do Oscar have to dig to be happy

[daveedka]

One more question for the Oscar experts, I typically have used large gravel to discourage digging in my oscar tanks, Should I puposefully use a substrate that they can dig to improve their quality of life or can they be happy fish without looting the tank regularly. I will use quite a few large rocks and caves in my set-up

 

[Oscar_Mania]

I have sand as my substrate and my Oscar occasionally will dig in it. He's not big on digging like my JD is. However other Oscars might be different. My Oscar seems to be happy enough just swimming around and playing with his frog ornaments.

 

[daveedka]

This has been my general observation in the past (Oscars don't dig much) , but I always used fairly large gravel. Everyone I talk to seems to mention that Oscars are diggers so I thought maybe I should do things differently in the future. By the way do your Oscars and your JD live in the same tank? and do they get along?

 

[TFo]

My gravel is a bit smaller than pea-sized, and my Oscar rarely digs.

 

[NatakuTseng]

Some do and some don't. Doesn't mean they are happy or aren't. Puma and I had oscars a while back, and they never disturbed the substrate at all.

 

[Nippy]

My oscars only dig when they are mad. It's so funny when they attack the driftwood, too.

 

[lion lover]

Hi i have a 5 inch tiger oscar and he loves to dig usually down 3 inches then i fill it and he digs it again dont know what hes doing it for but it seems to keep him happy

 

[Seattle206]

mines dont dig. There is no gravel.

 

[Haggisman]

mines dont dig. There is no gravel.

Makes sense, although this would be a better sentence..

My oscars dont dig because there is no gravel.

 

[csm84]

my oscars don't dig much, usually only if i haven't fed them in a day or so. they are very odd.