My Oscars Won't Get Along...

[silver$$$]

Hi there...

I have 2 Red Tiger Oscars. I bought them both at the same size, around 1.5 inches.

At first I put them with Red Devils, which were also only babies. All got along allright then, especially the Oscars, the 2 were always very close with each other. Once they reached 2-3 inches, the Devils started picking on the Oscars, so I moved the Oscars in with Silver Dollars. I noticed now the 2 Oscars always fought against each other, which never happened when they were with Devils. After a while, I put the 2 Oscars separated in the tank with a divider to avoid any more damages.

Then I bought a new big tank dedicated to these 2 Oscars. Now one has become larger, about 5 inches, and the other one about 4 inches. I thought, they would be ok together once they have more space for themselves. But NO.... the minute I put them in the new tank together, the larger one attacked the smaller one straight away. I left them alone for awhile, thinking they would eventually settle down. After few hours, I couldn't stand it anymore and put the divider on.

So, what do I have to do to have them together in a tank? And It is a really large tank, much more than enough for 2 medium size oscars. Pls look at my signature... I have 10 Red Devils together in one tank, I have 4 Albino Oscars in another tank, and they are all ok. Why can't I have these 2 Red Tiger Oscars together???

Any advise would be highly appreciated.

Cheers...

 

[freddyk]

At best the Oscars will tolerate each other, if the tank is large enough. They're generally not social fish (my full opinion is pinned) and what you want is just not two random Oscars, but a pair. They're monogomous breeders and anything not their mate is competition and threat. The best way to achieve a pair is to grow a few of them up together. They might tolerate each other in a big enough tank, but they won't be friends.

Eventually you're only going to have a single red devil in that tank, or a pair.

 

[collared_drifter]

maybe they are only going crazy because the red devils kept them in line for so long, now they know that they aren there anymore and that they can fut around..
thats my 2 cents..
be careful.... you might end up with a very large dead fish on your hands... :saddam:

 

[silver$$$]

Thanks, guys... But I just want to have these 2 oscars to live together in one big tank.
Is that too much to ask?

 

[freddyk]

Is that too much to ask?

It might be. You want to kee two fish that naturally fight together.