I wrote in about 6 weeks ago, because my albino oscar Roscoe, had stopped eating. That problem was taken care of.

The last couple of days, we have serious bullying going on. Boscoe, the tiger, is beating on Roscoe, the albino. To the extent we see damage all along both sides of Roscoe. Skin is lifted in areas, it's so bad. Roscoe is now hiding in a 6" piece of PVC I have in the tank to get away from Boscoe. There doesn't appear to be lip locking going on, just Boscoe hitting Roscoe anywhere he can.

It doesn't appear to be a "territory" issue as it going on anywhere they happen to be in the tank. Roscoe can't eat, because Boscoe will hit.

I have a 55 gallon tank, that has a few mollies in it. I can put Boscoe in that tank, if needed. I don't want to have to give Boscoe away, but I can't have him beating on Roscoe the way he is.

They are both over a year old, in a 210 gallon tank with 3 bala sharks, 2 tinfoil barbs, 2 small African cichlids & 2 14" plecostemus.


Please help! I don't know what to do.

biggamehunter bag trick... works like a charm... others will fill you in more...

since they are both over a year old and the bullying is taking place everywhere in the tank i would assume then that the you might have 2 males on your hands. oscars reach maturity anywhere from 12-16 months of age and if by chance you have 2 males then they might be fighting for dominace in the tank.

you could try a divider to see if the harassment disipates but if it does not then your only other option would be seperate tanks for them.

that being said the mating ritual for oscars can also be rather physical at times and injuries are known to happen.

personally i would give it another day and if nothing changes then try the divider.

jsut my 2 cents

if you feel the damage is more... please get it some more space.. either the space is less.. or else 2 males.. please please be careful with the molies.. the oscar might just gulp a few if put in the same tank

The mollies in that tank are to breed food for the oscars. I won't feed them the store bought goldfish because I know how filthy & disease carrying they are. My husband used to work on the fish systems at a major "take your leashed pet shopping" chain of stores. My oscars are so spoiled, they won't work to take an adult. They wait for the babies to be given to them. They get fish as a treat, not their staple diet.

I also have an unused 55 gallon that I can get running again, for feeder mollies.

You really could move either O to either 55. Just make sure you have plenty of filtration. Also just a side thought, have you checked your water peramiters? My O's get more aggressive when they need a water change.

Yeah, I have checked the water condition & it's as clear as the water itself is. The fighting seems to be sporatic. Right now, Roscoe (the one being beat on) has pulled the air rocks from under the ornaments & he's moving gravel to suit himself. Boscoe is laying down on the bottom. Normal.

I'm watching them, because if I do have to move Boscoe, he's gonna get a treat, going to the 55. There are babies in there. Plus moving him will be a 2 person job, just catching him. That & the sulking that will be done after the move, is something I'm not looking forward to doing.

Have you used a water test kit?

Please post your exact peramiters as the water can look wonderful, and be toxic at the same time.

Nitrate less than 20, nitrite is 0, hardness is between 75 & 150, total chlorine is 0, alkalinity is between 120 & 180, & ph is between 6.8 & 7.20

I did a water change of 1/2 the tank a week ago.

Ok it was just a thought. I hope you don't have two boys. Maybe you will get lucky and have a pair. I have been told that as long as there isn't a lot of damage being done, that it's normal.

Good Luck

if bullying continue, try the bgh time out magic net,
most of the time, it works... however, if it does't work
probably you have two boys trying to show who is the boss.
and requires re-homing the other one.
here is how it should be done.....