what should i do

tweaks · 06-13-2007, 10:30 PM

Hello i just recently bought a firemouth and a Tiger Oscar and well the firemouth seemed okay at first and i have the 2 in a 10 galon just for the time being i get my new tank this weekend a 33Gallon and the firemouth all of a sudden is SO mean and keeps chasing the oscar and nipping at him and stuff like that for no reason at all and wel everything i have read says the firemouth isnt mean unless its breeding or what not soo i dont know what its deal is i doubt it is breeding because this fish was in a tank with all the same sexes in the store soo it wouldnt be pregnant and ya i have a skull for the one to hide in and a barrell and another head soo theres many hiding place and the firemouth took over the one skull i have the bubble comes out he took that over and even when theoscar is on the otehr side of the tank playign around or watching me when im upo at the glass he will coem shooting out and hit him and swim off and i really dont want them to get hurt because ill have the new tank in like 4 days and i really want them to last till then cuz i know they will be fine than i COULD put the firemouth in with the Pearl Earth eater but than he never comes out and doesnt ever feed i dont think when im around he doesnt soo im not sure what to do? any suggestions i read that if i put a Pair of firemouth in they will be more mellow and comfortable ? would that work

regulatorocks · 06-14-2007, 02:59 AM

not trying to be a jerk here but you really need to learn how to use a PERIOD. i cannot understand a single thing you are saying.

a firemouth being overly aggressive sounds new to me, they are usually known as peaceful, but the answer definately lies in the size of your tank. 10 gallons is way to small for two cichlids

CMG · 06-14-2007, 03:27 PM

well just figure out which one you like better and leave it in the tank. Then take the less liked one to you lfs and sell it to them for store credit and get something else.

tweaks · 06-15-2007, 06:18 PM

sorry about the grammer im used to msn haha . but uhh i am picking my 33 gallon up today as we speak soo i understand that mite have been the issue and i dont know they say theyre not agressive but he or she is really mean to the oscar and i dont understand it also i like them both and am not about to give either to fish stors so thats outta the queation do u think if i were to put the firemouth in the new big tank and let the oscar grow in the 10 till hes bigg enough to defend himself than put him in?>

regulatorocks · 06-17-2007, 12:44 PM

your sizes are still way way too small. i have a 50 gallon and would still consider that tank too small. a ten gallon can only house those fish for a few months tops, after that oscar starts growing you will need to get a 50 gallon plus for it. most people ont he cichlid forums would chew you out and tell you to get a 75-90 for those fish.

the most sensible solution?
1. give one of the fish back and raise the other in the 33
2. keep them how they are now, but start saving up for a 50-75 gallon in a few months, and then try to raise them both in there with a bunch of dither fish to reduce aggression.

Tommy Gun · 06-17-2007, 01:36 PM

Welcome to the forum tweaks!

I agree that Oscars are best kept in a very large tank. They grow to be very large in relation to most aquarium species and they do so relatively quickly. I think that your 33 gallon will prove to be too small in less than a year. This is not to say that they are bad fish, in fact, they are often referred to as being much like a dog due to their strong personalities; they just get big and make a lot of waste which can cause water quality issues.

To add to the dither fish idea, I think it is possible, but the issue would then become the need for having larger dither fish which only puts more strain on the size of an aquarium you would need. My guess would be that your two oscars cannot get along right now due to the lack of space in a 10 gallon, so the 33 might provide some relief for the very short term future.

tweaks · 06-17-2007, 04:58 PM

hey tommy uhh i only have one oscar its a firemouth that is irratating the oscar and wlel i got my new tank a 33 and well yes i agree they cannot be there forever and yes i am plannin gon saving up to get a bigger one no worrys cuz id love to have more fish haha and put these guys in there and as for my 10 im gunna use it to grow the oscar if the harrassment continues in the 33 but so far so good when the oscar comes in the firemouths territory he chases him but thats about it soo should be good and they all respect the pearl eartheater is the bosss soo its goin exceptionally well and thanks for all your advice another question have any of you ever seen anothe rpearl eartheater beacause i read online rthat they are popular aquarium, fish But IVE NEVER seen another one:S so i dont know because id love another such great fish

Tommy Gun · 06-17-2007, 05:08 PM

Sorry I read that wrong tweaks.....even still, one oscar is going to be pretty big. I also think that the thoughts about the tank being small still apply as far as the agression issues go. You will probably have better luck in the larger 33 gallon tank. Off the top of my head, I cannot recall for 100% certain, but I think that the minimum recommended tank size for one Oscar is around 75 gallons. I dont really want to harp about tank size too much, but there are some serious consequences that occur from keeping large fish in small bodies of water so that is really something to think about, or at least I would urge you to anyways.

tweaks · 06-17-2007, 11:39 PM

i understand that he can not live in a smaller tank for long and i said that i will be getting a bigger one once i have the cash ya know they arent cheap haha but if i hear of a steal ill get it but for now hes a baby about.... inch or 2 not very big my biggest is a pearl eartheater about hmm 5 or 6 inches long and hes very happy in the 33 soo ill keep him in there and get a tank for the oscar as soon as the money is around haha and again have you ever known anyone to have another pearl eartheater? im so curious about them and i did get them all in the 33 just today and theyre all good they get along the firemouth is nipping at this fish i got with the tank i am not sure what it is its yellow about uhm 2 - 3 inches with stripes and when its mad it turns black i will post a picture when i take one but other than the odd nip for territory they are all fine especially the oscar that new fish seems to be taking the wrath from the firemouth and hes big enuf to fend off the firemouth soo im not worried i plan on getting a female firemouth maybe than he will focus on her and hopefully reproduce because i have sum ppl that want these firemouths