Tropical Fish Forums

[aatif]

Hi

I brought 5 oscars last thursday,before these I had Bp's and they were very territorial.

Everytime I used to put a driftwood or or a rock,the Bp's would readily take hold.

Oscars are different,I mean they don't hide all the time like the Bp's but they are pretty much like a schooling fish.

How will they react if I put a decoration piece of a cave,driftwood etc.

[Sink Colin Sink]

Oscars aren't as agressive as other South American Cichlids, but they do have SOME territorial tendencies if not in a group of 3 or more.

What size is your tank? 5 oscars would need about a 250 gallon aquarium at the least.

[Jack_Dempsey11]

Yikes I agree! You will need one heck of a tank to house five oscars! They grow about an inch a month, eat enough in a day to feed a normal community tank for a month, a poop like crazy. Another thing to consider with oscars is filteration. A 250 gallon oscar aquarium will need about 2,500 gph of filteration. I really hope you are able to take care of your fish, good luck.
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[aatif]

they are just 2 inches in length,40G aquarium...

Yea,I understand their housing requirements and get it exchanged as soon as I feel they've outgrown.

Filtration is good,Fluval4 large sponge filter.

do you think putting bogwoods,cave will make them territorial ? rite now they are happily schooling.

[Brian Pellerin]

Do not concern yourself with tank decorations / territory. Buy the minimum tank requirement for ONE oscar (about 60 or 70gal) and keep only one fish. A 40gal tank won't even house one.

Please retun all but one and buy a larger tank. You made the correct move to post your situation. Now, return 4 oscars.
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And God said, "...let them have dominion over the fish of the sea." Gen 1:26

And he spoke of... fishes. 1 Kings 4:33

[Bob]

So many people say stuff like this aatif:

[aatif]

OK,I liked watching a school of them...But since its for their betterment,I have to return the four !

Thanks

[plmarsg8]

You need to return all!

[milo]

Oscars are actually sissy bullies that only picks on the weak. I had an oscar that would push a Senegal bichir around. 10 minutes after I threw a juvenile Jack Dempsey 1/3 of the oscar's size in his tank, the oscar was hiding in a corner of his tank backing away from the JD.

[paul-discus]

I agree wit everything that has been said and if you were able to get a 250 gallon tank that would be really good for them or just have the one in say 80 to a 100 gallon tank. Actually I would keep two and see which one colours up the best as it gets older and who knows they could turn out to be compatible. Oscars are like puppies and if there is anything in there tank that they don't like they will move it or at least try very hard so I would keep that to a minimum. They will also pick gravel up in there mouths and spit it at the glass often just to get your attention. Ours when we had them would let us stroke them and take food from the hand. They really get to know there owner but I can't stress these fish deserve better, it should be clearly marked on a sellers tank that these will out grow most peoples tanks very quickly, and that they are certainly not a community fish, that said there is fish that will go in with them but they are usually fish of the same size. I would suggest you buy an aquarium hoover and get used to hoovering the tank bottom daily and doing a daily water change and a good live food for them is the earthworm, either dug up yourself from an area that hasn't been treated with pesticides or bought from an angling shop. We had much fun with ours but they deserve to have a full life in good water and with plenty of swimming space as they are an active fish and if you can't give them this then don't have any. Often they will play dead and lie on there sides on the bottom of the tank but this is quite normal behaviour.