![]() |
If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Hello,
Is it ok to keep an Oscar: a) on it's own, i.e. the only fish in the tank? b) with other fish, but no other Oscars? I read that they are a pairing fish, but how important is this to their well-being really? Regards, Richard. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
"Richard Phillips" wrote in message ...
Hello, Is it ok to keep an Oscar: a) on it's own, i.e. the only fish in the tank? b) with other fish, but no other Oscars? I read that they are a pairing fish, but how important is this to their well-being really? Regards, Richard. The answers are yes and yes. The only problem arises if you have an Oscar that is used to having another Oscar in his/her aquarium; in that instance, for his/her health, you'll need to kep two or more; however, from juvi it's OK to keep a single fish. --Mark |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
OK,
Thanks Mark. Any idea on why they are ok if kept alone from young? This is quite interesting! Regards, Richard. "Mark Stone" wrote in message om... "Richard Phillips" wrote in message ... Hello, Is it ok to keep an Oscar: a) on it's own, i.e. the only fish in the tank? b) with other fish, but no other Oscars? I read that they are a pairing fish, but how important is this to their well-being really? Regards, Richard. The answers are yes and yes. The only problem arises if you have an Oscar that is used to having another Oscar in his/her aquarium; in that instance, for his/her health, you'll need to kep two or more; however, from juvi it's OK to keep a single fish. --Mark |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
"Richard Phillips" wrote in message ...
OK, Thanks Mark. Any idea on why they are ok if kept alone from young? This is quite interesting! Regards, Richard. Clearly we can't climb into an Oscar's brain and see what he's thinking. However, Oscars *seem* to build emotional attachments to tankmates, particularly other Oscars and (intrestingly enough) a species called "Chocolate Cichlid". If an Oscar is raised with another Oscar, he becomes attached, and then when seperated undergoes a lot of stress. They seem, from that point on, to not be themselves until given another Oscar tankmate. If an Oscar is raised alone, he never has a chance to build the relationship, and then usually does fine alone. Some aquarists claim that he then builds his "attachment" to his human owner, but I've never seen that happen. (Other than at feeding time -- ) Herbert Axelrod, in a volume he wrote in the 1950s cataloging species, gives an enchanting account of an Oscar he kept that went through a mourning period after a tankmate (another Oscar) died. He even introduced another Oscar; the original Oscar perked up for a couple of days, but when he realized that the new fish was not his old mate, he killed it, and then went back under stress! --Mark |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Thanks Mark,
Fascinating stuff! R. "Mark Stone" wrote in message om... "Richard Phillips" wrote in message ... OK, Thanks Mark. Any idea on why they are ok if kept alone from young? This is quite interesting! Regards, Richard. Clearly we can't climb into an Oscar's brain and see what he's thinking. However, Oscars *seem* to build emotional attachments to tankmates, particularly other Oscars and (intrestingly enough) a species called "Chocolate Cichlid". If an Oscar is raised with another Oscar, he becomes attached, and then when seperated undergoes a lot of stress. They seem, from that point on, to not be themselves until given another Oscar tankmate. If an Oscar is raised alone, he never has a chance to build the relationship, and then usually does fine alone. Some aquarists claim that he then builds his "attachment" to his human owner, but I've never seen that happen. (Other than at feeding time -- ) Herbert Axelrod, in a volume he wrote in the 1950s cataloging species, gives an enchanting account of an Oscar he kept that went through a mourning period after a tankmate (another Oscar) died. He even introduced another Oscar; the original Oscar perked up for a couple of days, but when he realized that the new fish was not his old mate, he killed it, and then went back under stress! --Mark |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Okay to house Oscar Cichlid & Needlenose gar together? | Cookie | General | 8 | March 28th 04 08:50 PM |
Oscar Tank | michael | Cichlids | 0 | February 20th 04 11:57 PM |
Oscar Psych | CJ | General | 8 | February 16th 04 03:55 AM |
New Oscar owner, fish won't eat food | William Hardin | Cichlids | 8 | December 19th 03 06:35 PM |
Oscar is lying on bottom, shaking tail rhthymically, for a few days now | Sarotherodon | Cichlids | 2 | October 21st 03 03:57 PM |