I had a rather odd incident today.

I feed my oscar cooked shrimp (like cocktail shrimp) that I put in the fridge in some tank water so it lasts for the week. He seems to really like them-- I take off the tail, break them in half, and drop them in. They're rather large and he could probably consume them whole but just to make it easier for him I make the pieces smaller.

Today as usual I put one in and after he gulped it he turned a very, very distinct coloration I had never witnessed before. Usually when he is disturbed, or the light is too bright, etc. etc. he will either 1. 'wash/fade' out or 2. get a darker color as most will. That's usually the extent of his color changes.

Today though, his striping got really, really bright and amazingly distinct for about 20 seconds or so. So much so he looked like a tropical fish for a bit--I saw striping I had never seen before come out and he almost 'glowed.' Thats really the best way I could describe it--he almost looked like a completely different fish, like a damn clown fish.

The only theory I can come up with that makes any sense is perhaps it was because the shrimp was very cold? Perhaps like how we get 'brain freeze' if we swallow too much ice cream too quickly. It wasn't frozen though and he has gobbled up frozen stuff before with nothing like this.

Nothing serious, obviously, just curious to see if you agree or had any similar experiences.*

Maybe you just got him REALLY REALLY excited Johnny!

haha thats kool tho i never seen that happen but maybe you should ask someone else i am not sure tho maybe someone else can tell u

out--- *


*(Matt I took the liberty of posting your response so you don't need to)

Nicki--Sue wrote:


Well, I did give him the '6 shooters' with dual thumb snaps when I dropped them in...it kinda has the same effect on women I noticed. So maybe you're right...heheh

thanks johnny but heres my own reply <---

hey Johnyphoenix, healthy oscar really could change their color anytime when
excited or happy.... my tiger oscars sometime shows vibrant black color
and sometimes vibrant greenish.... my wife sometimes could believe they are
one and same....

I dunno...I suppose its just surprising considering Ive had him for over a year without that dramatic of a color change.

i know what you mean... i never notice it either not until my wife
ask me if i had changed my fishes.....then i keep an eye for color
change from thereat..... and i was surprised of such character...

johnnyphoenix wrote:


ROFL...

Added..iv had my tiger Oscar do the same thing its almost like it has a secret army pattern under his normal colours

johnnyphoenix wrote:


Johnny that's not 100% rite, ther r knot enuf tipos !!

Feed him another shrimp and video tape it this time

Let us see!

all i know is that shrimp is the food that my oscars go really crazy for and get the most exited i've seen them in a long time.
But those shrimp are a treat, even for me, for they cost big bucks over here.

I fed those last week to all my fish and my tiger was so satisfied afterwards i couldt pat him on the back and he didn't not mind.
As if to say, bring me some more, I'll wait here!