I have a pair of oscars in a 100gal. I've had them since they were and inch long and they've always been inseparable. now they're about 10 inches long. Recently my ph has been too low so I've started doing water changes more frequently and working to stabilize. One of the oscars has started biting and slamming into the other, and they often lock mouths and spin eachother around. I assume this is a breeding display because they spend the other half their time sitting next to each other with no shown aggression. however, Oscar that is the "victim" of the aggression is recovering from a sore on their gill plate and torn fins (my ph went downhill fast and i didnt notice right away) and is now showing what appear to be bruises and scratches on its head that I think are a result of the scuffles. He still eats and defends himself. Should I be concerned?
Are My Oscars Breeding?
- Thread starter Calvin4924
- Start date
Yes it sounds like breeding behavior and water changes will trigger this. Have you noticed any digging of the substrate?
not more than usual. although there are plenty of flat stones for them to use if they want. Should I be concerned about the bruises and a couple missing scales?
Just stay consistent with your wc's and keep water in pristine conditions bruises should heal.
Yeah. If any more significant injuries occur i plan on separating. thanks for the help
Do you know how to vent the oscars? If you haven’t already, that could be a start to even see if they are compatible sexually. If not
Jexnell
can help you out with sexing them. O’s like many chiclids are funny when it comes to breeding, sometimes it’s hard to say if they are about to spawn or fight to the death. I agree with what
tlindsey
said about separating them. I went through the same behaviour with my pair, had to separate and the female later died of the stress and injury. Another thought that no one really wants to hear is it may actually be a battle for space, a 100 gal is a big tank but it might be starting to get crowded with 2 -10” o’s. I am pretty sure this is what happened with mine at roughly 6” in a 70 gal.
Either way keep us posted.
Easiest way to sex an Oscar is to tease them with food at the waters surface. Till they are in a near vertical position. Then grab some pictures of thier vent area.
Then use the zoom function in editing to really zoom in to the area in question.
Males these holes are simular in size. Females you can see the back one is bigger than the front.
Then use the zoom function in editing to really zoom in to the area in question.
Males these holes are simular in size. Females you can see the back one is bigger than the front.
It appears I have a male and a female. The female fish is the one initiating most of the aggression and breeding behavior.Do you know how to vent the oscars? If you haven’t already, that could be a start to even see if they are compatible sexually. If not
O’s like many chiclids are funny when it comes to breeding, sometimes it’s hard to say if they are about to spawn or fight to the death. I agree with what
Another thought that no one really wants to hear is it may actually be a battle for space, a 100 gal is a big tank but it might be starting to get crowded with 2 -10” o’s. I am pretty sure this is what happened with mine at roughly 6” in a 70 gal.
Either way keep us posted.