Tiger Oscar on a suicide mission!!

[akjim777]

I have a 55g tank with a 7" tiger oscar (Bob) and a 8" pleco(Ugly). I am religious about water changes and water quality. For about the last month, Bob has started to every now and then race around the tank and bash himself into the sides. He's doing this hard enough to stun himself once in awhile. At a different site, someone suggested that he needs company. This tank sits right beside my desk in my bedroom and when I'm not at work, I'm at my desk. So I'm kinda doubting that his being lonely is the problem. We interact constantly. Anybody got any thoughts?
Thank Jim

[Northernguy]

Welcome to the Fabulous AC!:hmm3grin2orange:
I think it may be trying to stretch the glass! lol
I do not think anymore fish in that tank is possible.The Oscar will likely kill anything else.
Have you considered a bigger tank!A 125 would be good for Your oscar and pleco and maybe something else.A jack dempsey maybe.
You could add your oscar to a bigger tank with another fish easier than adding another fish to an oscar tank.

[Wild Turkey]

I agree. The oscar is starting to hit the size where is he feeling the cramped space of the 12" sides. Both the oscar and the pleco really need at least a 75gal so they can turn around more comfortably.

On what site was it recommended your oscar was lonely? I highly doubt it as well and either way space is already an issue. You were right to double check that

[akjim777]

The site was Aquahobby.com and in all fairness, they too made the observation about tank size in addition to another fish. I however think that adding another fish will just get it killed. When I say that Bob's tank is right beside my desk, I mean as in I can touch the tank without even stretching. I don't believe that he's lonely. My dog Goblin(Born halloween) lays beside my chair and Bob hang out on the corner of the tank and makes sure that the pleco doesn't vie for my attention. I'm going to go to a bigger tank. You think 75g is big enough? Jim

[Wild Turkey]

The site was Aquahobby.com and in all fairness, they too made the observation about tank size in addition to another fish. I however think that adding another fish will just get it killed. When I say that Bob's tank is right beside my desk, I mean as in I can touch the tank without even stretching. I don't believe that he's lonely. My dog Goblin(Born halloween) lays beside my chair and Bob hang out on the corner of the tank and makes sure that the pleco doesn't vie for my attention. I'm going to go to a bigger tank. You think 75g is big enough? Jim

As long as you dont add another oscar I think 75 is fine. Its a big improvement with the 18" sides and you wont get to 24" until you hit 120 gallons.

However, bigger is better and if you go with the 120 you'll get the 24" sides that you wont get with the 75, 125, or anything up to 180 really. Your pleco will really appreciate those 2 foot sides, and you'll have the space to add another O if you so wish.

Just for information sake, the absolute maximum for the fish that I know of would be

Oscar: 22" (yes!)
Pleco: 2'

More commonly of course, they fall a few inches shy of these marks, but my point is the 10" max for oscar that some stores and sites suggest is malarky.

[akjim777]

Another question. I have been running fish tanks for almost 10 yrs now but have never had anything but plastic plants. Thinking of going to some live plants. Any suggestions? Jim

[MonkeyPox]

There's a whole host of beginner plants that can be recommended. 2 notes though- what is your lighting setup and be aware that Oscars are notorious for determining for themselves how best to arrange plants in your tank.

[Wild Turkey]

Another question. I have been running fish tanks for almost 10 yrs now but have never had anything but plastic plants. Thinking of going to some live plants. Any suggestions? Jim

Start with low light and some beginner plants. Helps to start some threads in that section but heres a quick overview.

Make sure you get the right spectrum for growing plants (like 5000k to 10000k roughly) thats the first mistake ppl make.

The more light you put on the tank, the more likely you will need to dose ferts and inject co2, etc

Some beginner plants:

java fern
java moss
anubias
vals
crypts

Good luck getting your O to leave them alone though.

ILMGB's Balanced Tank Article was bumped today, great time to take a look at that.

[leggomypleco]

for those two fish i think you need a 125 gallon tank. As far as running into the glass maybe he sees his reflection on the tank walls and thinks its an intruder

[akjim777]

This isn't him seeing his reflection. It's more like a fit of insanity. I gotta go with tank size as being his problem. While it may have been said as a "LOL", I have come to the conclusion that he is indeed trying to "stretch" his tank size. I really like this fish. He has the personality of a dog. And just so we're on the same page, I Like My Dogs better than most people I know. I'm going with a 120g tank

[Wild Turkey]

This isn't him seeing his reflection. It's more like a fit of insanity. I gotta go with tank size as being his problem. While it may have been said as a "LOL", I have come to the conclusion that he is indeed trying to "stretch" his tank size. I really like this fish. He has the personality of a dog. And just so we're on the same page, I Like My Dogs better than most people I know. I'm going with a 120g tank

Excellent choice imo. Well done and great attitude regarding fish/dogs/people. All living things deserve good conditions

[Northernguy]

Glad to hear it!
I also agree that they can be like a puppy as far thriving for attention is concerned. Live plants with most oscars is considered a toy or munchies.They will shred them or eat them.
I feed mine lettuce once in a while and they love it.

[Kaz]

Agreed with the above.

Above 100 gallons is the only way to keep oscars in my opinion.

Keep us posted on the plants.