Charmaine

So I have an oscar that I bought a couple of weeks ago so that my other oscar would have a friend, but they have not stoped fighting since I got the new one!! What should I do?? I am thinking of returning him to the LFS.

Chief_waterchanger

If you think the fighting is too much then you may be right to return it. Basically I would look to see if they are just "puffing" or if they are actually doing damage. If there are nips, torn or frayed fins, red or inflammed areas, lack of appetite, etc, I would entertain the idea of returning one of them to protect them both from a very bad outcome. However, if there doesn't seem to be damage and they are just doing the: "I'm badder." "No I'm badder." "Your momma smells badder." "Don't talk about my momma." thing then they may do alright in the end.

Charmaine

But all my other fish are in one corner of th tank and he runs the rest of the tank. They do have some missing scales. So I guess I should return him!!

Shawnie

the scales missing could be from banging against any deco..and what they are doing is very common for them...they even lock lips quite often...and if you have a mating pair, it will always be there as far as butting heads..its part of the love dance ...LOL @ CWC the mama thing hahaha.....take out the bad boy, re arrange everything...keep him out for a good hour or so..then put him back...I have one naughty boy here that I gotta either find a good home for, or deffinately get the bigger tank asap!! Love these fish

capekate

g'morning Charmaine
It sounds like the new Oscar is quite the bully and is totally stressing all your other fish. I agree with CWC, that it would most likely be a good idea to return the new guy. Its too bad, Oscars are such cool fish to keep. But if every one is unhappy and stressed out, returning it may be the best thing to do.

Charmaine

Thanx guys.
It breaks my heart. I will give it another week and if nothing has changed I will have to return him and he is so gorgious, I feel like crying

Shawnie

goodluck darlin..ive had my guys 8 years and its breaking my heart also..but it is something that they will do forever..its in their nature

Charmaine

for all your help guys. Really appreciate it. Will keep you posted.

Devon

Charmaine, are they both males? So sorry they aren't getting along.

Charmaine

I don't know if they are both males, but they do not seem to be pairing up which I was really hoping for. Now to make things worse, when I got home from work yesterday, my irredecent shark was lying on the floor dead!! He must have jumped really hard cause my hood was moved and the hood is pretty heavy. What happened, was it the new oscar that pushed him to commit suicide or what??. But I have now decided to return him.

Shawnie

Oscars are monomorphic which means you cant tell the difference unless they spawn

Charmaine

Well I did not have the guts to return the oscar cause I really love him and all of my fish, so what i did was I set up a tank just for him and moved him over the weekend. He now has a whole tank to run on his own and my other fish are not hiding away anymore. They are all happy now.

capekate

Thats great news Charmaine. Im glad to hear that everyone is doing much better now that the Oscar has been moved. Im so sorry to hear you lost your shark tho...

Shawnie

wow a good solution for everyone...sorry about your shark also

oscars are deffinately on the nawty list this month arent they!

Charmaine

Yip, no christmass presents for him this year!! HAHA

Shawnie

I agree!!

how big and how old are they again?

Charmaine

I dont know how old they are but 16cm and 20cm