Young oscar glass surfing?

[redmare]

I've had my young oscar for about two weeks and I've been noticing more glass surfing. My "spot" in the room where I often am is facing the end of the tank, and while I'm sitting there she's going up and down and up and down in the corners facing me. She doesn't seem to do it when I'm not there, and she doesn't often do it anywhere else in the tank. Could this be her just straight up trying to get my attention? I doubt she's bored, she's got a very interactive tank and she has a whole list of "games" I regularly see her playing (for instance she was pushing a floating bit of plant around the surface really fast with her nose just now. So cute). I'm just wondering if this is a bad sign that I should look into more or watch out for or something. Thanks!

 

[esoxlucius]

I've had my young oscar for about two weeks and I've been noticing more glass surfing. My "spot" in the room where I often am is facing the end of the tank, and while I'm sitting there she's going up and down and up and down in the corners facing me. She doesn't seem to do it when I'm not there, and she doesn't often do it anywhere else in the tank. Could this be her just straight up trying to get my attention? I doubt she's bored, she's got a very interactive tank and she has a whole list of "games" I regularly see her playing (for instance she was pushing a floating bit of plant around the surface really fast with her nose just now. So cute). I'm just wondering if this is a bad sign that I should look into more or watch out for or something. Thanks!

It's fine. It's becoming increasingly more settled in its new environment and now it's just doing that interactive puppy dog oscar thing which they do so well. Enjoy.

 

[Red Cichlids]

Your oscar is associating you with food and it trying to get to you. Just imagine where that oscar would be if there were no glass and air in between you? It would be right next to you hoping you stirred up or produced more food for it! I once saw an underwater video of hippos and tilapia shot in Africa. The tilapia closely shadowed the hippos because their movements stirred up all sorts of food items from the bottom.

 

[redmare]

Your oscar is associating you with food and it trying to get to you. Just imagine where that oscar would be if there were no glass and air in between you? It would be right next to you hoping you stirred up or produced more food for it!

That's a cute image! She would be right there lol. What I find really funny is she has three different reactions for if I walk up to her tank holding food, holding nothing, or holding buckets. She'll go nuts for food, come say hi if there's nothing, and side-eye me while backing into her cave if it's cleaning time.

 

[Toby_H]

FYI: I like your original post because of this line: for instance she was pushing a floating bit of plant around the surface really fast with her nose just now. So cute.
Thank you, that made me smile.

I agree with the above. It is both normal and primarily food respond. The trick is, don't fall for how cute it is. Giving our fish (and other pets) treats every time they look cute promotes many unhealthy issues. That said, when I've had Oscars in the past I would often stick a finger in the tank to reciprocate. Some would let me "pet" them, others would gum at my finger, others would swim away. Regardless it was my way of acknowledging their attention without offering the desired result of food. I have no idea if this is good fish psychology, but it's why I did.

I once had a fishroom with aquariums stacked 3 high. I had to move an adult Oscar from a top tank to a bottom tank, because 3 or 4 times he would jump out of the tank and hit me. He never once jumped out when I wasn't in the room and twice he hit me directly in the head. I truly believe this was on purpose and his way of complaining that I wasn't feeding him.

 

[redmare]

FYI: I like your original post because of this line: for instance she was pushing a floating bit of plant around the surface really fast with her nose just now. So cute.
Thank you, that made me smile.

I agree with the above. It is both normal and primarily food respond. The trick is, don't fall for how cute it is. Giving our fish (and other pets) treats every time they look cute promotes many unhealthy issues. That said, when I've had Oscars in the past I would often stick a finger in the tank to reciprocate. Some would let me "pet" them, others would gum at my finger, others would swim away. Regardless it was my way of acknowledging their attention without offering the desired result of food. I have no idea if this is good fish psychology, but it's why I did.

I once had a fishroom with aquariums stacked 3 high. I had to move an adult Oscar from a top tank to a bottom tank, because 3 or 4 times he would jump out of the tank and hit me. He never once jumped out when I wasn't in the room and twice he hit me directly in the head. I truly believe this was on purpose and his way of complaining that I wasn't feeding him.

Thanks! I'm trying to stick to a pretty regular food schedule, 3x a day right now while she's growing. I'm not sure how much she's supposed to be eating so I'm kind of just figuring it out! Airing on the side of less rather than more.

 

[tlindsey]

Thanks! I'm trying to stick to a pretty regular food schedule, 3x a day right now while she's growing. I'm not sure how much she's supposed to be eating so I'm kind of just figuring it out! Airing on the side of less rather than more.

I personally wouldn't feed more than 2 times but that's your Oscar. Don't overfeed it may cause water parameter issues if some food is left uneaten. A Oscar will beg every time it see your shadow lol.

 

[redmare]

I personally wouldn't feed more than 2 times but that's your Oscar. Don't overfeed it may cause water parameter issues if some food is left uneaten. A Oscar will beg every time it see your shadow lol.

Thanks for the advice- I'm new to big fish! I'll switch to a breakfast and dinner schedule.