My Oscar wants to eat me

Karlsbad

Karlsbad

Sharkbait
Sep 23, 2003
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Chicagoland
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Everytime I do a water change I have to keep chasing this guy away from my hand or he'll bit me. He's only 5", I assume it's going to hurt when he's bigger. He lets me pet him when I put my face up to the tank with a little posturing first, but he always gets a few cheap shots in during water changes :eek: . I think I need to get an arm lenth chain mail glove before he gets big enough to take a piece out of me.
 
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Wait until your Oscar gets 13" and gets ahold of your whole finger. Then the question becomes who scared who the most... you because you got bit or him because you jerked away so quick.
 
You have nothing to fear I had a Oscar for several years before HITH got the best of him. Anyway the teeth are in the back of the throat by the gills. They swallow stuff whole then grind it up in the back of the throat. Thats why the make such a mess the extra comes out the openings in the gills. So unless you put your finger all the way back there he can't hurt you. HTH.
 
what's the difference between a 12" oscar biting you or a 7lb largemouth bass? I know the bass has little tiny teeth all around their jaws and are rough but don't hurt. Does an oscar have teeth I've never seen? Kyle
 
There really isn't a difference other than you purposely grab a bass by the lip, but the oscar always seems to catch you by surprise.
 
My oscars bite me all the time during a water change. Nothin to worry about. They are just playin. Look at it this way, if he didn't do it that means he doesn't like you. He can't take a chunck out of your hand. Oscars have small teeth on their lips too and I've been bit by a 3 lb bass and it's about the same. Nothin to worry about. Have fun with it. :p
 
I just don't want to hurt the little guy yanking my arm out of there. I've wondered if I didn't jerk away would he hold on like my cat does. Hmm I'm beginning to see a pattern here. Maybe I should lay off the chum cologne.
 
LOL!! I have cats too and no the chum cologne isn't it. If you play with them through the glass then they will play when you put your hand in. Don't yank your hand out, let him play. I let mine bite me then I chase em. They love it. They always come back for more. Mine hold on for a second or two. If yours is holding on longer than that, maybe he has a territorial issue, but I would say that is rare.

I treat them just like my cats. I make play time for the cats and I make play time for the oscars. They truely are a pet in a glass cage. :D
 
My one Oscar was very fond of biting my hand as soon as it hit the water. If I didnt put my hand in fast, he would leap out of the water for it like he was trying to pull it in. My other Oscar was not like that at all. She was very timid and never bit me. Yeah, their teeth are harmless. However, I also have a Dempsey that I would NOT want to bite me. She has some big mean lookin orange teeth.
 
you guys better be quiet or I'm gonna have to rack up some more credit card debt to get an oscar tank. can't wait! Kyle
 
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