Mixing Oscars

[indigoj]

Oscar clubbers will remember I had some problems when I tried to move my Oscars into my 6ft tank, 1 died and one got sick.

The sick one (Ghost - in my avatar) is now well and I have just moved him back to the 4ft grow out tank (from the 2ft hospital tank) already in the 4ft is Shadow, my other juvenile Oscar. Ghost is about 1/2 an inch bigger and since coming out of the bag (20 min or so now) they have been scrapping.

I expected this. It is a lot of shoving and lip-locking. I am curious though in other peoples experiences with introducing 2 5" or so Oscars. I've kept Oscars before but either 1 alone or 2 that I 'rescued' as a friendly pair - I've not introduced 2 before.

BTW - the 4 ft is temporary, my 6ft needs a deep clean after a bacterial infection, I needed to free up th ehospital tank in order to do this.

Fish AARRGGGGHH LOL

 

[indigoj]

..... Well, they seem to have settled down for now, fingers crossed.

 

[minxfishy]

They should settle down, it will more likely be as the get a bit larger they will squabble and cause problems. All depends on their personalities, they might become great friends or you may even end up with a pair

 

[indigoj]

That'd bbe nice

Ghost is a really laid back character while Shadow is a bit twitchy so hopefully they can get along.

 

[indigoj]

Ok, dominance seems to have been established with Ghost very definitely in charge. Shadow is hiding a bit. Neither seem injured though which is good.

Any thoughts?

I'm hoping Shadow stops hiding

 

[minxfishy]

Leave them too it for now, so long as nobody is being physically injured, if Ghost believes Shadow has succumbed and realises he is boss, they should get along, one will always be more dominant.

 

[shelaghfishface]

yeah i agree with mags, they have to sort out whos boss, but of course if the smaller one starts becomeing too submissive or hurt then you may have to have a re-think ( the inferior one) ( no offence meant oscars) will turn on his side as you probably know when the stronger one comes near, or just hide away, a few days like this is ok, but any more than that and the stronger one may take the P*** and really get stuck into the little one, so keep a close eye on them, i know my first 2 jambo and buddie were perfectly ok, then one morning i got up and jambo had beat the crap out of buddie,for what reason i have no idea, flesh was on show and i was naturally gutted, but i found him a good home when he had recovered and as far as im aware hes still very happy to this day,
you maybe very lucky though,and i for one hope you are, as 2 are always nice together

 

[indigoj]

Thanks guys, I really hope they sort it out and play nice.

I've got some pics I'll put on in a bit of them scrapping yesterday. You wouldn't believe Ghost is the same fish that was floating on his side a few weeks ago

 

[indigoj]

 

[JohnRossDele]

my acaras do that deffo dominancey

 

[shelaghfishface]

ooooo yeah, they are deffo getting stuff sorted.. reminds me of me and my hubby yesterday, tho there was no lip locking i might add!


you got any tall plants or a dec that could act as a screen? just to break the line of eye contact?

 

[indigoj]

Yep I'm going to pull one out of the big tank and move the wood around. There is a sort of truce at the moment as Shadow keeps sneaking out while Ghost isn't looking. It's quite comical.

 

[shelaghfishface]

how they doing today?

 

[indigoj]

Well, Shadow was looking really miserable hiding behind the biggest piece of wood while Ghost patrolled the top begging for food but then I fed them and he came straight out and they were eating side by side quite happily. Now after food he's back behind the wood.

 

[minxfishy]

Try feeding them at seperate ends of the tank.

How long before you put them in the 6ft (or are they already there).