CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

I am having a problem with my oscars attacking my heater. I was wondering what others do to protect thier heaters. I have a 55 gal. tank with gravel on the bottom. My oscars even have toys to play with but still get bored and try to take everything apart. Any suggestions for protecting my heater? Let me know!

Hi-

I know they make heater gards for Tronic Heaters. I have them on all my heaters , and they do a great job. Sometimes those cichlids can get a little rough!

Trish:)

You could also buy Stainless steel or Titianium heaters. Those will surely stand up to the beatings of a cichlid. There is also a universal heater guard out there somewhere, I don't remember who it is made by, but it's out there.

You might want to check bigalsonline.com if you are in the USA or Canada, they might have them.

Thanks,

I will look into those places. My two are a handfull with attitudes!

somone on this forum in the past used those hair curlers made of plastic....and juss slid them into the heaters....it should work good.

I have had the same problem. My oscar actually broke the heater. I went to my LFS, the guy told me those heater gaurds sometimes melt and weren't worth it. He said if you put your heater horizontily close to the rock(but not touching) might work he also said not to feed the oscar in the same area of the tank as the heater. I have a 29 gal and I put my heater next to the filter system, he has not attacked it since I moved the location of the new heater. Good luck! Lilorg