Oscars have a 'sneaky' mode?

[blattalady]

Is my O the only one who changes his colors to a 'camouflage' and stalks around the tank ambushing imaginary bugs? It's like one minute he's orange and olive/gray, responsive and needy. I turn around a few minutes later and he's totally tuned me out. He's got these black stripes and gray circles on his head and he's just transfixed on...nothing. My wiggling finger gets no response. He just sort of comes out of it slowly on his own after a minute or two. Or sometimes he'll slurp the surface loudly like when he eats a cricket. I guess it could be something he learned in the wild...

Mine does this all the time!! And he/she has totally changed colors to camofluage within the tank.

 

[Drew'n'Kylene]

I don't think its camouflage because my red O does it when i get down on his face level and he tries mouth fighting me. Our lil tiger thinks he's a clown loach trying to hide under plastic plants.

 

[WildCAught]

Could the gulping behavior be an indicator of low oxygen/ bad water?

 

[Steveo1987]

Could the gulping behavior be an indicator of low oxygen/ bad water?

My O does something similar to what hes saying but not continually?! I have 2 externals and an internal disturbing the suraface for oxygen reintroduction to the water and my water parameters are always: Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm and Nitrate <10ppm?! So dont think its that, i personnally think they just get excited and jump thinking there getting fed or something!!!

 

[Basskeeper]

well my 4 inch O schools with a betta fish he cohabitates a 10 gallon tank with until i get a heater for the 55 and he gets used to feeding. he goes greyish with those lines dark circles and such, all camo and cool and stalks the betta. then, goes and sulks by the filter because he can't eat the betta. then go camo and stalk.

 

[ohhsweetness]

mine use to think he was a dolphin jumping out of the water for food
(he was like a dog waggin his tail when it did come time to feeding him )

 

[knifegill]

Oh, good. I see new replies.

Oxygen has nothing to do with it, but good thought nonetheless.

Cool stories, people. Thank you for your help.