Hi OFL fans, if you read my last posting "panicing oscar owner" you will see that i lost "oscar" to an infection. After watching Tigger for a week to make sure he was clear, i purchased another O today called Oscar 2. After introducing him to the tank O2 swam for a while with tigger around the tank, they even feed together. Now a few hours on they chase each other round the tank trying to nip each other. I have also seen them facing off each other, mouths wide open and grabing each others lower jaw. As i type this they are swimming together. Should i be worried? is it just a territory thing? What should i do besides split them up? Regards

I would do nothing. As long as one oscar isnt getting injured or bullied to the point where he hides away all the time then leave alone. The fact that they swim around together is good. The lip locking could be them testing each others strength, part of establishing who is the top dog. Also oscars do this when breeding. Just keep a close eye on them

If one starts injuring the other or one hides away all the time especially at feeding time them post and we may be able to offer suggestions for that

Let me just ramble on about things I learned in the past from a friend's experience, I am not implying that any of these are your problems, just things to think about.

Tank size ... if you have more than a 55 gallon, may not be an issue. 6 ft length would probably give more sense of territory than a 4 ft, but I think I have read of many successful 75 gallon 4 footers. Open areas outside the tank, plants to break up the middle and ends of the tank, a cave that each can call their home may help with simulating more space.

Water quality ... if nitrates are creeping up, it can get them cranky and irritable, even with a beloved co-inhabitor. Of course the other toxins can be worse. Pollution doesn't make anyone very happy

Temperature ... moreso on the hot side ... living in FL, I see the effect of heat on people, I can imagine it being similar in other animals as well.


Of course ... it could be a bit of play, adolescent aggression, mating behavior, establishing territory, etc.

It is good that they are close most of the time, a very good sign.

Just keep an eye out for one becoming more aggressive, the other more passive. Look at the body for missing scales and other signs of over-aggression. A divider may work for temporary spats, since, your intervention will only work so long if one does decide to be a meanie.

I am sure there is lots more that can be added by others, but for now, don't worry too much. Sounds like they like each other.

Hi all, Thanks to Kenshin_Himura lots of advice there. I have been watching them closely and their spats seem to be worse when i turn their light on (Day or Night). They are away from direct natural light but they do get some from reflection from around the room. Right now their light is off and they are just milling around the tank (5ft) next to each other. As soon as the light goes on the new o (O2) starts with the open mouth aggression and chasing the older O (Tigger). Nitrites and ammonia levels are zero. Should i just let them battle it out? I think they have got a couple of missing scales. I don't want to split them up or return the new one. Nor do i want one to be killed as they are such fun to watch apart from when they bite me, and they are bloody expensive. Regards.

A couple of damaged scales is ok, its when its get to lots of scales missing that you have to do something

I had the same problem with my two oscars, as stated by other members, this is common , however if the two oscars fight constantly and spend little or no time together after they fight and one of the two is taking all the beating, I would recommend seperating them !!! I made a tank divider for mine out of plexiglass

both my oscars are happy with each other as one shows bredding behaviour and the other follows it around. however they do 'lip lock' from time to time and push each other around. they chase each other from time to time. also with mine when i have the light on for more than 20 minutes they get more agressive as do when the temp runs high.

fish dont need the light and the light is just a aid for us to see them. mine however have the plesure of a 7ft wide window right infront of there tank which i open the blinds during day so they get the light and can see out the window lol.

why dont you try getting some dimmer lighting for your tank see if it helps and you can also see the fish too. im in the process of trying to find the perfect lighting as mine is rather bright and they get realy hot which rises the water temp a fair bit when left on.

i only use the lighting now for feeding times till i find a way to stop them arguing so much when the lights on as the femal gets nocked about more as shes smaller than the dominant fish and he alot bulkier than she is so can push her about