Need advice for optimal treatment of my tiger oscar Odie :)

Question
QUESTION: Hi Jaymie my name is Melissa and my Oscars name is Odie (although I'm not sure if odie is male/female lol ) so to start how do u know/tell what their gender is?
one the larger side of the many questions i have .... i bought Odie when he was the size of a silver dollar and he is now prolly about 6-7 inches in length and he is a beautiful fish ( my pride and joy) but i am now learning oscars usually pair which makes sense because hes been acting a little "clingy" if you will. he gets mad when i move from my chair by his tank or when wanting attention will RAM into the side of the tank facing me and i don't want him to hurt himself .... so i guess i would ask if that's normal for their temperament (being such an intelligent fish breed) and if i were to introduce another fish into the tank ( i.e. another oscar preferably ) what would suggest for gender, size, should it be another tiger oscar or will any oscar be ok.
I just want my Odie to be happy, can you help?
  Thanks so much for your time,
    Melissa & Odie

ANSWER: Hi Melissa,     My name is Tina I hope you don't mind I am going to pick this question up for Jaymie. So , nice to meet you wish you had sent a picture of Odie for us. I bet he or she is just beautiful. One of my favorite cichlids call them my puppies. : ) As far as sexing : It really is impossible to be sure. There are alot of tubes and venting its all speculation or opinion sweety. Unless you buy a mated pair you would not know but, Odie LOVES YOU !!!!!! It is not unusual behavior for them to do the smacking on the tank be careful he doesn't jump through the top and watch for any lip damage. Be careful these guys can train you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you decide to introduce another oscar make sure your tank will hold another Odie's size. You can get a Tiger or a Red it doesn't matter. If you do get lucky and pair them they will interbreed. So tell Odie Tina said hi and give him a pellet for me. Good Luck!!!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


Meet Odie   QUESTION: Well thank you Tina i don't mind at all, i didn't know how to upload a photo of him actually i have several on my phone lol I have noticed the him training me lol sometimes when its not feeding time i treat him.
I have every intention of getting a larger tank, i am going to upgrade his personal tank first and then upgrade again after getting his pair ( i have done some "googling" and found more specifics about gender and such) so i am pretty sure that Odie is a HE which makes me happy silly as that may be.
 But here's the question when getting another to pair him with should i get one his "current" size? i don't want him to hurt the other fish i pick.
Also as far as decorations for the tank he is had  plain living environment and i want to make it better, what would u suggest as far as color schemes and or plant life??

Answer
Melissa,    As I said you will need a tank to hold another his size. He can be whatever you want him to be !!!!!! He's your baby. : ) I don't think Odie will be aggressive in a larger tank where they can stake out their territories till they get to know one another and since he is already spoiled. LOL As far as plants and things they are just gonna drag them around the tank and you will be up to your elbows replanting them constantly. When they are abit bigger. I wouldn't wait too long to add a tank mate he already thinks he's human ...lol I would go with a natural color stone. If you want to add some pretty rocks that aren't sharp or build caves depending on tank size that's probably better just make sure they are boiled for about 25 minutes to ensure you do not introduce parasites to your tank. You can also put a larger Leo in the tank to help keep it clean. They usually won't bother them they stay out of they way and see how he reacts to him first. (pleco algea eater) They can grow as big as plates in a large enough tank but, you can stunt their growth abit with a diet. You can get what they call a veggie clip and give him some different fruits usually in the fall see what he likes. When he gets abit larger peanuts you shell no salt they love break them in half and frozen peas you thaw out are a great arsenal toward bacterial infection very good for him. Just a small amount. You will find out he will train you...lol in the beginning he might be picky be persistent with them peas he will take them and love them. You can also spoil him with a worm now and then you can get from pet shop they live forever in your fridge, but it is his taste or a baby cricket. The fruit stay with like peach, mango,in the water as it falls off the tree into the water they eat it.

      When you are ready to change the tank over let me know and I will help you through it so that it cycles down quicker. Also do not forget pellets for vitamins. Good Luck , Tina




Got picture He is just beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!