Young Oscar just turned MEAN. Please help.

[TwistedPenguin]

They are hardly 4" long , how can this tank be too small? I've seen full grown O's live in a 75g that get along fine (granted thats too small but I have seen it).

Territorial wise it's not enough room. And sure, 2 Oscars 'can' get along in a 75 g if they're a compatiable pair. Although anyone who cared about their fish wouldn't put two foot-long fish in a 75 gal. You quite obviously don't have a compatiable pair though. A is telling B to move out and B has nowhere to move to. It's my opinion that a 55 g is too small for even a single Oscar and no way is it big enough for 2 that don't get along. Your options are either seperate them or place one. Or place both and wait until you can get a 75 g to get another one (not 2).

 

[jgallagher1980]

i had two in a 45, moved them to a 55, ten a 75, now they are in a 125, and the battle continues, now they fight more than ever, they grew up together and were fine, always following each other, but now with all the room in the world, they are always swimming together and then will attack each other, even when i built a divider, they would ram the divider knocking it down, so after about a month, i let them be together again and they still fight, jumping inot the glass throwing water on my floor, i dont think they will ever be friends again and i dont think there is anything you can do, either let them fight or seperate them or only kep one, i myself cannot get rid of either, had them about 1.5 years, so i just keep an eye on them and when they get real bad, i seperae them for a couple of weeks,

 

[Veto]

omg..two oscars in a 55gal?! no wonder one is turning mean...upgrade now or rehome them. one 120gal tank is a tight fit for them both. what will you do if they start beating each other up? you will not be able to fit a divider in a 55gal with two oscars!!!

What will I do if they start beating each other up? They already are genius, hence the start of this thread (let me add some !!!!!!!! so you can understand it, or is it still above your level?).

Thanks to everyone else who actually had something worth reading to say. I will upgrade my tank when Im dam good and ready, but that doesn't mean the fish are going to get along any better, some of you just can't grasp that fact.

Thank you and god bless.

 

[Bud8Fan]

I will upgrade my tank when Im dam good and ready, but that doesn't mean the fish are going to get along any better, some of you just can't grasp that fact.

I'm just thankful I'm not one of your Oscars, I don't think I'd want to wait until you were dam good and ready. Had you done your research before you bought your Oscars you would have found that two Oscars in no way should be kept in a 55 gallon tank. Ever! Nitrates will be a nighmare to control and agression issues will almost be guaranteed.

I think it would be cruel (just my opinion) to put even a single Oscar in a 55 gallon tank. The tank is 12" deep and a full grown Oscar can reach 12". How would you like to live in something that you could barely turn around in? Let alone two.

....what should I do?

Buy no smaller than a 125 gallon tank for both and hope they get along or get no smaller than a 75 gallon tank and keep one.

Best wishes to your Oscars.

 

[crisper]

What will I do if they start beating each other up? They already are genius, hence the start of this thread (let me add some !!!!!!!! so you can understand it, or is it still above your level?).

Thanks to everyone else who actually had something worth reading to say. I will upgrade my tank when Im dam good and ready, but that doesn't mean the fish are going to get along any better, some of you just can't grasp that fact.

Thank you and god bless.

Relax dude they are just opinions take them with a grain of salt. Good luck with your fish.

 

[Tom500]

Oscars are mean. I'd just keep one.

I agree

 

[D-Train]

Os just dont like os. and the reason why the one turns to its side is because it is trying to confuse the other o. they have an eyespot on the tip of their tail to try and befuddle aggressors. you will need a bigger tank eventually as long as that is known which i think it is. also i really dont think they will ever get along. oscars are greedy buggers and your dominant one sees the other guy as a threat and feels as tho it must be eliminated.

 

[blockhead595]

First off, you have to remember that every Oscar is different. Some will tolerate other O's and some won't. Second, they are extremely unpredictable. They will turn on other fish sometimes with no notice at all. Also, that tank is too small. You may be able to get away with one oscar in a 55 even though it won't be able to turn around in it once it reaches adult size, but two is too much. They have a very large bioload. I had two four inch O's in a 60 gallon for a while and I had to do water changes every few days because my nitrates where getting too high. Imagine if they where both 10 inches or larger. I would rehome one of the Oscars or get a 125 gallon tank for them minimum. You also need to face the distinct possability that your Oscars will never get along. If they both stay in that tank though one WILL die. If you had a larger tank then dithers may help but right now you shouldn't add anything to your tank. How often do you check your water? I'm guessing that it allready needs to be changed every 3 to 4 days and they aren't even halfway grown.