Oscar Rage

Ok, so having alittle trouble with one of my oscars.. I have a 55 Gal with 2 oscars, one black tiger oscar which is about 7-8 inches and a smaller Albino about 5 inches... now I have 2 electric blues and yellows in the tank for a friend (which have started breeding indicating the water is well maintained ) all water paramiters are 0 PH is around 8. now last night I found my albino to be raging.. he was attacking everything! even the bigger oscar who hid behind the filter. I tried to calm him down the only way I know how... which was putting my hand in there to have a play but he still carried on! I tried feeding him and he still was flareing all his gills/fins. My black oscar is the most placid fish ever... biggest chiller and will only go for feeder fish, is getting bullied ive had them both in an established tank for about 3 months, I know for both oscars I should get a bigger tank which I am looking into but I'm just worried for my black oscar! Also.. will the oscar eat my friends yellow labs fry? she has a prime set up underneath a rock which only she can fit in!

Help me!

 

Is that 1 blue and 1 yellow? or 2 of each?

The Oscars will definitely eat the fry if and when they can get at them.

 

2 each! It was crazy my dad said they were chasing eachother around for 15 minutes shaking like crazy and then the female yellow lab hasnt eated for about 4 days and ive noticed her throat?? getting huge! I have a breeder box so I might put her in there but I don't think I'm equiped enough to raise the fry
if/when the fry come out of her mouth, she has a cave which only she can fit in.. will they stay in there or will they just swim about and get eaten!

 

For the first while she will keep them very close to her. When danger approaches, she will vacuum them back up into her mouth for a while, and release them when she feels more comfortable. But after a while the fry get too large for her to do that, and then they also swim faster and as they get a few days old, and scatter more it makes it harder for her to keep them in a small group. So it doesn't take very long for them to start getting away from her. After a while she'll get in the mood for starting on another batch, and the fry will be left to their own devices while they are still very tiny.

The mother will likely have 30 to 50 fry in her mouth, sometimes more. She really needs another tank to release the fry into and nurture them. Sometimes if she is left with them for too long, she will eat them, but she should stay with them for a week or two. If you watch their interactions, you will be able to tell when she is ready to go back to the main tank.

Have you tested for ammonia and nitrites since you added the electrics to the tank? If not, you maybe should. Sometimes when water chemistry starts to get out of wack, a fish gets irritated feeling and starts to lash out. It might be something that simple causing your Oscars aggression.

 

well ive had them for a while and everything has been ok, I haven't been able to test the water but I did a 50% water change after I found out she was preggers!
I did that a day, maybe two before my oscar cut sick!
I know my tank is over stocked but I keep a good eye on them to make sure I change the water and I found a nice cheap 5 footer after I get my funds right. During having this tank there has been some crazy things happen in there, my electric blue (once he got his colors!) was third on the pecking order of the tank but then started harrassing the albino... I took the electric blue, put him in a breeder box for a week and it fixed the problem but now the albino wants to be top dog!! I just don't want my black oscar (my fav!) to get injured!

 

Well the bigger tank will help you out for sure, but being able to test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates is really important. When ammonia shows it's ugly head, it usually takes at least 50% water changes every day to keep bringing levels down. Same with nitrites. Often the use of a product such as Prime or Amquel+ added daily with water changes is needed to detoxify any left over ammonia and nitrites in order to keep fish safe from the affects of ammonia and nitrites. Nitrates become toxic over time when levels start to increase over 20 ppm. The higher they go the more toxic they are. When fish start suffering from these toxins, one of the most common things to happen are diseases and infections. Fin rot, popeye, and general listlessness, just to name a few things that can occur, and then of course there is death.

Your fish load is going to increase even more with one of your fish carrying babies, any that survive in that tank, and any that die but aren't eaten will also contribute to ammonia and nitrites and eventually nitrates.

I'm not sure I have managed to convince you to get testing equipment, but I hope so.

 

Oscars are pretty territorial. The addition of the extra fish aren't helping that either. There's a good chance the one has hit sexual maturity and is trying to exert its territorial control. This might last a week. This might last until one dies. Tough to say.

 

Hey guys, I have a API Master Test Kit W/test tubes but I haven't got around to testing it!
Ive come to the conclusion that I think my oscar is trying to mate with the bigger oscar... I managed to observe them last night for a good hour monitering their behaviour and I found that the albino was chasing the tiger oscar around and when he finally got over being chased the albino started flaring his gills and fins and started to shake irratically... is this normal oscar mating behaviour? and if so I heard that oscars become very very territoral so my other fish are doomed hey?!?!
Its funny how their all going into mating at once if this is indeed the case....
The electric blue is trying to mate with his partner but she hasnt reached sexual maturity yet so yeah...
Ill have results up of readings in approx 5 hours when I get home!
Also.. is there a specific mating season for fishes? or is this just how its going to be in the tank from now on?!

 

Hey guys, I have a API Master Test Kit W/test tubes but I haven't got around to testing it!
Ive come to the conclusion that I think my oscar is trying to mate with the bigger oscar... I managed to observe them last night for a good hour monitering their behaviour and I found that the albino was chasing the tiger oscar around and when he finally got over being chased the albino started flaring his gills and fins and started to shake irratically... is this normal oscar mating behaviour? and if so I heard that oscars become very very territoral so my other fish are doomed hey?!?!
Its funny how their all going into mating at once if this is indeed the case....
The electric blue is trying to mate with his partner but she hasnt reached sexual maturity yet so yeah...
Ill have results up of readings in approx 5 hours when I get home!
Also.. is there a specific mating season for fishes? or is this just how its going to be in the tank from now on?!

If its flaring its fins up and almost twitching its tail/ Virbrating it, its the oscar saying 'I'm the boss".

The most sure thing to see if they ar eon the way to mating, is them slapping tails and hanging out with one another. at this point... the other fish are in trouble IMO.

Even if they do pair up, that doesn't mean their going to lay eggs. Oscars are very picky about mates and might only hit the "just friends" stage.

Good luck!

 

lol fair enough! that's mad thank you guys for your help!

 

What are your test results? Might as well post them being as I made you go out and get the test kit.

You gonna re-home some fishies, or give them another tank? Just curious how you are going to handle all of the things you have going on in your current tank.

 

At 5" they may be trying or going through the motions, but at 5" that Oscar isn't mature yet.



Brian

 

Ok sorry about the delay but I have my water test right here next to me...
PH:7.8
Ammonia: 0 NH3/NH4+
Nitrite: 0 No2-
Nitrate: 0ppm
hummm

 

Hummm, I think you have a false nitrate reading. Bottle #2 for the nitrate test has a couple of little beads in it. The fluid in this bottle tends to chrystalize so it needs to be beat up really good so that those little beads break-up the chrystals and banging the bottle on the floor or the underside of the table for at least 1 minute seems to do the trick. Try this and see if you get a more accurate reading for those nitrates.

 

See, I was alittle skeppers about the readings aswell, but when I tested my community fish tank all the readings worked (not exactly the best readings for the smaller tank but I fixed that up! ) but I shall do a re test tonight of both tanks to confirm my results..
Thanks for all your help so far!

 

Well, it looks like your water isn't part of what's making your oscars grouchy, so I guess you really do just have a good old fashioned case of territorial aggression. Not sure that is actually good news. LOL

I'm still interested in what you get for nitrates on your re-test though.

 

Its funny though, because my smaller tank is the one with the water problems but looks to be pristeine, where as the water in my oscar tank looks alittle dirty (due to alge) and is reading perfect/perfect incorrect readings.... sometimes this water chemistry stuff confuses me!!
Maybe if I re decorate my tank? I have a few Base rock in there for the electric yellows but maybe I should get rid of them to give my oscars more room, you know.. displaced water and such? is that going to help much? its gotten to a point where tykell is hiding most of the time... but hes the bigger fish? is he gunna just cut sick and like romp jester if hes bullied to much?

 

Its funny though, because my smaller tank is the one with the water problems but looks to be pristeine, where as the water in my oscar tank looks alittle dirty (due to alge) and is reading perfect/perfect incorrect readings.... sometimes this water chemistry stuff confuses me!!
Maybe if I re decorate my tank? I have a few Base rock in there for the electric yellows but maybe I should get rid of them to give my oscars more room, you know.. displaced water and such? is that going to help much? its gotten to a point where tykell is hiding most of the time... but hes the bigger fish? is he gunna just cut sick and like romp jester if hes bullied to much?

Well, the water chemistry stuff, we can always help you with.

The re-decorating may, or may not help. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. You said you were keeping the electrics for a friend, right? How long are you suppose to keep them for?

 

well..... at this stage.... it is indefinite.... but I am planning to jack move my parents with a 6 foot tank I'm just wondering with changing the Dec'or should I leave more open space for them to swim or should I build up in the middle try and break down territories to try and split my tank into two or how should I set it up... I can upload a picture of what it looks like later on in the day!!

 

Well, truthfully I'm really not sure in your situation, what you should do. I would probably try to give them more swim area, but make sure you give your electrics a couple of safe places to tuck away. I guess if it doesn't work and you think you want to try a different arrangement you can try it. Truthfully though, I'm not sure you will be able to curb the aggression with the stocking you have. But, I have been wrong before!

Good luck with what ever you do. And um.... good luck with the parents.

Looking forward to the pics.

 

Otay, so just did another nitrate reading and its 20 ppm... Good call on the test kit!!! Going to do a 50% water change tonight.. then another 25% tomorrow and leave it for a day or two see how the readings go then! thank you for the advice !
Heres my Big tank (Going to change the decor tomorrow so don't judge on the looks )

and heres my community tank

 

Well Pavey, those are both very nice tanks! Seeing how you rearrange them will be nice to see also.

Don't panic about those nitrate readings. 20 PPM is not terrible, under 20 PPM is usually what we like to get nitrate readings to, so your 50% water change should do that very nicely for you, and now that you have a working nitrate test, you'll be able to track your levels, especially when you suspect things might be wonky, or if your fish ever start to not act quite right, you'll be able to test and take any necessary action. Of course if you suspect things are wonky or fish aren't acting right, test ammonia and nitrite levels too.

Well, good job, now if you could just find a magic way to have your critters get along a little better, you'll be set. Because the Oscars and the Electrics can both be territorial, I don't think you will ever be able to achieve perfect harmony. About the best you can hope for, is the one comes out of hiding, and any fights end quickly with no major injuries. They are bound to tussle a little bit, it's their nature, so as long as one of them doesn't get hurt, all will be well.

 

Ok, so ive down a few things which I have found to leave my tank with no aggression !
Firstly... I lowered the temp to 26*,
I change the decor and did a massive clean
Fed them alittle more generously

 

Good morning,

Beautiful Oscars!

I have to say though, I'm a little worried about the tank mates. Sometimes Oscars will even eat fish that are TOO BIG for their mouths, leaving a tail hanging out.

Oh no! I hear the theme song from "JAWS" playing in the background! arkie1

Seriously though, it's something to think about. I'm sure you have a much better view of everything than I do. (mouth size and fish size).

Best wishes and thanks for sharing the photos!

Ken

 

That's quite a change! Looks very good!!

I'm glad to hear things have settled down. It could be just temporary, so keep that in mind.

Good Luck Pavey!

 

Welcome to FishLore!

Earlier in your post you mentioned you had the Oscars in a 55 gallon tank. The tanks in your aquarium info convert out to
70L= approx 18.5 gallons
140L = approx 36 gallons
So the oscars, electric yellows, electric blues and pictus cats are in the 36 gallon?
There is a tank size converter at the bottom of the page if you need it.
Carol

 

They would be the specs then!
Yes, I have all those fish in the 36 Gal, They are still juvenile though and I'm working on a 6ft tank as I plan to get a RTS and maybe a few Clown loach

: As for the tank mates (jaws theme styles ) they seem to only be bothered by their respective partners!
The yellow lab male never harrasses the female
The electric blue is the bad, he goes where he wants even when the albino oscar is raging!
as you can see the way I have arranged the tank, all the MalawI cichlids have many places to hide!
For now the aggression has lowered dramatically! the albino has his moments when hes hungy, but after that it seems as though theyre trying to mate :S
The albino swims right next to the tiger, and they both vibrate like crazy!

and thank you Toosie for all your help
Got everything finally worked out for that tank at this stage!
Merged back to back posts and edited for language.
Ken

 

They would be the specs then!
Yes, I have all those fish in the 36 Gal, They are still juvenile though and I'm working on a 6ft tank as I plan to get a RTS and maybe a few Clown loach

Even as juvniles they need more room that we think. Their attitudes are big tank attitudes


What you have will need the 6ft to them selves.
Clown Loaches don't do well with aggressive fish.
carol

 

Hmmm, well 2 weeks I should have all the supplies to start cycling the 6 ft so maybe ill delay awhile from adding anything and let the new one establish

 

Ooooh pavey, you got your 6 ft? That's awesome. Congratulations. I thought you were still working on getting one.

Pay attention to these members that are good in the stocking department. I myself can't claim to be real comfortable advising in that area, but I know they will give you extremely good advice.

Good luck getting the 6 ft. up and running. Make sure to cycle it before you introduce your fish to it. Post a new thread if you need help with that, if I spot it, I'll give you my 2 cents.

 

Also.....


Remember how the electric yellow was preggers??! well meet spawn!

 

Getting BIG already! LOL Congratulation! How many did she have? and how many did you save?

 

well, funny story really!
I saw that she lost all her eggs and assumed she ate them because she was getting really really thin, so id lost all hope, then 3 days later my girlfriend was starring at the tank and saw this little guy by himself hiding in alittle driftwood cave!!!
So I don't know how many eggs she was carrying to begin with as I believe in survival of the fittest and I didnt want to milk her!
so I grabbed him, put him in a breader net and to make him alittle more comfortable put some rocks in the botton and a spare plant! Feeding him crushed flakes and so far so good!

 

Well, congratulations again. Hope you enjoy raising him.