Oscars Please Help

[george4]

hi, my oscars which i have had since 2" have suddenly started fighting , they are now about 7 " , they are constantly locking lips and pushing each other round aquarium which is 400 litres and are damaging their mouths and gills... what does this mean ??? will i have to split them up ??? please give as detailed answer as possible

many thanks

 

[glolite]

What size is your tank?

 

[Davo86]

You will need to split them up or one will eventually be killed,
Oscars mature at around 6" and this is when you find out their true temperament.

In most cases unless they pair up or you have an extra large tank, two oscars will not live in harmony once they have matured.
a 400L is no way big enough for two adult Oscars

 

[shelaghfishface]

Davo is right, its sad but true that they can take an instant overnight dislike to eachother and one can die best split them, its not nice but it has to be done, ive had the very same problem with a pair i had, was gutted but it was for there own good,call the fish shop to see if they can take ne from you, unless you intend buying another tank, i realise everything is probably closed at this time so can you knock up a makeshift tank divider?? least this way they will bothbe alive in the morning

 

[george4]

thank you for swift replies . after reading upa little bit many sites suggest that this aggression could be the oscars pairing up! how am i to know whether they are going to kill each other or pair up. the aggression is not constant and the fish are still eating but they have damaged each others mouths slightly ! thanks

 

[england]

Hello mate, sorry to say much like the guys have said, a pair would need a bigger tank anyhow, second you would be very very lucky to have picked two and they pair off, although my two i had did seem to pair off never had fry or owt, they go through this stage even if pairing off, the size of the tank is so they can escape each other, if its constant its no good in that size tank, my pair went through a horrible stage,and its not unknown for the male to persue too much until the point of death, even if you get a pair, cichlids once they have bred can sometimes turn on each other<no warning signs> then its too late, either get a much bigger tank or rehome one, sorry