CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

Hey guys!
I'm new hear and I know you probley get alot of these questions.
So here I go.

I just got my first red oscar about three days ago, He is not even an inch and most likley less than two months old.
I have done TONS and TONS of research on these fish so I'm not too dumb when it comes to this.

1- He chews his food then spits it out is this normal and what should I do, I know the pet store fed him junk and hes not getting that with me!
2- when ever I turn his light on he FREAKS out should I just leave it out until he feels more at home?
3- How long will he go with out eating its been 3 days
4- I only see him out and about when all of my lights are out, is he just being shy?
Thanks guys!

Hello LaurieLee! Welcome to the forums!

Your Oscar is acting quite normally. When in a new environment, they are very insecure and tend to hide, act frightened, lie down on their sides on the gravel, etc. This behaviour normally lasts a week or two, and then they start acting more friendly. Some are picky eaters, as you are witnessing, but they will not allow themselves to starve to death -- they will eventually eat. They are, as a matter of fact, famous for the amount they eat! Visit this page: http://www.geocities.com/cichlidiot_2000/liedown.html for the "lowdown" on some of their funny insecure habits. Again, welcome to the forums!  --Mark

thank you very much!

Another thing you could try is getting him a friend, the first odcar i bought about 9 month ago was ill skinny, he wouldnt eat he would just lie on his side this lasted about 3 to 4 weeks so i took a gamble on getting another oscar and some silver dollars, almost as soon as i had put them in the sick ill O became boisterous and inquisitive now hes 6 inches and the other oscar and silver dollars are his best friends, since last week iv also added a male and a female jack dempsey, there was no fighting but the the jacks were a bit scared as therer half the size of the o's but now there ok , iv sety up caves on each end a tunnel down the back. Everything is great may b iv been lucky,

but id personaly recomend another oscar or silver dollars or both, but make sure ur gona be prepaired to stick with them theyl need a big tank eveentually.