Baby Tiger Oscar

NatakuTseng said:
Balas will be perfectly fine, a 12" oscar won't be able to eat a 14"+ bala shark, of course we must excuse bob as he doesn't know that any fish can reach these potential sizes because how how he stocks his tanks.
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Hey NatakuTseng,

I've read different estimates on potential fish sizes. You said a knife fish
will reach "30 inches" in another post. Will they really reach that size in a home aquarium? It would seem to me that if an hobbyist was inexperienced their fish would probably die within a short time period.
If the fish in a tank are rapidly growing to these huge sizes than the hobbyist must be dong something right.

It sounds to me that Bob is just saying his fish are okay for now. Did Bob say, he would never move his fish?

I am new here and have kept fish when I was younger. I thought I might
gain some information to help me with my two oscars. I thougt hobbies were suppose to be fun, not, "oh you're so dumb, you need a 1000 gallon tank" Maybe no tank size is correct and we should just leave all the fish in the oceans or lakes.

-R.M.
 
Okay, this gone a bit off topic.

The poster has been informed that his tankis way overstocked, and has NOT responded by indicating he'll be moving them to a larger tank. Criticism of gross overstocking should be expected. Gross overstocking does not equate to making a reasonable effort to accomodate the adult potential of the fish. Purchasing a fish without the expectation of it reaching it's normal adult size--or LARGER, since aquarium fish that are given a clean environment and good food, as well as being protected from predators, very well should exceed the size of their wild brethren--is short sighted and uninformed. This site makes every effort to politely and considerately inform it's members. Sometimes, someone is stubborn, and that results in snippiness from other members. Does that excuse the snippiness? No, not really--but it is expected, and sniping back in defense of the error does nothing to forward the discussion.

Let's move on with the topic, shall we?
 
im sorry rosemarie, but u cannot justify ignorance. If you are gonna do something, do it right, or at least try to do it right. I dont think anyone is saying "oh ur so dumb." a lot of people on this site have great insight to share, and jus wanna point u in the right direction...isnt that why people sighn up on this forum, to gain some knowledge, or advice? sorry, ill stop, hehehe
 
1) Oscars are notorious about rearanging their environment to make themselves happy. If they can move it, they will at least once. I've had them move all the gravel to 1 side of the tank. I even had a war going on with one over a plastic plant I liked. I'd submerge it and the oscar would pull it up. He finally won the battle when I had 1/2 of the top of cleaning it, while watching the oscar closely, he pulled up the plant and through it out of the tank. Make sure you have an unbreakable heater because s/he will play with it if possible.

2) The convict fry will not survive with the oscar but, size for size, they are one of the most aggresive fish you will find. Convicts are very fast on top of being aggresive and oscars are gluttons, but not really a very aggresive fish. They are just a big fish that will eat what it can catch and they will threaten or bully whatever they can. When the male convict is fully grown, about 5" or so, he would be more than a match for any oscar. The females do not get as big as the males and, IMO, grow slower. When paired with a male they work together to defend their young and each other. You may have a problem with the female when she is not ready to breed because male convicts can become very aggresive toward non-breeding females.

Having said all of that, I feel if you provide numerous of places for the female to take refuge from both the oscar and the male convict, and keep the oscar well fed or at least distracted with easier prey, all will be well.
 
Update!

Well, after a couple of days together, the Black Convicts have taking over a sunken ship in the tank. It uses to belong to the Rainbow Shark. It looks like he did not give it up without a fight, as it has a small bite mark on its dorsal fin. He looks ok and does what he always do best, chase my Bala Shark and eat. The convict’s is not chasing it around and he swims next to them with out a problem or fear, so that is what let me to believe that this bite was over the sunken ship. He does not stay by the ship for a long time any more, but he did found a new home, under and on this bridge. The female will sometimes chase away the Colombian Sharks, I guess they thinks it’s a game so they keep coming right back, after chasing them twice she will let them stay. The male on the other hand will only chase the Baby Tiger Oscar one time and then let it “hang out” with them.
Her belly is really “big”, so that confirms my fist theory that she might be pregnant. I was going to separate the male from the female after she gives birth, because they “breed” a lot. So my question is:

1. Should I separate them for a short amount of time, or should I let them breed and use the fries as feeders (like what happen to the ghost shrimp)?

Side Note: I don’t buy feeders from the LPS because they are not well kept, and could carry parasite/disease.
 
Remember, convicts are egg layers. Her color will get quite intense, especially the spot on her belly. You have to decide what you want to do with all of the fry. I do not tank mine out of the tank and most get eaten. When I have too many convicts, I take the surving babies to my LFS
 
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