Tiger Oscar

[Emissary of Pain]

Good Morning all ...

I really hope you can help me. I am new around here so please forgive me for any silly questions I may have.


I have a Tiger Oscar which I bought when it was still tiny (+-4cm, 1.6 inches), He was put in a tank along with other fish the same size (venustus, yellow lab, brichardi, convict, unknown mbuna, alb. aul. nyassae) ...


Everything was fine until the begining of this year, my Oscar (BOB) became very aggressive extremely suddenly and now any tank mate I attempt to add becomes feeder fish. I have only got the convict and brichardi left as tank mates as they didnt grow much and have plenty hiding spots ...


Is there anything I can add as tank mates that will be ok with a 25cm (9.8in) seriously aggressive Tiger Oscar ?? ... I have tried : Green Terror, Jack Dempsey, Firemouth, Eartheater and other supposed agrressive fish (according to my lfs)all of which BOB destroys in less than 6 hours and I am not wanting to continue wasting money and being "cruel" by adding fish if tey will keep dying.


All and any info greatly appreciated.

 

[Wills]

what size tank is this?

 

[minxfishy]

As above, what size tank?

Generally once a fish the size and aggression of an Oscar has taken over a tank and considers it their territory, adding anything else is, as you have found out, usually unadvisable.

btw, welcome to the forum

 

[Wills]

Just grabbed this from your other post, hope you dont mind me answering my own question lol

Just grabbed this from your other post sorry to rush things but I know whats going on now

The current project is a 240L (63gal) tank so its not the biggest of tanks but I live in a flat so trying to get a 6ft into here would be more hassle than its worth ... lol ...


I would be adding my Tiger Oscar (BOB)which is 25cm (9.8in), convict and brichardi. I am still looking up what other tank mates I can try put with an overly aggressive T.O. but not having much luck that is why I got myself a whole bunch of driftwood to make hiding spots and get away routes. (if I can't find something to put BOB in his place then I was thinking of adding faster fish that will get away from BOB)

Right problem is the tank is too small for an oscar and tankmates, recommended minimums are 75g for 1 oscar then 90-100 gallons before you start to consider adding anything else. Just going back to the first post as well, you were mixing all kinds of cichlids irrespective of what they need, the Africans are totally different fish from the Americans so that was a mistake. Obviously the tank as it is now is pushing the minimums with the con and the oscar and the brichardi so its kind of your call as to what you want to do with the tank, do you keep it as it is and risk the con and brichardi and see how it goes or do you rehome those two and keep the oscar as a wet pet and aim to get a slightly bigger tank like a Juwel 300 or something or do you rethink your tank completley to work out the cichlid tank you want?

For me it would be keeping just the oscar, im guessing youve had him nearly a year so would be a shame to part with him.

Wills

 

[minxfishy]

That makes things easier, good call Wills

Yep, the problem is tank size, as said, 75g is the recommended tank size for a single Oscar, so space restriction is adding to the problem of aggression, ideally you need to upgrade in order to keep Bob, or you will need to rehome him to a larger tank. Dont try adding any other fish. Sorry probably not what you want to hear, but for a fish the size Oscar reach - potentially 14-16" for a male, the tank just isnt large enough and doesnt give enough space for full growth.

 

[Emissary of Pain]

Hey all


The tank as wills pointed out from a diff post is a 63gal ... I was actually thinking of gettin a 180gal tank but only once I move ... the 63gal is a temp setup ...


Originally I mixed cichlids just to grow them a tad while my other tanks were ordered (they were all very tiny when I bought them and wanted slightly larger fish once I got my new tanks, novice mistake I realized to late to fix) but BOB decided to make my life easier and just kill off everything else ... I plan on having 2 cichlid tanks so maybe 1 63gal would be ok for just BOB (for now).


I have heard of ppl that have 80-100gal tanks with 1 oscar and smaller cichlids, is this a risk ppl take or is it possible to actually have tank mates with an oscar ??

 

[Emissary of Pain]

Hey Minxfishy,

You are right, that is not the best music to my ears ... but as I said I dont like being cruel to my fish and BOB has personality that I havent seen in other fish so i will rehome him asap.


It was mentioned that he can grow to 14in+ ... How long will that take, will a 63gal work until I can rehome ??


I am currently over filtering 240L tank with 700Lph filtration ... is that good enough for an adult oscar ??


Last Q for now ... What would be a good oscar food, BOB happens to be the most fussy fish I have ever seen, he will eat high protein pellets then just refuse (chew and spit out effectively dirtying the tank), he even goes off blood worm and daphnia, the only thing he doesnt refuse is feeder fish which my friend breeds himself. (I gut load them b4 feeding BOB to help raise the nutr. value a bit)

 

[Wills]

Ah right I see, Im in very similar situation with my tank. I live in a flat as well and have the same tank as you 240 liter and Im growing some geophagus on for a bigger tank when I move as well. Hoping in the next 6 months now - pretty dependant on when I find a job.

I think the plan to keep bob as he is and upgrade his tank when the time comes is the best idea. Have you considered getting a bigger 4 foot tank for him?

Oscar tank mates are possible but it can depend on the temperment of the individual and also the size of the tank. Down to whats happened I would probs leave this chap alone for now and when the time comes for an upgrade and a much bigger tank look to get some good matches for him.

Wills

 

[Emissary of Pain]

Hey Wills,


I am searching for a 4ft tank but with more height to it, the only problem is the country I stay in. Tanks are crazy expensive and the sites I found don't deliver to South Africa.

 

[minxfishy]

Its more width you need rather than extra height. For a 16" fish, you need to have at least 18-20" on width to allow for more turning space. One of our Mods here, Ludwig Venter is from SA and maybe able to suggest somewhere you could find a decent sized tank. You have a few years before he should reach his full size (assuming he is male, no way of telling btw!) Oscars grow rapidly (as you have found out) from 2" up to 9-10", approx 1" an month, but do slow down once they reach 10" until full size, so for now, you should be ok in the 63g, but obviously to avoid stunting and health issues, the quicker he gets into a larger tank the better

I dont feed feeders to my Oscars, they live primarily on quality cichlid pellets, floating and sinking, I dont know what makes you have over there, but mind feed on Hikari and Tetra doromin pellets, fresh prawns, bloodworm, mussels and once a week, some cooked shelled peas, to aid in their digestion. Its not unusual for Oscars to suddenly go 'off' one food and refuse to take it, so its best to get them on a wide variety of foods when they are young, but they also wont starve themselves, so keep trying with the pellets and eventually hunger will get the better of him, can sometimes take a few weeks, particularly at his size.

 

[Wills]

Ah I see your problem.... one of the admins Ludwig is from South Africa as well (big place I know) but he might be able to point you in the right direction for cheap tanks?

 

[Emissary of Pain]

Hey Wills, Minxfishy,


I shall lookout for Ludwig.


So I must look for a wide tank instead of a high tank, glad I found this out as early on as I did else my next tank purchase wouldnt have been worth it. lol


I try not to feed BOB feeders as well due to the fact he goes into "hunt mode" for a few days after that and he is aggressive enough as is without the extra help. He attacks my hand when I do gravel cleaning or rearranging. (drawing blood on many occasions)


The oscars grow rate was astounding I read that they were fast but never would have expected approx 1" a month but I have started learning from mistakes and I can see this forum helping me a lot.


THANK YOU ALL FOR THE ADVICE !!!!! ~ bows and worships ~

Richard

 

[minxfishy]

If you look down to the members online, Ludwig is currently online, however, Im not sure you have enough post counts to PM him, so I will send him a PM and a link to this thread for you and maybe he can suggest somewhere.

Yep width and length are the main priorities, obviously height is needed, but its the footprint of the tank thats more important, particuarly in the case of large cichlids.

Feeders will of course bring out his natural instincts, so try to avoid them and get him on a good quality cichlid pellets, along with the occassional treat and maybe he will stop attacking you Probably not, the tank is his and your invading it, thankfully mine havent done this yet, although my large severum has taken a bite before now and it does hurt

 

[Emissary of Pain]

If you look down to the members online, Ludwig is currently online, however, Im not sure you have enough post counts to PM him, so I will send him a PM and a link to this thread for you and maybe he can suggest somewhere.

Thank you so very much ...

LOL ... and here I thought that most sevs where pretty calm ... lol


Once again, thanks to all


Richard

 

[minxfishy]

Your welcome, Ive sent him the PM and Im sure when he gets a moment, he pop along and try to help you out.

Not my Severum, he used to be fairly calm, but these days he dislikes any fish (Including an Oscar and other severums) larger than him and has taken to ripping them up, so he is now in his own tank with a few rainbowfish