he's always beging for food when i walk by the tank and will keep on eating and eating is this normal? is it possible to overfeed an Oscar? or is a couple pinches 3 times a day plus the occasional night crawler or bag of guppys/shrimp good enough?
2007-06-17 15:31:28 · 10 answers · asked by unknown 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Oscars require a varied diet, to be honest I would not recommend you feed an Oscar feeders from the pet shop anyway as feeders are generally kept in poor conditions and can harbour disease. If you wish to feed an Oscar live fish then I recommend you raise your own. Something like convicts which breed and grow reasonably quickly and then only occasionally (weekly).
I would avoid raw meats as the oils can remain on the top of the tank and then I could not be sure if the meat didn't contain harmful bacteria.
I would probably feed something like this
*good quality high protein pellets (hikari are good, daily)
*a spirulina or vegetable flake, daily or every 2 days.
*algae wafers, every 2 days, if they go for them.
*Rinsed canned tuna in spring water (to get the oil off, possibly weekly)
*processed crabmeat (Rinsed, fresh very sparingly like fortnightly)
*blood worms, be careful here as it is my opinion that these carry disease, and they get stuck in the gravel use as an occasional treat. Though the freeze dried version can be used occasionally instead of flakes/pellets.
*earth worms, grown in soil at home with out pesticides, feed weekly.
*crickets, available in pet stores, very nutritional the Oscars love them use weekly
The main thing is feed small amounts (what they can eat in about 1 minute) twice daily, make the pellets and flakes the main part of the diet, and feed the goodies every few days. Vary brands of flakes and pellets and textures and sizes so the Oscar does not get bored. They are very smart and will at times get picky with their food. For example the may only eat feeders or a type of pellet. Ignore this behaviour and continue to feed a varied diet.
Also Oscars, guys get huge (like 40 cm or 16 inches) you really need him in a minimum of a 50 gallon, I’d recommend a 4x2x2 so you can put him with a friend, but no other fish. And make sure you have adequate filtration (a canister that cycles at least 4 time the volume of water in the tank per hour i.e. an 50 gal should have at minimum a filter that does 200 gallons per hour.) if you don’t your messy Oscar will quickly foul the water.
I hope I have helped you out a little!
2007-06-17 16:59:08 · answer #1 · answered by roberto 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's normal behavior for most cichlids. My africans are always begging for food. I don't feed more than they will eat within a minute, three times a day. It is possible to overfeed an oscar, it can make him quite sick. A couple of pinches 3 times a day, plus occasional treats should be fine. When you feed treats you will want to cut out one of the other feeding times that day.
2007-06-17 15:36:22 · answer #2 · answered by Carson 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've raised and bred oscars, so here' s my input: oscars will eat anything and don't know when to stop eating.
don't feed your oscar feeder fish, they may have diseases and is the main cause for hole in the head diseae. Continue feeding him pellets ONCE a day. Fresh shrimp/prawn from your grocery store is also good for the oscar. Avoid over feeding, just once a day is good enough.
2007-06-17 19:03:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is entirely possible to over feed a fish. Feed him what he will eat in 3-4 minutes twice a day and no more. The occasional live food can be in place of one of those feedings.
MM
2007-06-17 15:35:16 · answer #4 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am by no means an expert....but....I had 2 oscars and couldn't figure out why they were always so mean and hungry. I also fed them pellets and goldfish but they always seemed hungry. Then due to my living situation at the time I had to get rid of them. My friend who took them started feeding them goldfish daily and they became much nicer fish. LOL. I guess I was underfeeding them. Try giving him more live stuff and see if it helps.
2007-06-17 15:36:46 · answer #5 · answered by Elizabeth L 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I own an Oscar, his name is rattler. In the morning, I give him three Chiclid Pellets/Balls , and At night, or in the afternoon, i give him 1 shrimp OR 1 guppy OR two. it depends on the size of the guppy. this type of diet makes my fish calm down, and not beg. I promise :)
2007-06-17 15:35:56 · answer #6 · answered by hiphopmusicdance 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oscars will quit eating when they die...the more they eat the bigger they grow...and soon you will be feeding them other fish...(if you don't have a R E A L L Y large tank, your Oscar will grow out of his home as fast as you feed him.)
2007-06-17 15:34:26 · answer #7 · answered by Chrys 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it is possible to overfeed! They dont know when they are "full" like me and you. They will keep eating if you give it to them. Feed him ONLY the recommended daily dosage so you do not overfeed him.
2007-06-17 15:34:28 · answer #8 · answered by *Bri* 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if this applies to fish in general, but if heard that gold fish doesn't know when it is full and stuff itself to death if you keep feeding it.
2007-06-17 15:34:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
feed him goldfish, my oscar ate goldfish..
2007-06-17 15:40:33 · answer #10 · answered by geet840 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋