oscar break things

[paul_28]

when i read on discussions about the oscar a thing pops up that is worrying that the oscar can break the heater and ko itself. its funny when u look at top cichlids for agression the oscar is low down on the list Lol but from peoples stories the oscar will attack tankmates, heater, internal filter and bang on the glass. oscar loves bit of destruction.

[King-eL]

Most of those stories are total BS unless the heater it broke is a cheap low quality. Also tank size is probably not appropriate. If an oscar can break heater then it should have no problem breaking the glass wall then? I got a 15" umbee and umbee is more powerful than oscar and is the most aggressive cichlid in the world. Not once it break the heater. Even had a 18" pacu that went darting all over the tank. It did not break the heater but end up with a broken snout. Oscars lower jaw are fragile compare to other predatory cichlid. It will break it's lower jaw before it breaks the heater. As for inernal filter... only the suction will fall off but no mean it can break it. It's usually the fish that is large and scared that went darting that breaks stuff. Just over exaggerated stories are just making me laugh. Those stories probably came from people who never keep other robust aggressive cichlid or other monster fish. Oscar aggression is just for show. They just open their mouth and back up at the same time went it comes to a fight. It's smart enough that it knows that their lower jaw is weak and can break easily if it lock jaws with other powerful cichlid. The only good about oscar as it's smarter than other cichlids.

[-DC-]

I agree ,I'd consider them much less aggressive then most cichlid species i've worked with. but MUCH more destructive,

I could see them breaking heaters though if no guard on them just by banging them against the glass or something in the tank. My oscar will occasionally snap at tank mates and he's bitten me a few times, they can bite that's for sure but most aggressive behavior is just a show.Like el said, mouth open big gills but swimming backward lol.

i think most of their destructive tendencies goes along with that added intelligence, it isn't aggression it's curiosity and boredom.

mine randomly slams the filter intakes around, or flips/moves decor, loves the floating thermometer ect, they play with objects in the tanks. And yes some times they will flare up and attack an object they are playing with allot like a puppy with a bone lol. Mine likes coffee mug's A red one in particular i toss in every once and a while for him too play with, if i provide a variety of "toy's" the oscar doesn't shred my plants, or bother tank mates.

[monkE]

haha i just saw that title and suddenly wanted to yell out "HULK SMASH!"

ok i'll leave this topic alone now... that you for that moment

[H .]

when i read on discussions about the oscar a thing pops up that is worrying that the oscar can break the heater and ko itself. its funny when u look at top cichlids for agression the oscar is low down on the list Lol but from peoples stories the oscar will attack tankmates, heater, internal filter and bang on the glass. oscar loves bit of destruction.

Don't think you can get those cheap heaters in UK...