Oscar Breeding Confusion...

[Mailm4n]

Hello! I was writing to gain information on my two Oscars and the potential of them breeding. I have been extensively reading up on breading after i discovered their odd behavior to possibly be a pre mating ritual (digging in one specific area of tank, locking lips, rough housing with one another, etc..). I took the liberty of adding a piece of flat slate as per my research suggested and they are cleaning it vigorously and continue to lock lips and behave strangely. So my main question is, first and foremost does it even mean I have a breeding pair if they are entering in these "pre mating rituals?" Would they go through these behaviors if I had two males, or two females? And if it is a breeding pair, how long will this behavior continue before they finally produce eggs? Thanks in advance for your time!

Also, the tank is a 90G, fully planted out w live plants, two Tiger Oscars, and a Florida Gar. Water params are near perfect and temp at time of this post is 83*.

I havent posted in quite some time here but this community is always nothing but helpful so I figured id stop here to solve my confusion! Thanks guys!

 

[doomiedee]

post some pics of the pair i can better help u sex them , its not impossible for two male or two females to go thru mating rituals . i had 2 male jack dempseys that tried to mate them the larger one killed off the other one . u can vent them or watch as they swim to see if they are ready to breed there will be a little tube coming out their belly near their anus . the female will have a larger breeding tube because she produces the eggs , the male's tube will be smaller and angled toward the tail. as for actually spanwing it will take time sometimes they need to form a bond in your case i think they will breed when they are ready.. good luck hope this helps