i have a tiger oscar that is now almost 8 inches does anyone have any suggestions as to how i can introduce new fish to the tank without him killing them i tried with an 8 inch and a 6 inch plec but he was having none of it
2007-07-02 07:15:07 · 7 answers · asked by lee p 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
When you select your new fish, it will need to be a species that will be able to stand up to the Oscar. Oscars are not highly aggressive... for cichlids, but they are still cichlids and yours is a rather large fish. Get a fish about the size of your Oscar, then remove the Oscar form the tank and place him in something like a cooler. Completely rearrange the tank, moveing all the decor. You can even add a few new items and remove a few items from the tank. Move the filter and heater too if possible. Add the new fish to the tank first and allow it an hour or so to settle some, but not get any territories established. Then add the Oscar back to the tank. This should confuse him enough that he will not be trying to defend what he considers his territory.
MM
2007-07-02 07:22:53 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your tank is anything less then 75 gallons it is too small to keep anything at all with him. He is territorial, he needs space.
If you do happen to have a large enough tank then the best way to introduce a new fish is with the use of a divider, that way he can get used to the others presence without being able to go after him. You can only get another Oscar if you are sure it is the opposite sex as your own ans similar in size, and then the divider must still be used until you can confirm they have paired up - if they don't you would need return it and try another. Unpaired Oscars are not friends and multiples do not work except as groups in massive tanks.
A pleco is a good tankmate for an Oscar, as are large sized bottom dwellers or schooling fish that he can't mistake for food. Oscars, once they are used to them, get along quite will with large, peaceful (yet tough) fish. Other territorial fish, like other cichlids, are NOT good tankmates no matter what you hear - they will always end up fighting over the tank at some pont. Nothing can be kept with a pair of Oscars, since they'll be that much more territorial.
2007-07-02 17:10:42 · answer #2 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will not be able to keep any fish with your Oscar. It needs a 50 gallon tank minimum considering the fish gets18 inches long and will eat anything that fits in its mouth. Your best bet would be another Oscar, but to do that, you would need a 90 gallon tank at the EXTREME least. If you can't give your Oscar the conditions it needs, give it to somebody who can, by keeping a huge fish in a small tank, you are stunting and killing it. So, no other fish...
Nosoop4u
2007-07-02 14:23:56 · answer #3 · answered by nosoop4u246 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oscars are very bossy fish, they have to rule the roost!! I think it will be hard introducing new fish, you'll probably have to stick to oscars. They will basically eat any fish smaller than them.
2007-07-02 16:09:37 · answer #4 · answered by jo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your oscar will only get bigger, I hope you have a really good size tank. I had a 55 gallon tank with a breading pair and boy one time my boyfriend put in a smaller osar from an other tank in their cause he outgrew his tank the male oscar beat him up till he died. I sugest rule of thumb it it can fit in his mouth its lunch
2007-07-02 14:22:36 · answer #5 · answered by jade1981 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When your oscar cichlid gets that big it wants to be boss it will not tolerate any other...also it's too late to add any others.
2007-07-03 09:22:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
nothing at all
did the supplier not warn you of size and habits when you bought him?
on the other hand you own the brightest of fish, the only one that is truly a companion pet
2007-07-03 06:13:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋