CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

I HAVE TWO MALE OSCARS WHICH ARE INSEPERATABLE,I RECENTLY PUT A FEMALE IN WITH ONE. UNFORTUANTLY THE MALE BEAT UP THE FEMALE WHILE I WAS OUT AND SHE DID NOT SURVIVE. I HAVENT TRIED WITH THE OTHER MALE AS HERE IN AUSTRALIA OSCARS ARE RATHER EXPENSIVE. HAS ANY ONE GOT AN IDEA ON HOW TO CALM THEIR AGRESSION TOWARDS OTHER OSCARS.
THEY SEEM TO HATE ANY FISH EXCEPT SUPRISINGLY TWO ANGEL FISH THEY GREW UP WITH.
OCCASSIONALY I PUT THEM IN TO PLAY AND THE OSCARS STILL DONT MIND THEM AROUND EVEN THOUGH THEY DWARF THEM.(MIND YOU THEY ARE NEVER IN THERE FOR MORE THAN ONE OR TWO DAYS NO USE TEMPTING FATE)

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TONY S

how large is the tank? in a smaller tank, oscars will not tolerate new tank mates. how large is the female you are trying to add? they should be approximately the same size, or at least large enough to be able fend off initial attacks by the resident fish. you could try rearranging the tank decor to blur the territory lines of the oscars when adding a new one. you should make sure you add a new fish after the other fish have just eaten, it will lower the immediate aggression.

Yea, what size tank, and are you SURE that was a female you added and not another male??

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Joe
www.cichlidfish.com

THE MALES ARE ABOUT 9 INCHES AND THE FEMALE WAS ABOUT 7 INCHES. IM PRETTY SURE IT WAS A FEMALE GOING BY THE SIZE OF HER VENT AND ANAL FIN SHAPE ETC. THE TANK IS 55 GALLONS APPROX. THE TANK IS PRETTY BARRON EXCEPT FOR A FEW ROCKS. AS SUGGESTED I WILL ADD IN SOME MORE DECOR TO SET TERRITORY LINES AND GET HOPEFULLY ANOTHER FEMALE THE SAME SIZE AS THEM.I WILL ALSO KEEP A CLOSER EYE ON THEM THIS TIME. I HAVE HEARD THAT RAISING THE TEMPERATURE WILL ALSO MAKE THEM MORE MOODY WHEN BREEDING.
ANYWAY THANKS FOR THE SUGGESTIONS.
IVE ALSO GOT TO TELL YOU THIS IS THE BEST BBS ON OSCARS I HAVE VISITED GOING ON WHAT I HAVE READ IN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. I NEVER EXPECTED TO GET AN ANSWER SO SOON. OTHER BBS IVE WAITED A LONG TIME FOR ANSWERS AND NEVER GOT ANYTHING HELPFUL.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
BY THE WAY ITS 7.32PM IN AUSTRALIA.

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TONY S

55 gallons is a little tight for a breeding pair. granted it can be done, but it isn't easy. getting a larger tank might help, and if you try again, try with the other male, maybe his temperament is calmer.

Yep, that's right, i found going from 55gallon to 65gallon really helps- for breeding....

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Joe
www.cichlidfish.com