Oscar aggression

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

OSCARLOVER

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 6, 2006
341
0
0
43
Omaha, Ne.
I have two oscars that have grown up together. They seem to have been buddys for about a year til now. My oldest and smallest of the two constantly pics on my bigger and younger one. Lots of lip locking and chassing around the tank sometimes making a huge rukus. They both clean the big flat rock and dig pits together and constantly twitch their heads back and fourth like something is pissing them off. My older oscar the smaller one sometimes swim across the tank and ram into the other oscars side and ends up pinning him to the corner of the tank where the one being picked on plays dead for a couple of minutes motionless, then goes back doing his own thing. This oscar is so aggressive that when I go to clean the tank or rearrange anything he rushes after my arm/hand and is quite vicious and persistant to tear my arm off. I have been bitten quite a few times and not see it comming and gives me a good jump. Could someone tell me if this aggression is spawning behavior or do I have a really bad tepered O? What should I do about this? Its just kinda sad to see the picked on one being so submissive and only fighting back every now and then. Any help/advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!!
 
sounds about regular cichlid behavoir,could be working up to spawning.Its a big tank they should be able to get along but if one is actually getting damaged you should separate them
 
No dammage as of yet. Everynow and then when he is being chassed he will bump into the lids or smething else to scratch himself on. I have removed everything that he could hurt himself on. If its two males and they are both sexually mature and no female to spawn with would this affect the aggression?
 
Sounds to me like you may be a proud grand parent shortly. Just observe and make sure that they aren't hurting each other too much cause several of the behaviours you mention pertain to breeding. Wish mine would do more than just bite one another on the head now and then :(
 
Im not sure how well they will guard the eggs being first time parents. I do have two large plecos and I have herd that they love fish eggs. Is there anything I can do about this?
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com