Question about new oscar

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
F

fish_chick

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 8, 2013
47
1
8
SC
Hi, so I picked up my first oscar today, an albino oscar that is about 3 inches long. I added him to my tank about 3 hours ago. He went into a 120 gallon tank with approximately 13 giant danios, 1 convict, and 1 common pleco. To acclimate him I let him float in his bag in the tank water for about an hour, gradually adding my tank water to his bag, then switched him over. When I first added him he basically sank straight to the bottom and kinda floated around, sometimes on his side. I have read that Oscars behave weird when stressed, so I figured this was it. Also the convict started to mercilessly pick on him (the convict is about an inch bigger than him) so I put a temporary divider in the tank. This has helped the oscar perk up, though every once in awhile I will find him just kinda floating on the bottom, a little sideways. But he perks back up.

My tank levels are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 20 nitrates, 6.8 ph.

So do you think his weird behavior is just the usual thing for an Oscar that has been moved around? How shall I handle the aggression from the convict? There are a few places to hide, none of which the Oscar has tried to use. I don't want him to get too stressed! Thanks!
 
About 60 gallons, it's right in the middle. Though when I went to check on them again (after making the post) he had somehow snuck around the divider and was on the side with the convict! So I took the divider out, he seems ok though is getting picked on some by the convict.
 
Oscar's tend to mope around quite a bit for a few days after a move/change/any other stress; so the behavior sounds about normal.

As far as the aggression goes, Oscar's are pussy cats when it comes to real attitude. In the end the larger con may be too much for your new O to deal with honestly. You could always try rearranging the tank; as it may break up territories and allow the con to leave you're new O in peace.
 
They mope alot, have big personalities. Give it a week, but yeah I agress that Oscars are actually on the more docile side for cichlids. I suggest always having the oscar as the largest in a mixed community tank, just not large enough to eat the other. Mine grew at least an inch a month so yours should outgrow the convict in no time.
 
Would love to see pics of the tank :) good stocking level, less is more IMO.

I'd rearrange the tank decor as a previous poster mentioned, your convict will be busy trying to reassess the whole tank and will ideally lose attention on the O, especially in a 120

Sent from my Nexus 5 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
Sure here is a picture...the oscar is at the top left of the tank, and the convict is at bottom center. Please excuse the ugliness/plainness of the tank..I've kept it bare bottom for ease of cleaning up after the pleco, and have been trying to get everything settled in before worrying about making it prettier. I used to have lots of hiding places but no one used much but the big fake rock, so I took it out. I also had some fake plants but no one seemed to want them and they made cleaning difficult so I took them out. And the color of the water is from the driftwood, I can't wait for that to go away. What do y'all think (about functionality, I know it's ugly :P) ? Personally I like very minimalist tanks (though I do like them prettier than that), but if more decor wound be better for the fish, of course I would add it.
10457867_10152486146324566_2001918528818285874_n.jpg

10457867_10152486146324566_2001918528818285874_n.jpg
 
Convict360, yes I am trying to restrain myself stocking wise. I have been quite tempted to also get a regular tiger oscar, as I love both types of Oscars and had a very hard time deciding between them. But I also know that with 2 it could end up too crowded in the long run, especially with the pleco. So I'm trying to be good :D
 
I wouldnt let that Con pick on Oscar very long. Oscars are VERY susceptible to stress related health problems, and despite their growth rate and eventual size, they are still a very wimpy fish in the cichlid world. Convict packs a lot of mean for their size, and if they take a notion, can kill Oscars of double their size. A divider is not a good option for any length of time either, stress from cramped quarters will take its toll on Oscar as well.
 
Well I put the divider back in and it had helped some, because they can actually swim around of (it's homemade) but it blocks line of sight so the convict doesn't notice the Oscar so much so he doesn't pick on him so much. Any reason I couldn't use this for awhile? Other than separating them (which I can do if needed) what are my options? Would more hiding places help? If so what are good kinds?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom