Tiger Oscar Questions

[dollfaced]

Ok, my friend has a tiger oscar and wanted me to post a question here. I know nothing about oscars so I can't help him.

He says he had the oscar since the middle of november. He got him from a friend who had it a couple of months. So he says the oscar is about a year old. When he first got him, it was in a 10 gallon tank for about 8 months. Now he has it in a 30 gallon tank. The question he has is why is it rubbing against a shell that is in the tank? The shell was in the tank when he got the oscar from his friend and has been rubbing on it since. He said mostly does it at night and has rubbed the shell to where it has worn down to holes in the shell. Is it normal for oscars to rub on things?

One question I have is a blue gourami ok to have with the oscar? He didn't know what kind of fish it was and asked me what it was.

Edit: Adding a picture he sent

 

[SamUK]

when you say rub, do you mean the side of his body or does he kinda attack it with his mouth?


im afraid to say the 30 gallon tank isnt big enough for the oscar alone too.

its good your friend got it out the 10 gallons but oscars need a minimum of 75 gallons as they can reach a max size of about 16".


definately dont add the gourami.

 

[darknirvana217]

My Oscar constantly attacks driftwood and plants with his mouth open and sometimes rubs his body on it in the process. However, if he is rubbing to scratch it is possible he may have some syptoms of an external parasite. Have you noticed any white dots or funny white patches on his body and slime coat. Then again he may just have itch. you shouldn't add the gourami because oscars are territorial and predatory and would most likely eat teh blue gourami.

 

[dollfaced]

I finally got a reply from him, this is what he said:
"He kinda rubs the side of his body against it. Not really sure if he attacks with mouth or not haven't seen that much. And No I dont see any white spots or patches"

I don't know if ich lasts for a year...? That's how long he said he's been doing it.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

I finally got a reply from him, this is what he said:
"He kinda rubs the side of his body against it. Not really sure if he attacks with mouth or not haven't seen that much. And No I dont see any white spots or patches"

I don't know if ich lasts for a year...? That's how long he said he's been doing it.

I doubt he could live with untreated Ich for over a year... Must just be a personality thing...

I agree, the fish needs to be in a bigger tank.

Can you get any pictures of the fish up? Doesn't have to be scratching on the rock, just some close-ups on the fish.

 

[vancouver]

Rubbing/flicking is often because of parasites.

The tank is probably really dirty, water quality cant be good.

Oscar needs a bigger tank, or oscar is going to die prematurely.

 

[Gatorbait]

I would tend to agree with vancouver. In a tank so tiny you'd have to do 2-3 100% wc's a day to not have bad water. The water quality might be irrittating him.

 

[dollfaced]

Alright, thanks for the info guys I shall tell him. Hopefully he can get a picture of the oscar and improve its living arrangements.