Hello there, I was wondering what would have happened if I had kept 2 oscars! Though I have no plan of buying another oscar because I’m busy with my baby “Tiger”! But I am just curious, how do oscars communicate with each other, what kind of social behaviors do they have etc. Does a male fight with another male? How do a male and a female communicate? How do they fight? Can anyone please explain?
By the way Tiger is getting big and his colours r also getting darker; may be that’s because he is getting high protein food. He has crossed 4” now! He grew nearly 1” longer in less than a month!

I don’t have any aggression problem because I have only 2 fish in my 150 g, they don’t confront much but sometimes Tiger chases the pleco but I don’t think he’s serious; I think he just wants to play with it! The pleco is only 3”, and does anyone know about any good Site about Plecos? How can I increase his growth? What should I feed him?

I’m also interested in Jack Dempseys, I’ve seen some at the Fish store yesterday; they look cute! I’ve heard they r caring parents as well, r they good tank mates for Oscars? Do they also have personality like oscars? Do u guys know any site regarding Jack Dempsey? I want to do some research on them. But I’m not going to add any tank mates soon.
Thanks……….

Oscars do grow rather fast Protein is used by the fish's body for black pigments. Mine turned all black around the size yours is and stayed that way until last month or so, then the orange started coming in a little. Mine also grew more than an inch the first month. Make sure you feed a varied, nutritious diet. Better to start young. Os will eat all protein if you let them, but like a kid with sugar, it isn't healthy if not in moderation. A quality pellet with vitamins (Hikari Chiclid Gold/Bio-Gold is a good example) and using the protein foods like frozen bloodworms, krill, etc. as less frequent treats. You can even take pellets, veggies, fruits, vitamins, garlic, and some protein rich stuff, blend it up, and freeze it. Then you can trick your O into thinking it is getting treats, but really a super-healthy snack

I would personally either go with a second oscar or a blue dempsey, but, the only problem I would see with waiting is you would have to find a grown one or get a grow out tank.

Dempsey's grow a bit slower I believe, so you would have to find one that is already larger than your O.

Getting an O of the same size now, they can grow together and if they like each other, be buddies.

Of course, individual temperament (just like humans) makes all the difference. Some Os are friendlier than others, and you wouldn't just drop the new O and walk away Have a day off to observe closely and introduce slowly. Rearrangement of the tank will break established territory, even adding some new plants if you have the space.

I think your O should still be young enough to accept a new partner in crime, though it is usually easier if you get two at the same time from what I have seen, but many have added a second later from reading boards.

Not that I am trying to rush, and please let others recommend for I have no experience adding a new fish with my O, but I would think the sooner the better with adding a mate. You O should be happy alone (with the plec mate), or one other fish. I wouldn't go with any more than that imho.

Here is a site regarding my favorite JDs, the EBJD bluejax.co.uk/default.aspx

Good luck and I am sure you will get plenty of great advice from members with more experience in all of this.

Ok, at 4" time's starting to run out for adding tankmates IMO, I definately would not introduce another Oscar at this point, as it can be hard for an O to accept another O during what will soon be Oscar puberty.

A Jack Dempsey however might be worth trying. These things can be hit-or-miss but here's what I would do: firstly, JDs grow very slowly so if you get a juvenile I would get a male, they are easy to sex. Males get bigger and are also nicer looking IMO. Make sure there are a couple of hidey holes he can use that the Oscar can't get into...this is very important. I'd rearrange the tank a little and the put the JD in, as close to a hidey hole as possible.

For the first few days make sure that some food goes near him, as he will not want to venture out too far until he settles.

JDs are great fish, very beautiful and robust, with heaps of personality. Their only real downside is how slowly they grow, but they are well worth the wait.

HTH and good luck, let us know what you decide to do

Also the EBJDs tend to be a bit more fragile and less aggressive, so I wouldn't advise one of those for this situation

Been wondering the same often about having a second Oscar. My one seems to enjoy company really even if it's a different cichlid species, swims with them and always looks what they are doing. Not just any fish though, he's got his favs. I keep thinking a second Oscar would be the best for company, just not having the space, plus the thought of ending up with hundreds of babies scares me.

I guess it comes down to individual personality again, some won't tolerate another Oscar or any other cichlid while some do. Some might be eager to establish a pecking order and do some displaying and lip-locking, some might just accept a tankmate, and some might kill them. I have repeatedly added 2" fish with my adult Oscar and nothing happens, but I definitely wouldn't recommend anything food-sized in general.

For plecos there should be heaps of sites, maybe check on aquarank or just google. If it's about info on different species, planetcatfish.com has most problably most of them.
You can try feeding a whole lot besides the normal food leftovers from the other fish .. like algae wafers, blanched zucchini, peas, cucumber, lettuce, spinach, whatever.They are eating machines. I found it to be difficult to feed a pleco though with an Oscar in the tank that would gobble anything up before it reached the ground, bit tricky. Some can learn to come to the surface though. Just make sure to take any uneaten food out the next day.

Jack dempseys have a reputation for being aggressive. They are named after a boxer. However i am of the opinion that they are not that bad these days because of tank breeding. Mine is no bother in my tank and i have heard other people say the same. But all fish are different and it is best to remember where they go their name from!!!!!!


I think that if you add another oscar now you will be fine with no problems as your existing oscar is still very small. Its once they start to get to 6+inches that they can get territorial

Thanks everyone.....

Kenshin_Himura - I think you are right that high protein makes the oscar look darker, I mean black. Red spots r becoming less visible; Tiger doesn’t eat pellets at all and he hates vegetables, he only eats shrimps, bloodworms and small fish; he likes to hunt small fish himself. Other members here told me to keep him hungry for a few days so when he is hungry enough he will accept pellets but I just can’t do that.

Pillow Pants - I didn't know JDs grow slow but they r fascinating! but I don’t think I’m going to add any tank mate soon; I've decided that when tiger gets big I will start a new tank with Jack Dempseys; will a 75 gallon do for one pair? I have heard stories about Oscars killing catfish and hurting themselves, I don’t want to take any risk with Tiger; I’ve heard that JDs r very aggressive and my Tiger is very aggressive as well; I think he will not accept a different species in his kingdom!:angry:

metoo - i'm feeding my pleco lettuce, wafers and pees and Tiger hates vegetables so he doesn't touch my Pleco's food; he always keeps looking for shrimps and small fish:evil:

dellboybully - though JDs r aggressive but i like the way they look, they r fascinating but my oscar is very aggressive too though he is small.........

I bought a JD when I first got my oscars and he would chase my tiger around all day and night and actually attack him leaving some pretty bad in injuries. I am sure this isn't the case with all of them just my expierience. Personally with 150 g tank I would go with another Oscar!

i have a JD in my oscar tank and right now he is the bully but no injurys i can see. iv had him for about a week very quick fish so quick he keeps alot of stuff from settling in my tank so it gets sucked up in my filter so i put up with him till he starts to get to aggresive.

Hey guys, i've heard that oscars require vitamin c in their diet. How can i feed vitamin c to my oscar? i'm currently feeding shrimps as basic diet and bloodworms, tubifex and small fish as treat.