Why does my oscar dig?

[cichlaguapote]

I actually just moved the gravel back and while I was doing so he was getting all hot and bothered my hand was in the tank. He got the usual flared gills mean look on his face so I spread my and hand and showed him who was boss. he backed down.

This may work but unless you can stay right on top of it you might find your filtration not to be as well if he's digging all the time and leaving empty spots.

 

[sandtiger]

Oscars dig in order to build nests, along with just about every other cichlid. You cannot stop it. You should remove the UGF though. Even if the oscar didn't dig a UGF it would still produce a lot more waste then the filter could handle.

 

[ewurm]

He's digging his way back to South America...

LOL! Perhaps he is searching for treasure...

 

[MistirE]

My oscar are redecorators...a friend oscars throw racks at each other more like spitting rocks but its funny.

 

[WolfFisho1]

all cichlid dig most dig for breeding! but most times they just want to dig!

 

[SemperFish]

My Red Devil is a digger as well. He moves all the gravel to the front of the tank and builds a berm there. He maintains it and regularly scoops up stray gravel and puts it where it belongs. Needless to say, my UGF is useless so I will be re-purposing the powerheads.

 

[balton777]

If you want to make him happy, throw a shovel in there for him. Better yet, get him a backhoe and a hardhat to help him along.