Hello all again!

Well after overcoming one problem i have another three, questions more then anything and could just be me being a worry pot but anyones guidance would be really appreciated...

1. My large Oscar (Oscarami!)

Basically she is changing colour rather rapidly at the moment, started on Friday and although i didnt see her do it this morning (So she may have stopped) I wondered if anyone had come accross this before. I know from my own experience that they do change colour, but this is a rapid colour change where she flushes almost a ghostley grey when she is stationery (so to put it) near the top of the tank and, i suppose, looking out! Its a very rapid change and she resumes normal colours within a short period of time just as quickley, normally when she moves but somethimes not.

As a bit of background to this, the first time i saw her do this when when i tried to introduce a smaller albino oscar, needless to say the introduction didnt go to well and that oscar now resides elsewhere!

In addition my two sharkes have also been fighting a lot recently, to the point where i have now seperated the two into seperate tanks!

Because of various issues i had to do several structured water changes and have my hands in and out of the tank a lot, and whilst she doesnt bite or attack and seems un troubled by this it is a theory!?

And in addition, again because of the above i moved my silver dollar out into a less (tempered shall we say) tank, needless to say that the dollar and Albi (The Albino Oscar) didnt get on so the Dollar is now back in with Oscarami which, to my surpise produced a little show of affection between the two fish!!!

I just wondered if anyone had any theories on this, perhaps she is just showing off her new trick, was troubled by the changes or missed the Silver???!!!

2. Side laying. The big Oscar on occasion basks at the top of the tank and flips from side to side, never fully on her side but at an angle, its almost like she is just lounging around, again i wondered if anyone had any theories on this or whether it was just one of their many little behaviours that make them so spacial!

3. Finally all, i promise!!!! because i have had to re think my tanks (Having two oscars) i now have a completely different set up when it comes to feeding, i have stoped on flakes as i have been told there is no value in these to the fish i have and i have also stopped with Beefheart as i have been told that the Cichlid family dont do too well on it and i wondered if someone would mind letting me know if this was the case and whether the below feeding pattern is about right?

Tank 1:
Fish: 1 x 6" albino oscar, 6 x 1 1/2 - 21/2" Cichlids, 2 x 4" Spanner Barb, 1 6" Catfish, 1 6" Common Plec, 1 x 2" Snowball Plec, 1 5" Pipe Plec, 1 3" Thorney Plec, 1 x 1/2" Large Cory's, 1 x 3" Bronze/Gold Plec, 1 x 7" Apollo Shark

Feed: a/m - Half Cube Bloodworm, 1 - 2 small Muscles, 4 Large Pellets, 8 Small Pellets, 6 Catfish Pellets. p/m - 1 - 2 small muscles, 4 large Pellets, 8 small Pellets, 6 Catfish Pellets.

Tank 2:
Fish: 1 x 10" Tiger Oscar, 1 x 8" Cigar Shark, 1 x 5" Silver Dollar, 1 x 5" Pictus Catfish

Feed: a/m - Half Cube bloodworm, 2 Muscles, 4 Large Pellets, 4 Small Pellets, 3 Catfish Pellets. p/m - 1 Muscle, 4 Large Pellets, 6 Small Pellets, 3 Catfish Pellets


Occasionally in both tanks - Vegtables and salad


I do really appreciate your help and time peeps, i really want to get this right for the good of my fish and for the planned move to a larger tank in the next few months.

Hi Lambpie:

1 ) The color changes, and specially the one in Tiger Oscar looking pale-ghost, is a regular event with my female Oscar (9"). She changes color when stressed, upset, and also when getting ready to lay eggs. And likely for other reasons I have not yet understood (e.g. food, water changes), but not ill-related at all. At the spawning is the only time the male has displayed changes in his overall colouration. My best guess with Oscarami would be maturation and stress, and that she saw another Oscar that ( even though potentially dangerously smaller to be at the same tank right now ) she is likely missing, which is a good thing happening.

2 ) Same as with laying down, tilted. So far it is part of her behavioral repertoire and not a sign of illness. I got really scared when I noticed this frequent behavior on her, the male has never displayed such behavior. Since she is a great swimmer, I ruled/out swim bladder disease.

3 ) Oscars are omnivores. You can feed them beefheart but be careful. I vary their diet a lot, and some changes they take their time accepting. I don't count the amount of food, I only consider the time they take eating and "play it by ear" so they have 2 minutes (or 3) to finish it all.

Side comments on your scenario, if I were in your position I would consider:
a ) getting at least 4 more Silver Dollars and 3 more Spanner Barbs so they school together.
b ) Keep one shark per tank. Good thing you separated the sharks, they do well by themselves, without other sharks in the tank.
c ) review your stockings, and consider what to do with all your catfish/pleco/corydoras. What are the 6 Cichlids you haven't identified? You are likely way overstocked for the actual volume of your tanks.
d ) I would try the experiment of putting your two Oscars together as soon as you get the 6 footer tank.


Pepe
Santo Domingo

Ta very much Pepe, it is very reassuring to know that i am not the other one with colour changing and side swimming fish!!!!! its interesting that you mention yours is a female as, so is mine! Very interesting, i an guessing hormone related maybe???

It is also interesting when you mention her missing the other fish,... i think it was certainly the case with the dollar, which was weired... and if it is the case with the Oscar,. i am in luck because, funnily enough considering your recomendations, I am on the hunt for a 6 x 2 x 2 tank which will house both my Oscars!!!!!!!!!! Had some ideas previousl;y from here with regard to putting them together so should be another challenge though your thoughts are very much encouraging... i know its very hard to know the sex of oscars but apparantly Albi is male, so it could be love!!!!!!!!

With regard to your other points i agree completely, its the usual thing of being sold fish then finding out certain things at a later stage but i think i am on top of it...

Basically, in Tank 1 the Cicklids are smaller at present, i knwo they will grow and hence my lining up the 6ft tank, i am then going to switch around and go from there, Plecs large Tank or Cats, get a few more silver dollers, try noit to get anymnore sharks etc etc, it sounds mad i know but i do love fish and can be a bit of a sucker for unwanted animals, hence the two Oscars, its very sad.

At the moment the tank with Oscarami is doing well on lower fish stock, the other tank has been set up for years and seems to be coping well with the new additions, then again i had a higher stock of fish (smaller) previously but had to re home these on a swap basis with the Cichlids due to you know you... Albi!!!!!!!

The Spanner Barbs is interesting, i rescued these two as well, and they are very happy as a pair but something to consider in the larger tank maybe?

How do you think a large Ghost Knife would be, i had to gove him up in the sawp through fear of Albi having a go but it may be the case it comes up again in the future?

Thanks again mate, great help so far

I considered getting one of the Ghost Knife fish, but after reading around, the risk of them becoming a expensive snack for the Oscars made me give up on the idea.

The good thing about a Silver Dollars school is that these fish eat the Oscars' poo, so they act as a cleaning crew, keeping the tank's waste in check. I am raising 9 juveniles Silver Dollars in another tank, they are barely 1 to 1.5" at the moment.

I haven't seen Stripped Barbs yet at the LFSs, but they are beautiful not-so-fast schooling fish and likely safe with Oscars.

Hope you get your 6x2x2 tank soon. Ideal for two Oscars and tankmates!

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Sorry Missed a Q didnt I... the Cichlids, not a clue! The shops down here always have them mis labelled or just collected and as i inherrited them i am in the dark, i have done a bit of research on line and found out what i think to be correct below:

One Firemouth
Aulonocara of sorts
Copadichromis or Cynotilapia
Labeotropheus or Labidochromis
Neolamprologus (Pulcher i think)

As i sai i am just trying to plough through the hundreds and thousands of different species on line to work it out!!!

yea i cant wait, thanks Pepe! will be well worthwhile i think and thanks bags for the tip on the Dollers that makes the world of sense and explains where all that mess i go to pick up from the mornings feed dissapears too!!!!

So if i had the six foot tank what would you suggest, based on the fish i have that i am considering going in together.

Oscarami & Albi
Spanner Barbs x 2
Cichlids x 6 (Or less dependant on which ones i work out to be better!!!)
Silver Doller x 1 (Plus 3/4 more based on what you have said)
Cigar Skark(Must go in because of hos adult size!!)
Apollo Shark (Based on what you said maybe not but what if i provide a covered (Grown area for protection for the smaller fish and of course Albi whilst the two Oscars are settling)
Pictus Catfish
Other Catfish?
Large Common Plec.

Would be interesting to get your take on it?

Thanks a bunch again

Keep in mind I'm a newbie too. Hopefully more experienced oscarfishlovers will correct my input.

My tank is a bit smaller than yours (72"Lx18"W x26"H) or 121UKgal (145USgal). If I had a 6'Lx2'Wx2'H (ideal for Oscars!) and your actual stocking, this is what I would do:
Oscaramis and Albi: Owners of the tank.
Spanner Barbs: A school of minimum 5
Silver Dollars: A school of minimum 5
One of the Sharks stays ( which type exactly are they? hope you don't have Iridiscent Sharks since these need at least 300gal tank ).
Pictus Catfish: At least two more partners, they usually go by themselves and in small groups. Of course I could be wrong. I would pay particular attention to this fish: you need to protect your hands while handling Pictus corydoras, their spine is very sharp and I believe some carry a mild neurotoxin.
Common Pleco: out of the tank, a major threat to your schooling fish and Oscar fry.
Other Catfish: likely if you have a Brittlenose? not sure, but big catfish are hard to keep outside huge ponds and they will attack other fishies; small ones will be devoured.

I know how hard it is to ID Cichlids. There are thousands -literally- of species. I have ( allegedly temporarily but going into 5 months already ) 5 Kenyi ( African Mbuna: Metriaclima lombardoi ) I mistakenly purchased as blue-eyed cichlid. I began filtering through peat yesterday, so they are going out of that tank in a couple of weeks, tops.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Oscars changing colour(going pale) is an indication of how the fish is feeling. This can be because the fish is sick and is probably the first thing you would notice. but it could mean a lot of other things too. you will just have to get to know your fish and then you will soon start to tell. you will probably notice at times of fighting there will be a colour change too as the fish is angry. If you watch them you will learn when to be concerned. For instance if you fish becomes inactive,lays on bottom and is pale this would probably be sickness.

If in doubt always test your water as most problems start here.

hello lambpie, i do had experience in changing color of oscars.
when they are maturing, when they are mating & spawning, and when
they are threatened. I don't have yet experienced when they are sick
or in distress.

feeding time: i only feed my fishes once a day, every morning,
quantity of which is controlled to what can be consumed in two
minutes, more or less. the pangasius and oscars compete with
the foods i dropped while the angel fish, i dropped small bits for her.

i always have my fishes in partner. unfortunately for my angel fish,
the other one was sucked by the pump when the pangasius accidentally
removed the grills after banging hard on it.

marcus is right, always monitor your water condition to make sure
nothing untoward will happen to your fishes.

hey all, thanks for your replys, greatly received advice and so very interesting! I can confirm that Oscarami is no longer colour changing is back on her muscles rather then just pellets and has taken about destroying the tnk in full again!!!!! sooooo, there you go, she is well, i guess, she just got annoyed!!!!!!!! Women!!!!!!

Thank you so much again really stopped me worrying about her, oh and Pepe, I have an Apollo and Cigar Shark, thanks for your guidance on the 6ft tank, i will take that on board when i finally get my hands on one!!

Thanks all again.

Lambpie

for all of us, it feels good to know that
we were able to comfort someone out there
in our own little way. exchanging of experiences
and ideas do wonders among us.
cheers!