Hi all

Im new to fishkeeping and to this forum and I have a quick (well...) question.
I have read the previous threads regarding similar issues, but just want to bounce it off someone to calm my nerves, so please forgive the newbie questions.

I have had a 4-5inch (baby) O in a typical 2-foot tank (not sure how many gallons) for about 2 weeks now. He seems quite "tame" , even eating bloodworm or tubifex out of my hand. A few days ago I introduced a large Paroon shark as a tank mate and all was ok, each pretty much ignoring the other.

On my way home today I stopped in at the pet shop looking for a friend for my O, and they had 2 more tiger oscars the same size as mine, so naturally I ended up getting both.

After I put the new pair into the tank, the original one soon began shoving and biting the other 2, looks like he is targeting the gill area, but I may be wrong on this. At first the other 2 let themselves be bullied, but then they responded by tail shaking and pushing back and some jaw locking wrestling began.

Finally, my question:

a. will they hurt each other?
b. will this behavior stop once they get accustomed to each other?
c. should I seperate them with a perspex divider or something?

Unfortunately I cannot at this stage give the water parameters, except to say the PH is 7.6 and the Temperature is 76F (Will get a test kit asap)

Oh I KNOW that 3 o's in a smallish tank will be too much eventually, but I think it may be OK for now while they are so small. I plan to get bigger and bigger tanks as needed, already got my sights set on a 4 foot tank in the near future. What do you 0-experts say? How many gallons per O is too little?

Thanx in advance for any info!
Wessie

I hate to say it, but you are WAY overstocked.

You need 55 gallons per Oscar and then additional gallons for and tank mates.

With 3 Oscars, and the shark, you are in need of about a 200 gallon tank ASAP.
Another thing I can tell you is 3 is a BAD number for Oscars. Males will fight till they kill each other. My best advice would be to take the 2 new O's back to the store.

After you find a HUGE tank, then look into getting more fish!

I hope this helps.

nickisue has you covered

Agree +1.. Sorry

Damn, dont you hate it when someone gives you the answer you didnt want to hear

Suppose I'll see if they will take the fish back in the morning.
BTW, is the 55 Gallon rule applicable to small, 4-inch o's as well, because this means that the original tank was too small for even one fish!. then I suppose i need to get a bigger tank anyway. mmm how to explain THIS one to the wife....

LOL... I had to explain the same problem to my hubby.

But yes a 4 inch Oscar will be a 6 inch Oscar in about a moth and a half. so yes, you need a bigger tank now.

and keep in mind, big fish have Big ppop... so you need one hell of a filter to go along with that bigger tank.

They are ok in the small tank for a Little while.. The problem is that they grow so fast and will be 10 - 12 inches in a year.. If you want to keep them, start out big.. Changing tanks is a pain anyways.. so yes, 55 gal for 1 and 100+ for two.. Some folks have had success with groups of three or more in very large tanks but males can be quite violent towards each other and if they have nowhere to hide it's even worse.

Ok thanx everyone for your answers. I could not take the fighting any longer, so I have Taken O-1 out and set up another tank just for him, just for now. I have a friend who may take him from me. The other 2 new O's seem much happier now and are just fine now that the terminator cant get to them. Glad I had someone to ask. I will soon get a bigger home for my pair.

Once again thanx!

The fighting isnt surprising, the original oscar was trying to get the others out of his territory. Sometimes the fighting stops and everything settles down but others times it doesnt stop until an oscar get seriously injured and dies