale as can be, against the divider. Come to think of it, he almost seems to be a glutton for punishment, as before the divider was put in, he would swim right up next to the JD whenever he wasn't being bullied, and brush up against her like he was egging him on to attack him again...?! Now that the divider is in, he is laying against it like he's sad...

 

[cichlidfish]

I would split them up. Sounds like that JD will kill that Oscar. Both fish are fast growers so it wouldn't even work in the short term. You would need a much bigger tank to keep them together. A JD in a 55g would be ok for life, but not the Oscar.


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[Manu8__too]

I would split them up. Sounds like that JD will kill that Oscar. Both fish are fast growers so it wouldn't even work in the short term. You would need a much bigger tank to keep them together. A JD in a 55g would be ok for life, but not the Oscar.


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+1


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