Oscars certainly like laying eggs on a flat surface. I think someone told me that there Oscars laid on the gravel because there wasn't anything else once. Anyway, if you don't want your Oscars to eat the babies, then you must take them out fairly promptly. Oscars are actually very good parents and will protect the babies in their mouth so it could be very difficult catching them. But cross that bridge when I come to it. But remember, if you take the babies out, you must have a reasonably large tank to put them in. The water must be in pristine condition and you must keep it like that or they will perish