Oscars being stupid

[JimL]

My Oscars are being stupid. I had 2 in a 55 gallon tank and they were getting along fine. Then one day out of the blue one beat the snot out of the other. I had just finished cycling my 75 gallon so I was able to split them up. The one is almost back to full health, there’s going to be some scars but other than that she’s 100%. Now they are both acting mopie , they hide out in the corner and hardly eat and when they do it’s one pellet at a time. I’m trying to starve them out but how long should I let them go without food?
Prams on both tanks are, 0, 0, 10, 7.4 ph, 78 temp. I do 25% water changes 3 times a week.

 

[knifegill]

Oscars may pout for a while when you change things. Just give them time.

 

[JimL]

K, thanks

 

[Red Devil]

they say it is easier to have 5 of more oscars... colony then it is to have two mature oscars together.. i had to separate mine also... just kept on fighting off and on... hope yours turns out okay..

 

[jrjerin]

Oscars are sulky when you change things.

 

[ktluvsfish]

Yup, your oscars are just adjusting and will bounce back fine. Its not uncommon for an oscar to lay on its side and act very unresponsive for the first few days after it is added to a new tank. Mine did this, and then about a week later, was at the front of the tank begging for food and totally back to normal

 

[JimL]

Thanks all. I guess I'll just have to wait them out

 

[TwistedPenguin]

They weren't being 'stupid', they were being cichlids reaching maturity :-(
And to answer your question-they can go several weeks without eating and it won't hurt them. But I don't think they're not eating just to be stubborn, they're stressed from everything else that's going on.

 

[gigas12]

Hi,give them time.

 

[Jluke]

My wife named one of our oscars "Emo" due to this, he thinks he's got it rough.