How FAST do these Oscars grow o-o

Sheesh, Trouble has gained half an inch in the last 3 days, it's crazy!

She's up to 4.5 inches now, I can't help but think i'll wake up tomorrow and she'll be 5 inches.

On average they will grow around 1" per month depending on the size of the tank, until they get around 8" then they slow down a little. Oscars are one of the fastest growing cichlids, the only other one I know of that is almost as fast is the True Parrot.

A couple pics of the little rascals;











And Star, nice Sig modification... lol

I'm so glad they're getting on They look like they'll turn into real beauties!

Well Lucky Sod pushed his luck this morning and lost a scale on top of his head.. It was obviously too early for him to be following Trouble around like a little lost puppy.

Obviously a warning bite as she could easily have killed him.

Troubles colours are so interesting, she's always so light in colour, and her spattering of Tiger red is sweet.

Lucky Sods already grown a centimeter or so.

I have a feeling Trouble is going to have the same long fins as my Rusty has

Agreed, their very long and flowing. Definately think she's going to end up like Rusty.

Midnight panic stations.

Long story short Rolo the big fat featherfin syno has been bumping into Trouble the Oscar all day today. And Trouble visibly lost her nerve.

She's unfortunately taken it out on the little baby Oscar. She's definately bitten him but I don't know how hard. He's alive but cowering in the corner of the tank.

We had to make a split second decision on a plan of action.. move the Oscar and take it back, or move Rolo and hope that things settle.

So lots of splashing and a lot of effort at midnight and we've moved Rolo to another tank. I built up a temporary cave system for the baby oscar to hide around in tonight, and will make a decision based upon their behaviour tomorrow.

I made this choice because I think if she properly bit him, she would have killed him, a 4.5inch Oscar biting a 1.5inch Oscar would leave a visible mark surely? Whereas he seems more shocked than hurt.
The tank had to be rearranged to catch the Catfish, maybe this will help, i'm not sure.

Only time will tell. Hope it's the right decision.

That sounds typical of behaviour I saw with Rusty, Vinny kept on and on at Rusty and he/she lost it and took it out on the other fish. Removing rolo may work, do a water change too, it will remove some of the stress (injured fish) hormones that lucky would be giving off this will hopefully stop trouble seeking lucky out.

I had this with Tich and that brazilliensis, just removing her didnt really calm things down until I did 2 large water changes.

Trouble's stopped searching Lucky out.. but the poor thing is still cowering under a rock refusing to come out.

Another option, if you have a spare tank, is to remove trouble for a week, let lucky come out and get some confidence again, then try trouble back in again.

The spare tank was taken up by Promo when we had to seperate them.

Okay options.

Water change now, remove the hiding spots and hover over tank with net ready to net trouble out.

If faecal matter hits the fan, net trouble out and drop her in with Promo, now that their both about 5inch.. And then carefully watch them to see how that goes.. See if they can begrudgingly get along even if just a day to try and get lucky back up to speed...

If that fails.. then Lucky has to be moved

Its a shame my spare tank is too small for a big Oscar permanently, I'm quite attached to lucky.

Do water change, see if you can create some "barriers" within the tank so Lucky can come out and about without trouble seeing him/her. At some point though lucky is going to be too big for most hiding places.

Do they both come out to feed? might be worth trying to drop a pellet into the tank to get trouble's attention each time lucky comes out, he/she may learn then that there is a reward for being nice to lucky.

Nope no go, tried the barrier, tried the treats. Trouble didn't seem too interested in Lucky.

The problem now is lucky seems weak. Tired.

So we're moving trouble for a couple of days to strengthen Lucky back up.

hmmmm that doesnt sound too good

Trouble moved, lucky already looking better. Swimming around the front of the tank.

going to try a reintroduction tonight....if it goes pear shaped then they'll have to stay separated until we come back from visiting my parents :/

Yup.. Pear shaped. They've been split up for the safety of the youngun whilst we are away.

Time to save up for a second large tank :/

I was going to say leave it till you are back so you can keep watch just in case they are ok to start with. , bugger bigger tank time!

Well she didn't try to bite, but she half-assed chased him across the tank in an unrelenting manner.

Didn't want to risk it.

So Lucky (about 2") now has a 3 footer to himself until we get back. Shouldn't stunt him in 2 weeks right? He's got plenty of space and a good filter.

Not at all, that is plenty of room for him for 2 weeks, it would last him 2 months really. I kept Chops at 3-4" in a 30" tank for his quarantine time, it was all I had available.

So to give us time to save up, what is a reasonable sized tank for a juvi Oscar, say up to 6-7inches??

He can keep the 3 foot for now, or be upgraded into a 48x12x15, but otherwise he'll have to wait a couple months for a larger tank to be found.

48x12x15 will last him till he is about 6-7" but just keep a check on his growth rate and larger water changes

Wow he's a sulky little Oscar.. does not like being moved to a new tank.. whenever you're looking at him he's "dead". But look away and he's swimming mid tank.

PMSL Typical oscar