Is it normal?

[Dark Kaedus]

I just happened to move two baby Oscars I had in my 30 Tank to the larger 75, *Moved an Albino Oscar I had of course separately* Two hours later, I found one of them beaten up and dead, while the other hiding in the plastic plants. I haven't seen anything something like that. *Technically been together for long, now, this happens.*

I just want to be clear if it's normal.

[Oscar_freak12321]

I think the other one tried to assert dominance, killed the other, then was still scared from the move. Can't tell you if it's normal or not.

[Northernguy]

Thats a good possibility unless there is something else in the tank!
Sorry about your Oscar!
Its not like a baby oscar to kill another.Its usually the older grouchy ones that turn like that.

[Gayle]

How do you mean beaten up???

[Dark Kaedus]

There is a Pleco, thou it hasn't moved from where it's been the last two hours. (talk about lazy).

I meant in beaten up as in having it's fins bitten off.

[Gayle]

Hum. Is the pleco large?? Armored cats can defend themselves!! I guess it is possible that one beat up the other, but I doubt the winner would go hide. What is the water like???

[Northernguy]

If thats a newly established tank it is no place for a pleco.They need a tank at least a couple of months old.3 is better.
A pleco is capable but I would highly doubt it.

[Dark Kaedus]

Large, Black, Pleco, who let's himself be petted in the head. (I've been watching him in case he found them as 'Free food'. As for water, would go around. I Cleaned the water 8 Hours ago before switching them.

Damp & Alcaline I'd say the water is like in the tank they are (ermm, well, it is since the other died). I clean the tank once every two months. *The tank they were, the water was Hard, Cold in temperature, with a lot of air, rocks (Putten in shapes and caves for them to hide & such). Hoping this helps.

[Malawi/Oscar]

Thinking you may need to up the amount of times you are doing a water change. And what filtration do you have? The more the better as O's are very messy. I would of thought most people on here do a water a change once a week. This could help. Although no clue to why one of them is beaten up and dead.

[Nautilus29]

If the other oscar is hiding then it's probibly your pleco that attacked your fish.

[Ocellatus]

Well I might be wrong but I don't think even a large pleco could kill a healthy baby oscar, and also I don't think a baby oscar whos hiding in the plants would kill another in such a short time after movement.
then I think theres no murder here. maybe something was wrong with the water or temp or acclimation. the dead fish could get nipped by the other one or the placo after the death, then look like beaten up.

what you mean the water was cold in the tank they were? what was the temp and was it the same for 2 tanks when you moved them?
and what it means cleaning the tank every 2 months and also 8 hours before switching? is it a partial water change or something else? did you treat the water for chlorine?

[Gayle]

Yeah I think that something is up with the water, did you acclimate them before you moved them????
If you moved them from a tank that was warm with different water conditions to one that is cold that could make them sick, shock them, and/or kill them.
I would say that the one left is either afraid of the pleco, as he could have flared up and spooked him or scratched him, or is sick and hiding.
A pleco as well as most any fish will nibble on dead fish if not removed promptly.
Are there any marks or other odd behaviors from the remaining oscar or the pleco???

What are your test results?? For both tanks???
Nitrate
Nitrite
Ammonia
pH
Temp
so on and so fourth

[MonkeyPox]

Well I might be wrong but I don't think even a large pleco could kill a healthy baby oscar, and also I don't think a baby oscar whos hiding in the plants would kill another in such a short time after movement.
then I think theres no murder here. maybe something was wrong with the water or temp or acclimation. the dead fish could get nipped by the other one or the placo after the death, then look like beaten up.

what you mean the water was cold in the tank they were? what was the temp and was it the same for 2 tanks when you moved them?
and what it means cleaning the tank every 2 months and also 8 hours before switching? is it a partial water change or something else? did you treat the water for chlorine?

This sounds like a much more plausible explanation to me. If you intend to keep oscars, you really should plan on much more frequent water changes.

[Northernguy]

Thaty does make a lot more sense.
I didn't realize that your tanks water was in such bad shape.
Just because it looks ok means nothing.
A test kit will save you some hurt as well as proper tank maintanence.
Please read the free e-book on the left!

[PhilliesWorldChamps]

Wow, 2 months between water changes and cleanings?? I do water changes twice a week on my 75 gallon with my 2 baby oscars in it, and I have (2) Aquaclear 110/500gph filters running on it. Oscars are really messy and they need 10x the filtration, and very frequent water changes. I just wonder how they stayed alive in a 30 gallon with every 2 months waterchange....wow!

[Red]

I think if they faught each other, it would be over territory, and who wanted what. I really don't no though, have you checked the parameters?

[Dark Kaedus]

30 Gallon tank's water is colder.

I started to clean up the tank, only to find the Oscar went missing. I couldn't find the body in the tank nor on the room or behind the tank. The Pleco had stayed in the same area and only moves to eat the food of the oscar itself.

*I'd be moving the Other one back to it's 'cage' by now.