Oscar fighting or breeding?

[Cheesyclop]

This started about 2 or 3 weeks ago by now but I have had these Oscar’s in a 120 for about 10 months to a year now and everything has been great. About 2-3 weeks ago the larger red Oscar started fighting the lemon and beat it up pretty good. I removed the aggressor and put in a “time-out tank” while I went a little over board in adding a bunch of visual blocks and decor in the main tank. I put the aggressor back in the tank and instant fighting again. I have a 180 I’m currently building a stand for. Will the larger tank help with aggression or do I need to rehome or is this breeding?

 

[tlindsey]

Will the larger tank help with aggression or do I need to rehome or is this breeding?

If 2 of the Oscar’s has paired off you will need to separate the harassed Oscar.

 

[tlindsey]

Have you noticed one of the Oscar’s moving ornaments or sand? Have you noticed shimmering of the body or lip locking of the 2 that's getting along?

 

[Jexnell]

Oscar's don't come to a breeding age till a year and a half old. How old are your Oscar's?
Female cichlids test the male in fights. If she can best him, then he is not worthy.
To me it seems to be a simple territory fight. Having three Oscar's in such a small size tank only ask for fights as they come into adulthood and a need for territory becomes instinctual.

 

[Cheesyclop]

Have you noticed one of the Oscar’s moving ornaments or sand? Have you noticed shimmering of the body or lip locking of the 2 that's getting along?

I haven’t noticed any sand or decor being moved. Neither fish have shown any interest in the smaller tiger Oscar.

 

[Cheesyclop]

Oscar's don't come to a breeding age till a year and a half old. How old are your Oscar's?
Female cichlids test the male in fights. If she can best him, then he is not worthy.
To me it seems to be a simple territory fight. Having three Oscar's in such a small size tank only ask for fights as they come into adulthood and a need for territory becomes instinctual.

The red Oscar is about 2 years and the lemon and smaller tiger around about 1 - 1 1/2 years. I’ve had severums pair off and breed in the past but this seemed pretty violent and seemed more like aggression than anything.
Do you think the larger 180 gallon tank will help with territory? I have plans to go even larger but that’s going to take some time

 

[Jexnell]

The red Oscar is about 2 years and the lemon and smaller tiger around about 1 - 1 1/2 years. I’ve had severums pair off and breed in the past but this seemed pretty violent and seemed more like aggression than anything.
Do you think the larger 180 gallon tank will help with territory? I have plans to go even larger but that’s going to take some time

I would move two of them into the 180 and leave one in the current tank. Preferably the two that get along. The odd one out seems to be competition for the others.