training my baby oscars

Question
QUESTION: i have jus got a tank and stand all set up and ready to house two oscars. i am in the process of waiting for my tank to settle before buying them. i read on the internet that you could teach oscars to do tricks and stroke them is this in anyway cruel to the fish if it is not. how would i go about it?

ANSWER: Hi John,
 No this is not cruel to the oscars, in fact, you will find that oscars very much enjoy interacting with people.  You train them as you would train any animal, i.e., with food.  For example, at first you drop the food in at one corner of the tank.  After doing that for several days (or weeks), leave your hand closer after letting the food go.  Then leave it closer. Over time, they will eat the food out of your hand.  Then you can (gently) touch them.  It just takes time and patience.  

 Whenever touching a fish, always be sure that your fingers are wet. Dry fingers can pull the mucous off the fish and that CAN hurt them.  

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


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

QUESTION: hi ron i hve another question for you since i got my oscars they wont eat there pellet food they only eat bloodworm the place i got them from said to starve them into eating the pellet is this the right thing to do. also there albino tiger oscars and on there bottom fins there is a black tint appearing should there finns be turning black?

ANSWER: Hi John,
  They are a bit like people: it is hard to get them to their veggies if you give them lots of candy.  So, if you want them to eat the pellets, you can't give them a bunch of bloodworms.  

  A little bit of black on the bottom fins may indicate a little abrasion but that is perfectly normal.  

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


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

QUESTION: hi ron i have another question. i have a 3 and a half foot tank i was told at first by the aquatic shop i brought my two oscars and plec from that would be big enough to house them for a long time then i was recently told it would not be. can you please tell me what size tank i need to house two albino tiger oscars and one plec that i was told only grows to 12 inches, aswell as the size how much water should it hold.

Answer
Hi John,
  For a pair of oscars, you should be looking at about 75 gallons or so to keep them happy. Of course, more is always better. Oscars actually grow to about 16 inches if well-kept.  

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>