New Baby Oscar

[Raechal]

I just purchased a tiger oscar for my 120 gallon yesterday. He is only about an inch and a half long. His markings were very unvisible at petsmart, but when I got him home he showed more orange. He's beautiful.

Sometimes he swims a little funny and swims backwards sometimes. I am not sure if I should be worried or not. He swims perfectly fine until he gets scared by something then he freaks out and tries to swim away anywhere as fast as possible, no matter what direction he is swimming.

Should this be a concern?

His tankmates so far is one clown loach that is twice or three times his size. I am getting more clown loaches this weekend.

 

[IovaykInD]

He should be fine. He needs time to get used to his new surroundings, and I wouldn't get too close to the tank if he's still scared. He must looks sooo tiny inside a 120 gallon tank.

 

[Raechal]

He should be fine. He needs time to get used to his new surroundings, and I wouldn't get too close to the tank if he's still scared. He must looks sooo tiny inside a 120 gallon tank.

Haha yes he does look so tiny. He's so adorable though.

Do you think I should get another oscar or leave him by himself?

 

[yvez9]

nice raechel! i see you didn't sell your tank then!

I got an oscar a month ago and he's grown about an inch since. When he's about 2.5-3 inches, you can start giving him live crickets and ghost shrimps to complement his diet. Crickets are usually cheaper then oscars and they make for a great snack that lasts 2-3 days if you buy a dozen or so!

Good luck with him

I think you should leave him alone, maybe get a common pleco or clown loaches or something else in there though, something big enough not to be eaten

 

[aardvarkfromspace]

One thing with crickets.. Don't leave them in a bag for more then maybe 12 hours... bacteria will accumulate in the bag and cover the crickets.... Someone I know fed crickets to their killer bird and the bacteria from the crickets killed her hawk...... So I wouldn't risk leaving them in a bag for 2-3 days..... for the sake of $5 buy a little container or put them in something with some air runnin through it.

 

[freddyk]

Do you think I should get another oscar or leave him by himself?

In a 120 I'd get a few more and grow them together and aim for a pair, which is hands down the best way to keep them.

 

[Synirr]

Do you think I should get another oscar or leave him by himself?

In a 120 I'd get a few more and grow them together and aim for a pair, which is hands down the best way to keep them.

Agreed! Get about 6 total little ones and let a couple pair off, then return the others

 

[Raechal]

Do you think I should get another oscar or leave him by himself?

In a 120 I'd get a few more and grow them together and aim for a pair, which is hands down the best way to keep them.

Agreed! Get about 6 total little ones and let a couple pair off, then return the others

A pair would be great but I love Oscars so much but I don't think I'd be able to return any of them if I bought so many.

I have a common pleco and a clown loach in there now with him. I think I'll get atleast 3 more clown loaches. Should I leave it at that?

 

[freddyk]

I have a common pleco and a clown loach in there now with him. I think I'll get atleast 3 more clown loaches. Should I leave it at that?

That's up to you. If you wished to add other cichlids it's a matter of trusting your luck and questioning how much aggression you want to expose the Oscar too. Another option is to add a school (about 6-10) silver dollers.

 

[Raechal]

I have a common pleco and a clown loach in there now with him. I think I'll get atleast 3 more clown loaches. Should I leave it at that?

That's up to you. If you wished to add other cichlids it's a matter of trusting your luck and questioning how much aggression you want to expose the Oscar too. Another option is to add a school (about 6-10) silver dollers.

My oscar is already picking at my pleco's fins and the pleco is about 6 times bigger than the oscar.

I hope he isn't attacking him too badly. He doesn't attack the clown loach as I think the loach is too fast.

Should I be wiorried about my oscar picking on my common pleco? I actually haven't seen him pick on the pleco, but this morning when I turned the lights on there are a few tears from his tail and a hole in one of his fins.

 

[freddyk]

Should I be wiorried about my oscar picking on my common pleco?

Only if he is. Sounds like a dumb answer, but when it comes to cichlids this is how it can be. If you continue to find damage on the plec then you'd have some concerns. Does your plec have a secure spot away from the Oscar?