I've read that Oscar's temperament can vary from fish to fish. I have two juvenile Oscars; I've had them almost 3 months; so I'm presuming they are approx 5 months old. From the day I brought them home they have been "best buddies" - swimming around together, resting together - they get along very well. They seem to be quite peaceful with each other and the other fish in the tank.

In people's vast experiences - if two O's get along as juveniles - does this relationship typically remain the same through adulthood? Or once they hit adulthood / maturity - do their personalities change? what are people's observations with their fish as they've grown from juveniles to adults?

Hey how are you? Well their personalities will inevitably change. They may stay "friends" or they could become bitter adversaries. I hope things stay harmonious between the two, however it is not always so.

I have heard that their temperament can change as they mature...especially if you have two males...from what i've been told they can become aggressive towards each other.

MeghanR wrote:


Mine we're inseparable for the longest time, and they still hang together a lot. However, as they matured I've noticed one tends to initiate lip locking quite frequently and basically attempts to bully the other quite a bit. This was the smaller one and 'shyer' one before.

It's not anything I regard as serious, however it is a significant change from previous behavior.

So yeah, I definitely think temperaments/personalities change...

That's interesting Johnny Phoenix...Lip locking can sometimes be a potential breeding behavior. That would be great if you had a breeding pair.

form the time i re-home my fishes to that 72 x 30 x 24 tank and i lost OneEyeJack,
there is no bullying observed until now...but before, i had to juggle their combination
to stop bullying...to the extent that survivor lost the cheek muscle due to fighting.

thus, i believe at that young age, bullying is because of space or territorial
supremacy... limited space to be their area.

they will change no dout if they are both males. ive had mine seence babies and they got along fine up until about a month ago and there now about 6 months and ones almost 8 inches and other about 4inchs. 8 inch one is huge bully eats everything and other just runs now. no fun to watch.

Codeman_T USMC wrote:


I thought so at first but I'm not really sure right now what I've got. There's a guy who runs a store strictly for Oscars about 15 mins. southeast of me who've I've made friends with...I'm going to see if possibly he could come over sometime and sex them. I've noticed the one tends to flex it's mouth and push at the side of the other...more of a bullying tactic than simply trying to initiate lip locking IMO...I could be wrong, but it seems, at least, to be more territorial.

only time will tell, from what ive seen looks like a larger number is better when older, a buddy of mine has 6 oscars about 10" in a 300 gallon tank
they chase sometimes i guess but nothing to deadly lol

There's a guy who runs a store strictly for Oscars about 15 mins. southeast of me

well arent you lucky

adkraptor wrote:


Actually more of a chiclid store...

The premier breeder and aquarium retailer specializing in African Cichlids in Northeast Ohio. Something Fishy Inc. is proud to offer aquarium enthusiasts and new hobbyists our unique, colorful fish and affordable products and services.

www.somethingfishyinc.net/index.html

How cool is that?