Oscar

[n3wt]

Does anyone have a Tiger Oscar that can help me out?

I have had my Oscar for a while now and I've learned that he is very aggressive from putting fish in with him. He's about 4-5 inches now and I was wondering if I put a fish that is less aggressive but larger than him will anything happen. Like him trying to beat up the other fish because hes beaten up a few fish that were an inch or so bigger than him in the past and I've had to remove the fish before he killed them. I don't keep the water temperature hot it's about 76f in the tank and all the ph and other levels are at normal levels. So I guess I just got an extra aggressive one or something because I can't even keep a Pleco in there. All I have to help clean the tank are a few snails and he pecks at them every once and a while. Anyone have any history with real aggressive fish?

 

[evercl92]

what size tank is it in?

 

[n3wt]

he was in a 20 gallon tank when I first got him but I recently got a 55 gallon tank and hes been in there for a few weeks. I haven't put any other fish in with him in the 55 gallon tank since I've had it. Do you think now that there is almost 3 times as much space he will not be as aggressive?

 

[evercl92]

Increased space should help.
Do you have any decor in the tank? Anything to break up potential territories?

Keep in mind, that 55gal is not a suitable final home for an oscar. Frankly, I hate 55gal tanks. The dimensions are just all wrong for most applications. It's not wide enough for most fish that people buy them for. A 75gal gives 6in extra width, so when your oscar is 12+ inches, he'll be able to turn around without hitting his face on the glass.

My friend's oscar, now 6yrs old, went nuts in a 55g. Jumping, splashing, daily. Was all better when we moved her to a 75g. She's now 14in+. She has tankmates, too: female convict, pictus cat, opaline gourami, 10in pleco.

What do you feed yours? His is on a pellets only diet, with occasional crayfish, and has been for years.

 

[n3wt]

Right now all I have are a few live plants, nothing really to break up territories, I don't really know what to use. Maybe some large rocks or something?

I feed it pellets right now, but I've seen it eat a few moths and other bugs because my doors are always open.

 

[evercl92]

You'll either need:
1 setup tank with other fish already in it, so they have their territories, and the oscar has to find his
2 rocks / driftwood, hiding places

 

[n3wt]

Thanks, do you know of any fish that get along with Oscars? There's a good fish store by my house and they have a large selection of freshwater fish that I was going to see what they have.