Oscars For An Aquarium

[JJDinsay]

Just got an aquarium from a friend who's going back stateside - he has 2 Oscars that he's raised since they were weee babies. During the transfer 1 died so I've tried to get the remaining one some company. The guy is fierce so I went to JJ to try to get him a buddy, the biggest Oscar I could find (crap I could afford) was an Oscar maybe 3/4 smaller than he was - figured if he couldn't fit in his mouth it was cool. Woke up the next morning to find the newbie half floating on his side - seemed to be missing a fin!!! All went downhill from there. I figured I'd have to get a bigger fish and I found one for about 1200 baht at some fish store in Rama III. But before I drop the loot I wanna make sure that this guy won't meet the same fate - he's bigger than the Oscar maybe 15% bigger but I hear Oscar's are real combative. Any advice? And can anyone recommend a fish store where I can buy feeder fish like the ones at JJ - U know 20 for 80 baht. The ones I found at Rama III and it's only 7 for 100 baht.

[mbkudu]

I'd just let him be the loaner that he wants to be. He was familiar with his buddy who passed away but he probablly will never take a liking to an unfamiliar fish.

[toddy]

I agree with the above ... ie let him live alone in a good sized tank with a good filtration system. Do a 25 percent water change every week and feed on cichlid pellets (OR COMMERCIAL FISH FARM PELLETS) plus feeder fish or minced chicken/beef/lamb. I would offer food only twice a week.

[JJDinsay]

Already bought the fish but before I read both replies. I bought two Oscars almost the same size as him and threw them in there. No fighting going on. Also put 2 other algae eaters in there and about 20 feeder fish. He seems not to care at all now, just keeps swimming around. Hope he is happy.