my oscars are fighting?

Question

My oscars have been together for over a year. most of time swimming next to each other.one smaller than the other. At times the larger would intimidate and chase the smaller to its hiding place. last night the smaller one has totally domintated the larger one. major lip locking. and the smaller is now chasing the larger to a hiding place. but they return for more lip locking and mouthes wide open, face to face.I have devided them with a see through contraption.Because I am not sure if they are male and female getting ready to spawn or if one is gonna kill the other. I need some answers fast. this started last night and is still going on. Their lips are quite bruised. Please answer right away, somebody..

Answer 1

It's really too early to tell at this point conclusivly. MM is right though, and the others saying this is a mating signal. The liplocking is however, whether thats male male or male female, in part of a struggle for dominance, and if between male and female, if someone pulls out too early or can't compete, it will cause the winner to try to kill the other unforunatly. This will go on for hours, and given that there is no clear winner, I think you're LUCKY. This really makes me lean towards mating, and you just don't realize how hard it is to tell a male and female Oscar apart. Not only that, once it is over with, they will basically pair up for life. Let them continue doing what they are doing, and just monitor that. If someone loses and the other continues to go after the other, then divide them, but give them some more time, and watch it. It would be a really neat thing and you really just won't know how lucky you really are if you have a mating pair.

JV

Answer 2

I had the same type of situation. One larger than the other would push the smaller one around. Once the smaller one started catching up in size he started fighting back. A lot of lip locking and scales flying. They are both males, and fight like it. Unless you see the two defending a particular area, or cleaning a spot, or digging a pit, then most likely they are sorting out dominance.

A divider is necessary, and if a bigger tank is available (125g) that would probably help with the aggression as well. The more space the better. Good luck. Feel free to email me with any more questions. ([e-mail])

Answer 3

That could very easily be pre spawning behavior you are seeing, as they have been together for so long with no major fighting. Normally you see two males start fighting long before a year is out. Watch for one of them to be clearing a spawning site. They will either clear off a place on the bottom of the tank or clean a larger fairly flat rock if one is available. If you see this activity I think it would be safe to assume they are preparing to breed. A fairly large tank (55 gallon at the very, very least) will be needed for spawning them. I would really suggest something more along the lines of a 90 gallon tank. If you don't have a space that large, the divider is best to prevent serious damage of death.

MM

Answer 4

This is a breeding ritual chichlids do. It's a test of strength. I think your fish know they are male and female. One caution if one loses this match then the other will try to kill it or at least make it's life very miserable. It is too weak and Oscar rules are to kill it or drive it away. Give it a good hiding place for times you cannot watch and if the other one never shows any affection get it a new home.
Oscars like to breed on the bottom and will clear an area plus give themselves a clear view for enemies. Move any obstacle's to the corners of the tank for hiding place possibly introduce a plate or shallow bowl for them to breed in. Just an idea here since Oscars will use what they want. Many times they just push the gravel away to expose the glass bottom of the tank

Answer 5

what size is the tank?

Answer 6

I thought oscars are supposed to live alone -- all the time -- no matter what -- due to the fact that they fight!!