Why would my male, Ollie push, gently my female, Olivia down into the corner of the tank and force her to stay there for long periods of time? He does it ever so gently, but I'm still concerned?

is ollie your largest of the 2? i think its a show who`s boss thing, my old oscars used to do the same, not very much aggretion involved as you said it was mostly very gently but liked to make sure my other o stayed around the same place in the tank,

since they are both of good size (10" and 8") perhaps they are just trying to find out
who is the boss..... do you have any idea how old are they???? mating is more of lip
locking, and digging the substrate.... if what you can see is just pushing and
shoving, perhaps it is more on territorial issue....

Lip-Locking happens constantly! He just gently pushes her to the side and she rolls over on her side and then he nudges her repeatedly to keep her down there. It's all so gentle. Then, with the blink of an eye, both aqree then go swimming about as if nothing ever happened?!! These guys are sooooo cute at this. I am trying to convince myself that it's all just a game. Both are as heathy as I could hope for and are as active as well. I admit, I just want some babies!! (ha,ha) If I could hug them, believe me, I would!!

the rolling on there side is to show the other oscar its not tring to be a threat,

It MUST be love as He never really hurts her, he just over-powers her!! Damned guys, always gotta show their "macho-side" (ha,ha)!! I really hope that now that all of the other fish are gone, that they can now "get down to the business"!! I have a clear spot for them already!! Ok, they made it, but I removed the rocks n stuff!! (ha,ha)

Yes, Ollie is about 3 and Olivia two yrs, old. He sometimes just cuddles her with his side fins as if to stoke her. Both of them sometimes shake their back/under fins vibrantly as if to get the eggs/sperm out like trout?! I really hope OFL is correct at telling me they're ready!! I know I am!! (ha,ha)

jarngar wrote:

a 3 years old and 2 years old at 10 inches and 8 inches is under size....
my oscars are almost 9 inches long in just 8 months.... yes, that age is
already considered matured. do you have slate in your tank... oscar tend to
test stability of the slate, clean it and lay eggs over it....

I'll be trying to get a slab of slate next week!! TANX for the advice!!