I'm sorry for making a new thread for every time I have a question. But I just feel I have a better chance of being responded to better this way.

On with my problem.

I have been noticing lately one of my O's has had quite a few scrapes and little chunks missing out of his body. I have also noticed my slighter larger O has been a bit more aggressive towards the smaller. And I figure, ok no big deal, that's just nature. but it's really starting to bother me because my O is starting to look rather bad, like you might see in a crappy local pet store. if you know what I mean.

Here are a few pictures of what I am talking about.

i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq60/lucass666/Fish/100_0670.jpg
i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq60/lucass666/Fish/100_0673.jpg
i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq60/lucass666/Fish/100_0674.jpg

Sorry they aren't the best quality. If you have any ideas of what to do, let me know. Thanks in advance.

Hmm...to me it looks like your small Oscar is hurting itself as it tries to escape the big one. Do you have any sharp objects in the tank that he could scrape on? The only suggestions that i have is maybe have more hiding space in the tank so the small oscar can retreat out of the sight of the big one. You can use a 'time out bag' where you put the big oscar in a bag in the tank when it shows aggression for a bit so it calms down. And finally, a technique I use is when i see my big oscar chasing or attacking my little one i chase it with my net to show that its wrong (like discipline lol). He might get the hint that chasing small oscar = net in the face. Obviously don't hurt him just a scare will do. Don't be surprised though that they don't become best friends, mine are definitely not. The attacking has slowed down and they now eat and sleep together. But still when the little oscar gets too close he gets a little chase away. Nothing to bad so its live-able i guess. Hope it all works out.

Hero-JNR wrote:


If it's bullying, Hero's advice may work very well.
Note that the time out bag is a big net as well, and no bag!!!
I used the net-in-the-face-technique on my Vieja when he was charging at my Oscar, and he stopped his behaviour within a week.
Amazing how quick fish can learn!

I see you have 3 oscars and a plec any other fish that I can't see.?? Tank size fish number is going to be your problem, i haven't checked around for other posts to see how large a tank you have but with what I see you are needing 150g or more and even that will not be a sure way to put an end to bullying. Fish just don't like each other sometime and having 2-3 males or even 2-3 females is going to to cause trouble. 3 is not a good number most of the time as 1 is left out without a friend. i would probably leave the 2 that get along best and remove the other. that said the damage isn't really bad, light scale damage and torn fins will heal quickly but how bad do you let it get. what size tank are they in??

even if you say 200g my reply would still be the same, keep the 2 that get along best

nope. only 2 oscars and a plec, ha you saw a reflection. Throws me off even sometimes.

I'm in a 100g tank now. when they were babies i was in a 50, but a friend just gave me a 100g a few months ago.

Lucass wrote:

normally, oscar hit or bully their target on the same spot. i had observed that with my o. try to figure out which one is the bully and try to tame him/her, either by using time out net or separator.

you may also try to figure out if the one with damage usually stay in one place that has sharp edges where he/she can rub that part of the body...

but definitely, it is damage by bullying....in my own evaluation.

That oscar is definately go injured from bullying. It isnt that bad but if it gets lots worse or the fish starts hiding away all the time then separate them with a divider. Wait till the injured fish is healed and then put then bully into the other side. Leave it a couple of days and then remove the divider. If the bully injures the other badly again then rehome one.