So I've had one female oscar 14" for going on 7 years now who has been completely intolerant of any tank mates (except for the logdweller catfish) her entire life. about a year ago she laid eggs for the first time and stopped eating feeder guppies so I decided to to try out a school of 10 diamond tetras from my LFS. Not a single fatality or any bullying that I've noticed. Has anyone ever heard of something like this? A friend of mine has some electric blue acaras he bred they're currently about 2" does anyone see a problem with adding them to my 90g and throwing the tetras in my community tank? Thanks!What Oscar aggression?
- Thread starter OscarDeLaBoya
- Start date
So I've had one female oscar 14" for going on 7 years now who has been completely intolerant of any tank mates (except for the logdweller catfish) her entire life. about a year ago she laid eggs for the first time and stopped eating feeder guppies so I decided to to try out a school of 10 diamond tetras from my LFS. Not a single fatality or any bullying that I've noticed. Has anyone ever heard of something like this? A friend of mine has some electric blue acaras he bred they're currently about 2" does anyone see a problem with adding them to my 90g and throwing the tetras in my community tank? Thanks!
Individual temperament man, oscars all act differently. Mine will tolerate anything they can’t eat immediately. Just depends, I would say a electric blue acara might be too delicate to be in a 90 with an Oscar. But maybe not, just depends.
It’s actually an H. Carpintis, my latest test. Both these oscars are old, and have had multiple tank mates over the years. Some they are ok with, others they are not. I’ve found that all I can do is add the fish when they are small and see what happens. I’ve had to scoop battered fish out before, and I’ve also had to separate more aggressive fish out as well. I’ve also fed them expensive snacks if you get my meaning.
The fact that yours allows tetra’s is great. I’d definitely leave them.
And sometimes cichlids can be stressed from being in the same tank as a large predator. This can lead to diseases, starvation, or simply getting beaten to death. Or, it could work. It’s a gamble my friend. I’m personally surprised those goldfish aren’t snacks either.
The fact that yours allows tetra’s is great. I’d definitely leave them.
And sometimes cichlids can be stressed from being in the same tank as a large predator. This can lead to diseases, starvation, or simply getting beaten to death. Or, it could work. It’s a gamble my friend. I’m personally surprised those goldfish aren’t snacks either.
Awesome looking little fish! The goldfish and the minnow in the top right were supposed to be snacks when my neighbor brought them back from an unsuccessful fishing trip but they lived in there for months before I gave them away and got the tetras. I'll post a more recent picture with the tetras tomorrow. I actually tried a 5" harlequin with my oscar (about 1/3 her size) and to my surprise he was nipping her tail within a week with no resistance so he got the banhammer.
Yeah it happens, these guys used to live with two Jack Dempsey’s years ago. I got them from a friend and they where already full grown. They got along fine with my oscars till they died. (Not sure why, old age maybe). I put two younger Jack dempsey’s in with these guys and one was eaten almost immediately and the other stressed and died. I didn’t try jacks again for a long time. Then one of my friends needed to rehome a juvenile female JD and asked me if I’d take her. I explained that it was a gamble. And low and behold that Jack Dempsey is doing just fine in my tank.
Just goes to show you how both fish’s temperament and health go into it. Not just the big oscars. Currently my 180 is home to these two guys, a Jack Dempsey that’s around 5 inches and that little Carpintis, who is just under 4 inches. All is peaceful but I always keep an eye out because it could change overnight.
Just goes to show you how both fish’s temperament and health go into it. Not just the big oscars. Currently my 180 is home to these two guys, a Jack Dempsey that’s around 5 inches and that little Carpintis, who is just under 4 inches. All is peaceful but I always keep an eye out because it could change overnight.
Well we're on day six and my baby acaras are doing great, showing beautiful colors! The tetras, oscar and acaras are getting along great!!
Update!
The male acara is about 5.5-6 inches now and just about runs the joint, the female is about 4 inches and they’ve been nesting together. The Oscar has decided all plants are forever going to be floating plants but everybody is getting along mostly.
The male acara is about 5.5-6 inches now and just about runs the joint, the female is about 4 inches and they’ve been nesting together. The Oscar has decided all plants are forever going to be floating plants but everybody is getting along mostly.
