Two Oscars Fighting

[hadjici2]

Hello people,

I just bought two small oscars, about 10cm each in my planted 35g tank. at first everything seemed ok, but now, after just one day in the tank together, one of the oscars is chasing the other. What do you suggest? Take one back and get another? Take both back and buy more friendly fish?Leave one Oscar in the tank?

Also my local pet store will not open until a couple of days...will 2-3 days be fatal for the bullied Oscar?

 

[Tolak]

Unless you plan on relocating them to a larger tank I would bring them back. The absolute minimum is a 55 for one oscar, with tons of filtration. A 75 would be better, you are in the 100 gallon range for 2.

For the time being, get a divider. Anyone dealing with cichlids should have one handy.

 

[freddyk]

Read the pinned thread on Oscars, at the top of this section of the forum.

 

[hadjici2]

I have been in the hobby for a long time now but not with Oscars. I will be taking them back today. The strange thing is that they are getting along just fine now! I was sure one was bullying the other but now they are doing just fine! Anyone knows why?

 

[HendrixTheOscar]

They were perhaps merely substantiating the pecking order between them and a litttle territory dispute also. How big is your tank? I started my two off at a few inches in a 36"x15"x18" (3 footer) and they were totally fine. I recently dropped one Oscar as it just started bullying and have upgraded my tank to a 4FT with only the one now (thoug of course it has tank mates).

Good luck whatever you decide to do