New Oscar I Know They Act Weird But Could Someone Confirm

[mark7616]

Hi I have just put my new oscar in the tank he is roughly 3". He isnt sulking but he swims around refusing to use his tail just his fins occasionally he swims but then he goes vertical and kinda drifts but the opposite way to the current? which is strong as im running an fx5, now is this normal and he is just messing or could their be a problem.

 

[for_my_fish]

I'm no oscar expert, but have been doing some reading up on them. If you test your water and it checks out ok, then I'd be tempted to turn out the tank lights and leave him be for a day.

 

[Tolak]

Sounds like a typical pouting oscar to me.

 

[mark7616]

pardon my ignorance pouting??? please explain.

 

[for_my_fish]

oscars are fish with character. Its likely to be sulking (AKA pouting)

 

[Tolak]

Pouting, sulking, acting sullen, all traits of an oscar unhappy with it's environment. Changing tanks will cause this behaviour, often cleaning or rearranging their tank will. They lay on the bottom at a 45 degree angle, acting as if they are dying. Swimming backwards, using only one fin, then placing themselves at a goofy angle, usually on the bottom, are all typical pouting oscar behaviour.

 

[cheesy feet]

ive had mine lay at the bottom doing nothing when i first got him aswell,tolak.But to me what your (mark) describing seems like something is rong.If he's slowly swimming (normally just sulking behaviour) then going into the current and just being flung bak vertically seems a bit strange to me!?I suppose he could do it for fun or something though.I had my pangasius shark do this though and he died a few days later,something internal?

 

[mark7616]

no he is swimming the opposite way to the current into it he seems ok now just swiiming around are small oscars weak or strong swimmers???

 

[OscarMan33]

Here is a great link to a form I use for my Oscar these guys know everything there is to know trust me they will let you know what ever you need to know.. ..

oscarfish.com

 

[OscarMan33]

were you able to find the answer you needed?

 

[Sky042]

Pouting, sulking, acting sullen, all traits of an oscar unhappy with it's environment. Changing tanks will cause this behaviour, often cleaning or rearranging their tank will. They lay on the bottom at a 45 degree angle, acting as if they are dying. Swimming backwards, using only one fin, then placing themselves at a goofy angle, usually on the bottom, are all typical pouting oscar behaviour.

My Oscar seems to have found the solution to me trying to keep the tank arranged properly and keeping the sand where I want it and not where it wants it. That is to agressively try to eat me if I get near the tank.
He'll go for my hand or arms even if freshly fed.
Yet to his fishmates he's very docile and only steps up if the Texas Cichlid is causing too much commotion in the tank for his taste.