Why does my oscar dig?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
G

graham

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 22, 2006
209
1
0
36
portland OR
All m,y oscar likes to do is dig in the gravel. Ever since I got him all he does is move all the gravel out of one spot in the tank. I dont like this because I have an undergravel system going. Everytime I move the gravel back he moves it again. I tried putting a flat stone in the middle of where he digs and he got really pissed off at it and started biting it. :screwy:
Is this territorial behaviour? Is this mating behaviour, he is the only oscar in the tank.
How do I get him to stock digging?

he has also taken the liberty to unroot the same plant 5 times now. I have kept oscars before but they werent like this.
 
He's digging his way back to South America...







Seriously though you've just found out why undergravel filters suck for cichlids. It's normal behaviour and one you're going to have with alot of oscars and other cichlids. You're best off switching out that undergravel filter at least for a HOB unit.
 
Totally normal behavior. Ditch the UGF and get a HOB or canister. They're MUCH better which is why almost everybody uses them now.
 
My Os not only like to dig through the sand and pull out the fake plants but they also team up and move the drift wood. I don't even bother seting up the tank the way I want anymore, they only going to redecorate themselves.
 
a lot of cichlids are diggers.. they like to dig out spots to spawn.
I had a single Jag that always Spawned and dug out my rocks, the fish left my like 2 plants alone tho.
 
my oscar started digging once when i had my other oscar,but i have a UGF and had to cover it up,and then my oscar beat the crap out of its mate and then i got rid of it.it hasnt dug a hole since then
 
its fake plants. and it wasent really a tank for the oscar so I didnt set it up like one. It used to house piranhas, then my clown knife, now my oscar and clown knife. I kept a pair of oscars before and they never really disturbed anything in the tank. My current oscar is a lot bigger than the ones I used to have though.
So I guess my only solution is to just keep moving the gravel back. Will this stress him out or cause him to be angry?
 
Some are diggers,mine isnt.Hell let you know if he doesnt like you moving the gravel back by biting you:D
 
I actually just moved the gravel back and while I was doing so he was getting all hot and bothered my hand was in the tank. He got the usual flared gills mean look on his face so I spread my and hand and showed him who was boss. he backed down.
 
  • Like
Reactions: blattalady
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom