Oscar Advice

[alien-planet]

Soo as some may know i already have an albino tiger Oscar and its very happy not entirely sure what sex it is but regardless of sex i keeped very good care of it and is growing very healthy , colours are fantastic , eats well and swims around and recognises me as its food provider and gets very excited at feeding time as it jumps and snaps at top off water. But today i decided to get it a tank.mate another Oscar of same.size but a black red tiger Oscar , i went to the shop (pet shop) and seen one but it was very unhappy and clearly had battle scars, i be honest he looked ulgy but i looked passed that and got it for £12.50 8" he is, i introduced him to the tank and as i expected both are fighting a bit but nothing to serious so my topic today is for advice about them fighting and bow long it may go on for ? Cheers

my water PH is 6.0

The pet shop water condition was not great there was no sign of any heaters or filtering system, small tank and colour was a bit off instead.of looking like a black red tiger Oscar he was greenish looking. I hope as time will grow it will be bright in colour and very vibrant in his or hers new tank

 

[sawickib]

Well few questions.

How big is the tank?

Have you tried re-arranging the decorations so it's new territory for both oscars.

If you do have 2 oscars you NEED a 150 gallon tank or bigger for the both of them, they are large poop machines and territorial.

 

[alien-planet]

My tank is completely empty / bare i find it easier that way and.tank is 550 litres (UK) i used.to use gravel but got annoyed with it lol its better this way i believe. I expected the fighting as.hes new.to the tank.

 

[attibones]

Giving them some places to hide may help, maybe break up the line of sight with some hornwort. They may eat at the hornwort, but they shouldn't completely destroy it. If you leave it floating, it may help out. If you can get some large clay pots, you can easily make some caves. Just clean the pots and place them in. 

 

[star4]

Putting two 8" oscars together and expecting them to get on straight away is pretty much impossible. Your lutino oscar "owns" that tank, and you have dumped in an intruder, there will be fighting. Now it maybe over in a couple of days and they get on which would be great, or it may take weeks, or worst case they wont and one will be dead. Sorry to be blunt.
 
It is not easy to add semi adult or adult cichlids to an established tank, sometimes it works straight off, sometimes not. What you ideally need to do is to remove both oscars to separate tanks, add decor to your main tank to make it look completely different, then return both oscars at the same time. Your oscar (they are not stupid) will recognise the tank due to its location in the room and you, BUT the layout will be new and it will have to pick its favourite spot, which should give it something to do other than worry about an intruder in its territory. 
 
Keep a close eye on the red tiger, if it has already been beaten up before hand, introducing it the way you have will put it under a lot of stress, which can cause HITH.
 
Hopefully I will be totally wrong and they get on great, I just want you to be prepared for possible disaster - no offence meant - I have rescued lots of american cichlids so I know how difficult it can be introducing strangers to an established tank.

 

[alien-planet]

Yeah i agree 100% i was not expecting them to hit it off straight away i did and always expected them to have a little bite / attack each other, my lutino Oscar backed up in a vertical position against the back of glass tank wall and sat and watched him / her, then WAM ! It attacked the black one as it flared up at the albino Oscar. That went on for about 25 mins but it now stopped and it seems the black Oscar is not trying to follow the albino Oscar but both are clearly not friends yet .

the lutino / albino Oscar is still a bit weary of the black.oscar but not attacking it, i give updates in few days how it gets on.

with regards to the decor i think you will have a point and may try it if both don't settle down,

 

[star4]

It sounds like the lutino is being submissive, IME with oscars lutino's are usually the more placid, sadly I have only had the pleasure of fostering one lutino and she was a sweetie. If you can get some really tall plastic plants (I use these ... http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Giant-Large-Aquarium-Fish-Tank-Plastic-Plant-Ornament-Feature-Green-Red-18-20-/150745490509?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&var=&hash=item231921a44d ) they are great for breaking up their eyeline and hiding behind, they do come apart quite easily, but they just clip back together again.

 

[alien-planet]

My lutino / albino Oscar is a darling to handle and very friendly i once.keeped her in with my community fish that consist of goldfish, tetras, albino claw frog angel fish and a comet no ver did cause any harm. Hand on heart. My lutino / albino Oscar is non aggressive as far i can see from since i had the lutino

an quick update i looked at tank today at night with lights out and both Oscars are sleeping in same corner as each other, i doubt they paired yet but all looks good. Will keep posted in a few days with more info.

 

[star4]

Sounds good

 

[alien-planet]

So the update both Oscars don't seem to have alot off aggression but both are still in same tank but both still having 1-2 bites at each other on a daily basis , at 1st it seems the lutino abino Oscar was giving into his /her new tank mate but it appears the lutino is now back in charge , the tiger black Oscar is mainly staying to one side of the tank and keeping out of harms way. So still a bit to go , give it time i am sure they be best friends

 

[Tongue_Flicker]

My lutino / albino Oscar is a darling to handle and very friendly i once.keeped her in with my community fish that consist of goldfish, tetras, albino claw frog angel fish and a comet no ver did cause any harm. Hand on heart. My lutino / albino Oscar is non aggressive as far i can see from since i had the lutino
an quick update i looked at tank today at night with lights out and both Oscars are sleeping in same corner as each other, i doubt they paired yet but all looks good. Will keep posted in a few days with more info.

He/she sounds like the one i had, years ago. They're a real gem.