Oscar aggression
- Thread starter Shane templar
- Start date
Nice setup!
Oscars (and most cichlids really), don’t do well when there are only 2 of them. Big one just beats up the small one generally.
In that setup, you could definitely add some smaller dither fish... maybe a shoal of 5-7 smaller fish (I don’t have a suggestion because i haven’t done but MANY have). Keeps the 11” from focusing entirely on the smaller guy.
Would also try what’s already suggested... take them both out, rearrange a bit, and then put back in. Either way the big guy is still going to assert himself if there are only two fish.. but that may buy you a couple days while you figure out dithers (or just add a third fish that doesn’t overwhelm your setup).
Oscars (and most cichlids really), don’t do well when there are only 2 of them. Big one just beats up the small one generally.
In that setup, you could definitely add some smaller dither fish... maybe a shoal of 5-7 smaller fish (I don’t have a suggestion because i haven’t done but MANY have). Keeps the 11” from focusing entirely on the smaller guy.
Would also try what’s already suggested... take them both out, rearrange a bit, and then put back in. Either way the big guy is still going to assert himself if there are only two fish.. but that may buy you a couple days while you figure out dithers (or just add a third fish that doesn’t overwhelm your setup).
Personally I would recommend adding some dither fish to the tank such as silver dollars, tinfoil or mascara Barb's or even severums. Basically anything with a tall framed body that would have a hard time fitting into the Oscars mouth. Also helps if the fish can be faster then the Oscar is. It helps displace aggression in the tank to have more then 2 fish in the tank.
Ok I’ll look into those! I’ve got a royal pleco and a p Delhezi in there to just didn’t want to overstock!
thanks
thanks
I would mainly recommend SD's as they get a very tall body, fast swimmers, bright and flashy while also being a schooling fish. If ya decide to get some I'd suggest maybe 5-6 of em as they do better in schools then they do on their own.
Well I popped to my lfs this afternoon to see if they had any silver dollars and low and behold he said he sold the last few the weekend and he can now only get 1-2” ones in now( which would be a nice snack for the 11” Oscar) ??
Also to rub salt into the wounds he had 4 decent sized mascara barbs which I never even heard of or let alone seen before and He said sorry they’re already sold ???? Think that’s called law of the sod ?
Also to rub salt into the wounds he had 4 decent sized mascara barbs which I never even heard of or let alone seen before and He said sorry they’re already sold ???? Think that’s called law of the sod ?
Lol yeah sadly that how my lfs' have been going too. I go in for something specific, well too late just sold the last of em today or yesterday.Well I popped to my lfs this afternoon to see if they had any silver dollars and low and behold he said he sold the last few the weekend and he can now only get 1-2” ones in now( which would be a nice snack for the 11” Oscar) ??
And yeah I wouldn't recommend anything shorter then 3-4in in height. Lol otherwise they are just expensive snacks.
I went to a different fish shop yesterday and got 2 silver dollars that are big enough to go in with the oscars and straight away the aggression stop with the smaller Oscar! He even went to the other side of the tank!! The bigger one did chase the silver dollars about abit but I can see the difference already! I’m getting 5 red hooks tomorrow so hopefully that’ll be enough to sort the aggression out! Thanks for all your help everyone!!!
ps think I’ve managed to get the last 7 “silver dollars” in the south west of England!!!!! ?
ps think I’ve managed to get the last 7 “silver dollars” in the south west of England!!!!! ?
Great to hear things have settled down.
The big Oscar is still the boss of the tank and he leaves the smaller one alone a lot more now! I added the other 5 red hooks this morning and the bigger one seems to go for them instead now ??
