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Well... i had some time to 'kill' yesterday, and was close to my favourite fish shop... so in i went. Got a few loaches (which i've been eyeing off for a while!) and some more tetra's for the GF's tank, a new piece of drift wood for the Ocareeno's oh.. i also got some new plants.

So, i added about half the new plants around the Oscars new drift wood.. and their tank, which normally has no plants from my early learning of what Oscars do to them, was looking mighty nice! I spent a lot of time putting the plants in positions to stop the Oscars from digging them out... but all they decided i'd done was give them a challenge! Within 20minutes of adding the new decorations, Leopold, the cranky Oscar, was over tugging at the leaves. Shortly, Spotscar, my friendly Oscar, was joining in by digging around the base. Every time they got a leaf loose, they'd chase it around the tank like it was a fish!

Well, this morning, i have no planted weed in that tank, but to very happy Oscars! Leopold had been in a real mood for the last week... but know he seems quite happy as he's had the chance to destroy something! Oh, well, guess it was worth the $10 worth of weed to get him happy again! It looks like i've found my boy's favourite toy

get some tough fake plants they would love that. the cheapest place with nice plants is drfosterandsmith

My oscar has ripped apart most of the fake plants in his tank.. Pieces all over that I have to remove.. Only one large fake plant he hasn't trashed.. Good thing he doesn't like smashng rocks !

The Amazon Nut...

I've heard of a lot of people putting fake plants in an oscar tank just for them to play with and move around. apparently it keeps them from getting bored

Jason

Try getting fake amazon swords. There are some really really thick ones out there that are near indestructable by an oscar.

i put gravel in the bottoms and let mine rearange his home, it is different all the time

I don't think they'd enjoy it as much if the couldn't rip it apart then chase the leaves. It's definetely cured their bordom! Once every couple of days, i've been re-planting the weed for them in a different spot.. and off they go again. I've got about 4 of the 10 pieces of weed left, now. But my Oscars are the happiest i've seen them for ages! I'll be getting some more weed this weekend.. and setting up a little tank to propigate my own.

Guess that goes to show that although most people recommend no plants as they just get destroyed, i'll be recommending cheap plants for them to destroy! Love it.. it really is so funny watching them either take turns at ripping a leaf apart or team up to drag the plant out of the gravel bed

Guess that goes to show that although most people recommend no plants as they just get destroyed, i'll be recommending cheap plants for them to destroy!

Yeah, I guess it would be better to say, "only add plants that are to be used as toys. any delicate plants that you are fond of should not be added"

Jason

I've heard of a lot of people putting fake plants in an oscar tank just for them to play with and move around. apparently it keeps them from getting bored

And it works a treat

I did the same thing, i also have a little ceramic troll he likes to throw around

"Ceramic troll to throw around.. " Now thats a cool oscar

The Amazon Nut...

A friend of mine dropped some new bio-balls into the water to let his Oscars play with. They "had a ball" (sorry, I couldn't resist ) with them. As long as they will not fit in the Oscars mouth it's a fun toy for them.

Leah

I use ping pong balls

On the Ping Pong Ball note,, they can be taught to fetch. IE you through the ball to one end of the tank and they will push it back to you. Realy Funny.

I would not recomend anything to solid. I have seen full grown Oscor's push 5lb rocks in to the side of a tank cracking it. Just reminding

Fish_Fan

Ouch.

The Amazon Nut...

Oscor's push 5lb rocks in to the side of a tank cracking it

I'd believe that. Our two got nasty about a big rock that was simply shifted in their tank and if that rock didn't weigh about 5kgs I'm sure they would have thrown it out of the tank Both of them were ramming it, and trying so hard to push it out of the way, thrashing about. I ended up moving the rock back where it was and they were happy again
Strange creatures those oscars