My lovely four-year-old white oscar passed away a few days ago due to what was likely an internal organ issue (RIP). We are pretty sure she was a female
although we never actually saw her lay any eggs but her vent seemed the same as her friend - our other oscar who is a confirmed female because we have actually
seen her laying eggs.
The two of them lived together for four years. They used to tend the eggs together, like a couple, taking turns fanning them and being good egg parents. No eggs ever hatched which is more evidence that the white oscar may have been female (but she might also have been an infertile male).
They also used to sleep together, play rocks together, and occasionally have dominance spats with a bit of gill raising or mouth ramming or tail smacking but nothing serious and it would pass after a few seconds (usually happened when one of them got in the others way and didn't move).
I am considering getting a baby oscar to keep the remaining black oscar company as she eems lost right now. I wanted to brainstorm with you about the potential problems I might face if I did bring home a baby oscar. (It would be quarantined.)
The tank has jewel cichlids and two very large common plecos. Two of the jewels do not have swimbladders so they swim by brute force motion. (They are pretty quick so no real danger of being bothered by a new fish I don't think.)
I worry about the fact that we wouldn't know the sex of the oscar until it matured. If it did end up being a male, then it would be a problem because they lay eggs in the hundreds and I also would worry about aggression with fry developing. So, if it turned out to be a male we would have to rehome it. . .
Another worry is what happens if it is another female but it is aggressive either towards the black oscar or other tankmates (the white and black oscars would snap at other fish but not harm them).
What are your ideas about the downsides to getting a second, baby oscar? The tank is large enough (210 gallons) so that is not a concern.
t
The two of them lived together for four years. They used to tend the eggs together, like a couple, taking turns fanning them and being good egg parents. No eggs ever hatched which is more evidence that the white oscar may have been female (but she might also have been an infertile male).
They also used to sleep together, play rocks together, and occasionally have dominance spats with a bit of gill raising or mouth ramming or tail smacking but nothing serious and it would pass after a few seconds (usually happened when one of them got in the others way and didn't move).
I am considering getting a baby oscar to keep the remaining black oscar company as she eems lost right now. I wanted to brainstorm with you about the potential problems I might face if I did bring home a baby oscar. (It would be quarantined.)
The tank has jewel cichlids and two very large common plecos. Two of the jewels do not have swimbladders so they swim by brute force motion. (They are pretty quick so no real danger of being bothered by a new fish I don't think.)
I worry about the fact that we wouldn't know the sex of the oscar until it matured. If it did end up being a male, then it would be a problem because they lay eggs in the hundreds and I also would worry about aggression with fry developing. So, if it turned out to be a male we would have to rehome it. . .
Another worry is what happens if it is another female but it is aggressive either towards the black oscar or other tankmates (the white and black oscars would snap at other fish but not harm them).
What are your ideas about the downsides to getting a second, baby oscar? The tank is large enough (210 gallons) so that is not a concern.
t
