I just wanted to share with everybody the interesting thing i can do with my Oscar who i've named Bilbo. I've kept Oscars for 3 years now and have been successful in breeding them and count me very lucky but i've never had any cases of disease or infection. Well on to the 'Sleepy trick' as i call it. Over time we all know our fish become used to us and like wise we get to know and understand them equally as well. This is where after a short time i was able to perform the 'Sleepy trick'. Everyday i slowly put my hand in to the tank and each time i would get closer to Bilbo. After awhile i'd slowly get to stroke her on the sides and also her head. As the weeks passed she'd welcome me to the tank and would always go to the same part of the tank and wait for me to stroke her. No it wasn't out of fear or stress. Well soon enough as others i've known have experienced she'd come to the surface literally asking for me to play with her. It then went on from there to the stage i could stroke her and then hold her gently in my two hands in the tank with her gently sitting in my clasped hands. I could and do now perform this for about 5 minutes until she's sufficiently calm and i'm able to pick her up and transfer her to another tank while i perform tank maintenance (water change etc). I will add she doesn't struggle or move at all and i find it amazing to see her trust in me. After i place her in to the temporary tank she lays patiently for a few minutes and then returns to her normal self until i perform the said routine again to put her back in her normal tank. Ok some of you might not think this is all that special but there are other things i can do with her which i'll explain now. If i perform the stroking technique combined with one hand in front of her and spreading my fingers in to a fan shape (while shaking them gently) she will suddenly go in to her 'Sleeping' state. She'll calmly lay down on the substrate floor and remain motionless allowing me to stroke her or pick her up etc:. It's just amazing to do and i've performed this on my 3 Oscars i've had over the 3 years. Bilbo is though the most successful with this technique. Another trick is with a small plastic ball which i've weighted slightly so it sinks slowly and also bobs about too. I can literally pass this to her and she'll grasp it with her mouth and spit back out towards me. Is it coincidence?. Well at 1st i thought yes it was but no sure enough she'll get excited when you edge nearer to the tank with the ball. I'm going to upload the videos of these so you can all judge for yourselves. It's just that so many keepers of fish including the Oscar have to fish them out with a net etc and for me the experience is a real bonding one as she lays calmly in my hands as i transfer her from tank to tank. Anyway just wanted to share this with you folks. I've included a pic for now in the temporary tank between water changes. She's with her younger Brother Zeus. I'll upload the videos asap.