Firstly, hello. I've been browsing the forums for about a week or so, and have decided to register.

Anyways...

I've kept oscars for about 5 years. Recently I lost my 3 year old oscar.
Since I had never bought a juvi oscar I decided that I wanted to really watch them grow. I purchased 3 'wild caught' tiger oscars. They are about 2.5 inches or so each.. maybe less. anyways, I've had them for just over a week and they are still scared of me. They or I assume all of them are eating, I know this because I hide behind my couch and just peak my head over so they don't see me. I've tried dropping pellets in front of them to try and make them understand that I=food. Any Ideas on how to teach them faster? any tricks or tips?

welcome to the site

Without wanting to sound like a smartass,there is actually no such thing as a wild caught Tiger oscar. You either have a wildly, or Tiger oscar.Tiger o's are about as close as you will get to wild Oscars. How do you actually know they are wild?

Okay, as for feeding, it's just basically a case of them getting use to you, there isn't really any proven way that you can make them suddenly stop being frightened of you. It's probably a good idea if you spend a bit of time with them so they do get used to you. How often do you put the lights on? You could try turning the lights on just for a limited time, they might not be so frightened when it little darker.

Apart from that, I really don't think you should worry about it. Just give them a little time and I'm quite sure that everything will be okay.

It said wild caught on the tank, didn't say tiger oscar though. Their markings look like the baby tigers I've seen. So I really shouldn't have said tiger. I've tried the light thing which I read in one of your articles. But I may have given up on it too fast. I do not have canopy lighting, there is just a wall light the lights the tank. I'll turn it off and maybe turn on one that is a bit farther from the tank. I can't wait until they start swimming around, they are so damn cute.

Did you cycle your tank before putting the fish in? Also, you might want to test your water and post the results for us. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrates and pH is what we will be looking for.

Juvenile Oscars are normally very keen to fill their bellies so I would hope that before too long, they are acting like juvenile Oscars should.

Try not to worry, just keep an eye on them and hopefully everything will be fine

Yeah tank has been cycled for a while, I only have a ph test kit.. So I cannot tell you the parameters. Although when I went to buy them I took a water sample and was told that my water was fine.

They kinda swim around but only if I am not in the same room, if I make any movement them seem to make their way back to their hideout...

I would strongly advise you to invest in a water test Kit. They are very easy to use, not particularly expensive and really extremely important as there are times that you will need to test the water and the fish store may not be open.

Anyway, keep us posted on your situation

Yeah i'll keep updated and I'll go pick up a test kit with in the week.

Well, they still seem spooked by me, and they are chasing each other around, I think one but be getting 'bullied' no scrapes or marks but I think its the same one I see always getting chased.

When i first got my red oscar(2 in.), he would hide behind the filter and never come out. Now that he has put on four inches he is the most outgoing fish i have ever seen. Just give them some time and they will adjust properly and learn to great you when you come to feed.

I have one oscar that took a week and a half before it was comfortable in the tank and didnt hide away when i went to it. Added another 2 and they didnt hide at all and ate within a couple of hours. It depends on the fish

hit the 2 week mark and still they only come out when I am not near the tank.

there must be something wrong in the system that keep them hiding.
oscar used to begged for food during younger ages. and as they grow
older, remains in front of the tank waiting.

do you have any cleaning rituals?