Are Oscars Supposed To Do This?

[arbatey]

So I have had him for almost a week now. He stays on the bottom unless I am feeding him. When he is done, he goes back down to the bottom and sometimes even lays a bit on his side. Take a look at this pic and give me your advice on what's up with him. Could he be depressed or something? Or are they always like this? He gets happy when I come home and sit at his tank with him for a while and feed him and just watch him, then later he's back on the bottom chilling almost like a person on his side.

He is also the Oscar in my avatar pic to the left, where he looks a bit happier and more lively. He just does what he is doing below sometimes. Is it normal?

 

[Tolak]

He may still be adjusting to his new surroundings. Oscars do like to have something to hide behind or beside. Even though they grow rather large, there are other animals such as birds or mammals, that will eat them. Having a little place to hide makes them feel more secure. A row of plants towards the back gives them a more natural feeling place to hide out.

My oscar pouts for half a day after tank maintenance. Plays dead fish, until it's feeding time.

 

[arbatey]

Ahhh, I see. So this pouting thing is normal when they have new surroundings or after cleanings.
LOL I think it's kind of cute. Like a little kid...pouting. Very funny.
Does yours lay like that though?

Amy

 

[Tolak]

He does it towards the back of the tank, used to do it behind this big fake rock, until I took the thing out. He does it between a piece of driftwood & the homemade filter on the bottom now. He pouted for 2 days after I took out his rock, but too much crud was getting stuck under & around it.

Anytime he sees me walk by with hoses for maintenance on the other tanks, he stops, turns sideways at a 45 degree angle, and sinks like a dead fish. He thinks it's time for me to clean his room, & pouts like a kid.

 

[monkeyman]

He does it towards the back of the tank, used to do it behind this big fake rock, until I took the thing out. He does it between a piece of driftwood & the homemade filter on the bottom now. He pouted for 2 days after I took out his rock, but too much crud was getting stuck under & around it.

Anytime he sees me walk by with hoses for maintenance on the other tanks, he stops, turns sideways at a 45 degree angle, and sinks like a dead fish. He thinks it's time for me to clean his room, & pouts like a kid.

thats cool