Red-Tiger Oscars

[Wekaholic]

Hello... I have 2 red tiger oscars that grew up together, very dis-porportionaly at times, but are now the same size (palm of my hand each... 6"-7").
While EXTREMELY agressive at feeding times and have even jumped out of the tank several times when the lid is first lifted, they are incredibly gentle to each other.
They are squished in a 33 gal at the moment (praying 'santa' gets me a 55 or more for x-mas), which from what I read in the other threads, should be making them more aggressive instead.
These 2 fish regularly swim into one another, rub fins, and mostly occupy the same area of the tank together.
Any chance they are mating?
How do I determine gender?

and...
Know where santa can look for that bigger tank?

 

[Vip]

6-7" is when trouble starts it sounds like there claiming the tank and getting ready to rumble, this happend in my 79g tank when one of the oscars hit 7" it tryed to kill the other one and then claimed the 79g to its own (video to prove this) Keep a close eye on this as well because its not a pretty sight when they fight. Do you have a divider?

 

[.Occy.]

i dont think you should even put a divider in a 33g with 2 oscars....your going to have to look for a bigger tank ASAP.....they are going to be severely stunted now....how long have you had your oscars? I wouldnt be surprised if they stay this size now... For example....I work with someone that had 3 oscars in a small tank, maybe a 55g? and she's had them for a year and a half in that tank. They are the same size as my 5 month old oscar who is 6.5" and still growing every week... She has been in a 90g her whole life so she can grow to her natural size....

 

[Losi]

Buy a bigger tank, Please!

 

[Wekaholic]

Of course.... I've been shopping for a larger tank for a few weeks already... any helpfull hints on where to find some deals?

No, I don't have a divided, and you may be right as they haven't grown in about 1 month already .... I've had them for about 8 months and they started at the size of my thumbnail.

 

[Vip]

Cute when there that small arnt they im not to much help when it comes to finding cheap tanks on the net but there is always Aquabid.com or ebay. I have always brought my tanks 2nd hand i got a 75g with a heater, gravel, food, lights for only $50.

 

[fufanu360]

ok everyone, that is such an old myth that the fish will only grow to the size of the tank they will only be stunted if: the water conditions are very poor, or if they are being stressed to much by eachother

 

[mwm]

ok everyone, that is such an old myth that the fish will only grow to the size of the tank they will only be stunted if: the water conditions are very poor, or if they are being stressed to much by eachother

So if you have nice water an oscar could grow to 10inches in a 20gallon? (Im just wondering)

 

[Wekaholic]

Well, to help put worried minds to rest : I've found (and set up) a 55gal tank... so far it's just holding the feeder fish for the oscars as I still need a heater.

Any advice on heaters? 1 'fish expert' told me I'd need a 300watt, another told me a 100watt would do, but 200watt would show less on my hydro bill..... any helpful hints here??

 

[fufanu360]

ok everyone, that is such an old myth that the fish will only grow to the size of the tank they will only be stunted if: the water conditions are very poor, or if they are being stressed to much by eachother

So if you have nice water an oscar could grow to 10inches in a 20gallon? (Im just wondering)

well, thats what they say, as long as everything goes well.


and for the heater, a 200 Watt will be perfect!