FULL_ATTACK-05

i just got a pair of tiger oscars but when ever i come in the room all they do is lay on their sides in the corner. i have had them for 2 days and they are about two inches big. i don't know if they just need time getting adjusted or what. also they won't eat anything when im around but they do when im gone. im really confused also i have a 20 gallon tank how long till i should get a bigger tank and how big. thanks for all your help please respond. sorry im sure this a very common question.

MPrudent

Dont stress about their behavior. Oscars tend to be very timid, especially when very young, until they get settled in. Obviously watch them to make sure that this is only settling in and not stress or disease. They will not last long in that 20 gallon tank. I give it about 1-2 months...maybe. These fish grow very fast and will quickly outgrow that tank. I have a couple young oscars (2-3 months) that are already 5-6" fish. Minimum tank size for a pair of full grown adults should be about 100 gallons or larger. Obviously, the bigger, the better rule applies here. They are also very "dirty" fish so make sure you have plenty of filtration and keep that water clean.

Angela_96

Have you cycled your tank? Do you have a water test kit to test the parameters? With oscars they need at least a 75-100g tank and I would get one asap for them.

Lucy

Hi Welcome to Fish Lore

New fish usually need some time to get used to their new surroundings.
However, Oscars are big waste producers and need a larger tank as angela advised.
Is the tank cycled? If not here's some information to read:

Nitrogen Cycle

FULL_ATTACK-05

right now i have a lamp, a filter/aeration system, and a heater but no water test kit yet. but im getting one tomorrow. they seem pretty active but like you said very timid around me. lately i have been feeding them small red cichlid pellets and an occasional minnow. is this ok? also how much is a 55 gallon tank and what new systems will i have to get for it. also one of them has no orange colorations, will that come in soon. i want to make then as healthy and happy as possible and i want to a have a very personal relationship with them which is why im worried about them being uncomfortable around me. thanks again for the help.

MPrudent

You will need bigger than a 55 gallon aquarium for just those 2 fish. I would suggest getting an API Master Test Kit asap. Having the ability to test your water and make sure the tank is cycled is the key to fish comfort. How long have you had your tank? My guess, and it's just a guess, is that your tank is not cycled which would make for some stressed fish. The relationship will come with time but it is very important to get that tank cycled and make sure the water is perfect. I am also going to suggest getting a product called Prime which will also help bring down the stress level in the aquarium. Also, I prefer not to feed any live food when young as those minnows could have diseases. Continue to feed them pellets and other oscar friendly food.

FULL_ATTACK-05

well i pretty sure that its cycled because my filter sucks in water and then pours it out clean, or is that something different? and if it is what kind of system do i need to get to cycle the water in my tank? also whats the best way to keep the tank as clean as possible?

Lucy

Unfortunately, it something different.
Please read the link I provided, it explains the cycling process. When cycling with fish, it can take up to a month if not longer to establish beneficial bacteria that will process the ammonia created through fish waste and left over food.

Here's a basic explanation of the nitrogen cycle:
First your ammonia (from fish waste and left over food) will rise.
In a few weeks you'll see the nitrite levels rise and the ammonia levels start to drop.
After a few more weeks you'll see the nitrate levels rise and the nitrite levels drop.
Ammonia and nitrites are toxic to your fish.
So until your cycle is complete, you need to keep the levels down with daily water changes
When you having readings of 0 on both ammonia and nitrites with some nitrates showing, your cycle is done

Use Prime as your water conditioner. Ammonia is toxic to your fish and prime will detoxify it for 24hrs between water changes.

You will also need a test kit, the API master kit is highly recommended.
To keep the gravel clean, you'll need a gravel vacuum, available at most fish stores.

In the mean time, you really need to get a much larger tank as Angela advised, asap.

soldieroffortune1974

Oscars lay on their sides quite often,especially when they are small.That's normal behavior,and will usually stop as they get older,but not always.

If the 1 Oscar doesn't have orange coloration,it's not a tiger oscar and wont get orange coloration later.The fish stores normally get them mixed up and just label them that way.

Feeding them live minnows,don't be surprised when they lose all color and have whitish type stripes,I call that "hunting mode" as they learn to hunt and get extremely aggressive during feeding.When they change color they 'seek and destroy' so be prepared,and don't be alarmed when you see it.It's pretty cool to watch.

As the others have already said,they will quickly outgrow the 20 gallon,within 2 months definitely.IF the dominant oscar doesn't kill the other within that time. A bigger aquarium is definitely needed in their future.

A larger than normal filter will help keep the water cleaner,but they are very messy eaters and have bad table manners.They also produce a lot of waste,so the more filtration you have the better.I would definitely go with a canister filter.

Don't bother with trying to put plants or 'pretty' decorations in with them.They will tear up and severely abuse any decor you put in.Watch where you place your heater and filter inlet/outlet.They will constantly abuse it.My oscars have broke 2 heaters already.For decor stick with large rocks and driftwood and a few hiding places. Once the dominance is established the other 1 will need a place to run to.Thay are very aggressive fish.

Once they get acclimated to their surroundings,they will come around and become more outgoing.Don't be fooled,as they get older,they will bite the hand that feeds them! They also love to jump.When they get bigger,you may need to put a weight on top of the hood to keep it down.Mine have knocked the hood off and took to carpet surfing.

Since your aquarium isn't cycled.Change the water everyday and you definitely want to get a good water test kit.API as mentioned is very good.

FULL_ATTACK-05

are you sure that the one with no color isn't a tiger. and if so then what type is it?

soldieroffortune1974

I can't really be sure of anything without more info or a picture,but I am quite certain that if it's not orange colored now,it wont get it later and is more than likely not a tiger oscar.

see here:http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...-8&sa=N&tab=wi

You could possibly have an albino,but would need more info to determine what kind of oscar it is.

FULL_ATTACK-05

well im pretty sure its not an albino cause it looks exactly like a tiger but without the color, it even seems to have stripes but no color.

also what is the gravel vacuum for? does it vacuum out the gravel so it can be clean or does it sift crap out from the gravel? sorry im def new to all of this.

Angela_96

A gravel vac is a great investment for your tank. It will "sift" the gravel and everything like left over food and poop gets sucked up. This is def reccomended at least every two weeks. W/ Oscars I would go with every week.

FULL_ATTACK-05

ok thanks. should i get a pleco and/or a catfish to put in my tank too? will they make the tank cleaner and healthier?

Angela_96

If you get a bigger tank, like 75g-ish you can put a pleco in it. There are a couple species of plecos however that eat more fishfood than poop after a while, like the common pleco.
With the Oscars I wouldn't recomend a small catfish, something tells me that they will be lunch?

Lucy

I'm sorry, but no, you don't have room for the fish you have let alone anymore. The common pleco also needs at least a 55g tank, they're big watse producers also.

FULL_ATTACK-05

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/n...500/oscar3.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/n...500/oscar2.jpg
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/n...500/oscar1.jpg

here are some pics of my oscars maybe some one can help me identify weather they are both tiger oscars or if the one is a different type of oscar.

soldieroffortune1974

Tiger oscar and albino................ I replied to both threads.