I think my oscar's trying to tell me something...

[SpaceButler]

My Oscar, Grumpo McHumbleberry, keeps sucking up gravel, and spitting it at the front glass of his aquarium. It make this tap noise that I can hear from the other room. I think he's trying to get my attention.

Anyone else got eerily smart fish?

 

[William]

Oscars are INCREDIBLE fish.

Intelligent and full of emotion, and cute to boot

Unfortunately, all the fish I have are rather on the dim side. My Bala Shark gets spooked by his own reflection and goes on a spastic rampage.

So yes, very dim fish on my part.

 

[xray]

Oscars are very smart. I read somewhere about this same thing. Hes piling the gravel in front of the glass because he doesn't want you to look at him. Hes hiding. :?

 

[SpaceButler]

Little punk. I figured he was hungry.

Aren't your rocks and plants enough for you!? arg

 

[QTOFFER]

Oscars are nicknamed "water dogs" because they interact with their owners like a puppy would. They can sulk, be moody, show affection, and generally acknowledge your presence. Probably one of the smartest FW fish. I wish I had a tank big enough for one.

My smartest fish are my jewel cichlids. Whenever I'm in the room, they bump against the tank lid to get my attention. All I have to do is shake the fish food can, and they go nuts at the surface. They also stare at me while I'm watching TV.

 

[Menagerie]

It's so weird to hear the tapping of rocks against the glass! My Africans do it, but they are just excavating.

 

[Rocket2001]

I have a 9in Oscar that will only take food pellets, one at a time. He lets me know when hes hungary by coming to the glass and shaking his head back and forth...the hungrier he is the more anamatied he is. I have to feed them to him individulaly,he will not eat them if i toss them in the tank and just let them float. And once hes had his fill he will swim off back to another part of the tank...feeding him take 10-20min each time.he also piles the gravel in the corners and he was constantly moving the plants around untill I suction cupped them to the bottom. And when he sseed his reflection he attacks...he changes color and flares his gills and does this shuddering thing...then he rams the glass. i have to make sure the lights are on in a certain way in my room so he doesn't see his reflect and be agitated constantly.

 

[xray]

Rocket2001 talk about high maintenance.

 

[oscarbreeder]

AHHH the Oscar!

Isnt it wonderful?

 

[lmw80]

Makes me want to get one!

 

[Aquaboy]

me too

 

[oscarbreeder]

Go for it guys they are awesome fish.

 

[Cafe Jeff]

Now I remember why I used to like Oscars.
Sadly, I have no place for them now. In terms of odd noises, I can often hear my raphael cats and skunk botia clicking their way around the aquarium. Jeff