Hi there I've had 2 red oscar fish grew them up together since babies done everything together never fight nothing they are about 7 inch 1 year old . My freind shut down his tank and i took his tiger oscar from him it's about 9 inch and 2.5 years old at first as expected the new oscar his away for first couple days new tank but now it has paired up with one of my red Oscar's and now it chases my other red oscar and keeps it at other side of tank it's nothing bad no lip locking no bites just bullys it a bit now the red oscar always hiding at other side of tank feel bad for him so iam thinking of getting another oscar in Hope's it will pair up with my red as aye no when it comes to Oscar's they recommend you either get 1 or 5+ aye have a very large tank so plenty space for another 1 or even 2 what do you guys think thanks
Oscar bullying
- Thread starter Ctdurham
- Start date
The only solution to bullying is separation. Put the bullied oscar in a different tank. Getting a 3rd oscar won't help. If you have a 300g+ you could have a total of 6 and see and wait for a pair to naturally form, then rehome the other 4. You can't force cichlids to pair up even if they are of the opposite sex.
Looks like the new tiger is now the alpha. You could try to have more oscars to form a harem but honestly I don't think even a huge tank would be large enough if one alpha decides to rule.
If you really think the tiger has "paired" with a red then yes remove the red that is getting bullied. Otherwise remove the bully.
Note that size does matter. Oscars will be more apt to be aggressive to (some?) other smaller oscars.
Oscar behavior can also vary a lot individual to individual. Some can be pretty timid. Others somewhat belligerent in regards to other oscars.
Personally I would want to see the behavior after the bullied oscar is removed. Wouldn't assume the large tiger would stay Mr. Friendly.
If you really think the tiger has "paired" with a red then yes remove the red that is getting bullied. Otherwise remove the bully.
Note that size does matter. Oscars will be more apt to be aggressive to (some?) other smaller oscars.
Oscar behavior can also vary a lot individual to individual. Some can be pretty timid. Others somewhat belligerent in regards to other oscars.
Personally I would want to see the behavior after the bullied oscar is removed. Wouldn't assume the large tiger would stay Mr. Friendly.
Your reds could have been two females and then you added a male tiger who picked one and now bullies the other.Or you already had a male / female and the big male took the others female and will try to eliminate the competition.
One thing I have learnt from keeping groups of cichlids, even discus, is that there will be fighting, at least for a while and it will be hard to watch. Can take all pleasure out of watching the tank. Over time, peck8ng order ‘might’ develop and they could learn to be ok together but no guarantee. Once it looks like the odd man out is just hiding in a corner (especially at the top corner facing the wall and not eating much (definetly a bad sign for an Oscar) for more than a couple weeks I personally would remove one of them.
There is truth to 3 being the worst number to keep. 5+ would spread the aggression but I wouldn’t try to d that with any less than a 300 gallon tank with no other significant fish to add to bioload. I noticed you had a pair of Uarus in there which would be first to suffer from poor water quality. So if you were to get two more and keep the other fish your tank should be well above 300 gals... just my two cents and for reference I have found myself to be a more liberal stocker than many on this site.
No fun to put all this time and energy into the hobby and have to watch an animal as awesome as an Oscar suffer and die. That said trying stuff out is half the fun of the hobby. I’m not being critical that you tried this out. I added a female jag to my 125 gal to bring my male out of hiding. Everyone advised against it but it turned out to be a great decision and I love the tank now.... trial and error, just make sure you have backup plans when experiment8ng with large cichlids compatibility.
One thing I have learnt from keeping groups of cichlids, even discus, is that there will be fighting, at least for a while and it will be hard to watch. Can take all pleasure out of watching the tank. Over time, peck8ng order ‘might’ develop and they could learn to be ok together but no guarantee. Once it looks like the odd man out is just hiding in a corner (especially at the top corner facing the wall and not eating much (definetly a bad sign for an Oscar) for more than a couple weeks I personally would remove one of them.
There is truth to 3 being the worst number to keep. 5+ would spread the aggression but I wouldn’t try to d that with any less than a 300 gallon tank with no other significant fish to add to bioload. I noticed you had a pair of Uarus in there which would be first to suffer from poor water quality. So if you were to get two more and keep the other fish your tank should be well above 300 gals... just my two cents and for reference I have found myself to be a more liberal stocker than many on this site.
No fun to put all this time and energy into the hobby and have to watch an animal as awesome as an Oscar suffer and die. That said trying stuff out is half the fun of the hobby. I’m not being critical that you tried this out. I added a female jag to my 125 gal to bring my male out of hiding. Everyone advised against it but it turned out to be a great decision and I love the tank now.... trial and error, just make sure you have backup plans when experiment8ng with large cichlids compatibility.
I agree with replies above. You disturbed the equilibrium you had going with the two original Oscars. I'd be willing to bet that (as
DonnyB
mentioned above) you most likely had two females, and the new addition is a male, or vice versa? If everything was fine, then a new fish is introduced and one of the originals is cast away, I would assume the other two are pairing up.
If you want to take a chance of keeping the 3 together, then i would keep a close eye on things for awhile. Ultimately I think you will have to seperate. 3 is an odd number. 2 is like 50/50. But 3 just begs for one to be singled out
DonnyB
mentioned above) you most likely had two females, and the new addition is a male, or vice versa? If everything was fine, then a new fish is introduced and one of the originals is cast away, I would assume the other two are pairing up.If you want to take a chance of keeping the 3 together, then i would keep a close eye on things for awhile. Ultimately I think you will have to seperate. 3 is an odd number. 2 is like 50/50. But 3 just begs for one to be singled out
Hi mate I really appreciate the advice I know it sounds stupid but for the last 6 days everytime the tiger chases the red aye have been putting him in time out putting my divider in keeping him by himself and it is actually working aye think no chasing for the last 3 days actually sleep together when lights are off all 3 of them. my bullied oscar has all his colour back he never stopped eating it never got that bad but now the all seem to get along fine its brilliant to watch I just persevered with the tank divider every time he was bad mibby it was that or mibby they just needed time but glad everything is fine now I didnt get the other 2 Oscar's as everything is fine now I keep good care of my tank I have a 1000 litre 8 foot tank ran with 2 fx6 filter and I do weekly 400/500 litre water changes and clean gravel ect done it this way from the day aye started the hobby only been 1 and a half years so still learning thanks for the advice glad to say the Oscars are fine now
i think everyone else is right he might be coming out. but first you can try to do a time out with the bully or maybe try moving the inside of the tank around so they are not guarding one side of the tank that works sometimes. every fish is different you just need to try and see if something will work
Hi mate yes aye have they all seem to be getting on fine now been 3 days with no chasing or bullying just kept putting him in time out and it has actually worked he is behaving. and they all together all the time now