There are some ways to put a damper on aggression in your tank between Oscars or between Oscars and other fish in your tank. Fanning out of fins while approaching or being approached by other fish.Circling motions while swimming with fins fanned out to make them look larger.Biting and nipping, even mouth-to-mouth with other fish.Coloration intensifying on their bodies.Chasing behavior (other Oscars or any other fish in the tank).Things to keep an eye out for are things like: Aggressive BehaviorĪggression can sometimes be misinterpreted as it also looks a lot like typical mating behavior! We will look at a few indicators of what to look out for in terms of aggression and ways to defuse behaviors if things are getting a little heady in your setup. For a keeper who can handle their outbursts, they will reward you with some great observations and bags of personality. While they are notably curious, beautiful, playful, and can often be seen as ‘problem-solving,’ at their most basic level, they are a predator and will treat anything else as such in your tank. Not only can they be aggressive towards you, their keeper, but they will also have aggression towards each other. Particular precaution should be taken if breeding is on the cards or if eggs are already present as they will defend and guard their developing fry with considerable gusto. If you absolutely need to reach in, use a partition to protect yourself as they are unpredictable. These fish can and will attack, and a nip or grab will not go unnoticed. As such, you should not put your hand in the tank. These can be seen in their jaws as well as in their throats. Although they are not aggressive 24/7, the unpredictability is why caution is recommended. When you factor in that they are quite a territorial species, with a penchant to act out with aggressive behaviors, you will soon realize why they are not for the novice and should only be handled by those suitably experienced. Try to avoid three as one will likely be left out from the bonded pair, and this can be stressful. They are social fish and should be kept in either pairs or five if you have room. Some experts recommend that they are kept as a single species and aren’t left to mingle and get involved with other types of fish. Oscars are much larger than your average tank specimen for the average hobbyist. If you’re up to the challenge, then read on for why the Oscar Fish might be the next step in your fish-keeping career. The big ‘But’ in this overview is that they can run large, live a long time, and can be cantankerous to handle. They are a lot of fun to observe and are known for being intelligent characters which will display a lot of personality. Hailing from South America, these are large freshwater fish native to Brazil, Peru, and most northern countries that border the Amazon river. Being a Cichlid, this should not come as a complete surprise, but this does bear mentioning. Oscars are, however, not for the faint of heart or a novice hobbyist! These are species that can look deceptively calm, but underneath that calm facade lies a more aggressive species. They are also known as Tiger Oscars or Velvet Cichlids instead of standard Oscar Fish. As far as awards go, they are rather deserving of a pride of place spot in your tank if you are looking to branch into a larger-sized aquarium. Oscar Fish are none of those things in particular, but they do have an intriguing name that should make you want to find out more. If you’ve never heard of an Oscar Fish before, you might be wondering, “Are they gold? Are they statuesque? Award-worthy?”
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |