Need your tank rescaped? My team can help you

Hi Everyone..

I haven't seen this service advertised anywhere on this website so... Im trying my luck...

If anyone needs rescaping done, I have a tean of efficient and dedicated workers that are willing to do it for you

Fees are reasonable... a meal a day

Some pics of their work to follow

 

Thanks@Reedfish, they are beatiful.
I had never seen them this colour before either.
They a bit of a rescue case.... I just couldnt turn my back on them... I have only had them since Friday but I will update the thread on my new tank with pics of the fishies I have added

 

Beautiful fish !!!

 

U got mail @MariaS

 

Nice... They look a bit like Labradors.

 

Sure... I will hire them. I assume my guppies will be safe?

 

Thanks....

Hi Thys, yes.. replied to you.

Hahaha... good comparisson, especially what I think is the male. he is big and does have a big mouth!
He didnt want my Amazon swords next to the rocks so Cesar took the 'tweezers' and replanted them on the other side ( so far they been left alone) he viciously attacked that tweezers!! Haha Cesar says I have to manage water changes alone now....
Yet, his only with me 5 days and is so gently taking food and last night actually allowed to be pated..
What I think is the female is still keeping her distance from my hand

 

Hmmm, at least your guys do some heavy lifting... mine olyn dig holes everywhere leaving the glass bottom exposed -.-

 

Haha.. I didn't guarantee that!!!
But... When I set up the tank few weeks ago, I moved my 6 small clowns (+/- 7cm) to this tank and I bought 5 zebra loaches which are only about 4cm...
I had no idea these Oscars would arrive.... when this happened at really short notice, I tried to catch my little midgets but short of removing all the driftwood out, they were too clever and fast for me, Oscars had been in the traveling box for a while and I was getting worried so I took a chance and put them in.
We kept an eye all weekend and they have ignored the little ones...
If you look at the first pictures posted, on the 3rd one,you will see the clowns at the back and here are the little loaches. Guppies are middle to top dwellers so that would probably be breakfast!!

Well... when I got home this afternoon I see they started digging a crater next to the rock but.... haven't got to the glass yet....

They like naughty stubborn kids... guess that's why we love them...

 

I'm no expert but if you do indeed have a male and female, they may be creating somewhere to spawn. I believe that oscars like to spawn on flat rocks so maybe there's a chance. This might also be why they're leaving the other smaller fish alone because they're preoccupied at the moment. On the other hand if and once the do spawn the other fish might be history as they're going to want to protect the eggs. Does anyone else agree? I may stand to be corrected but this is my opinion

 

Hey @MariaS they are beautiful but I have to agree with @CFJS here about the loaches becoming dinner at some stage - that is a dig mouth indeed!

Build yourself a loach trap - a simple "T" out of 50mm PVC pipe - 2 short 100mm pieces capped and conected to the top of the T and a longer 200mm piece on the bottom with a string attatched, remove the other hiding places and after 2 days or so they will be hiding in there you just have to lift it up by the string water and all and drop them into new tank (assuming the water temp etc are the same ) or even if you don't remove the other hidey holes they will still use it at some stage - might require a little patience.

That is a nice tank setup, hope those Oscars don't rearange you'r scape too much
What substrate are you using there?

 

@CFJS, You are right, and that is why we preparing ourselves to make changes and move fish around should I be lucky enough that they do spawn.... would be nice...

I am no expert either but (and this is just a chat sharing past experiences and I am not stating that this is the rule) I have found from past experience (I had Oscars a few years ago, had them for about 5 years but due to other commitments had to give up the fish at the time) I also have a Tiger Oscar in my other tank, he is about 17..18cm... and on all occasions I have found that any small fish that were in the tank prior to the Oscars being introduced, none of my Oscars ever ate them yet, anything introduced after the Oscars made themselves at home was a meal
I also give the oscar 2 or 3 mealworms every morning before I leave and that ensures he is not starving by the afternoon.. so far.. its worked for me...

My Tiger Oscar that is in the other tank has numerous small loaches with him, the clowns with him are big but there are some little polkadots and yoyos and 2 little clowns and they have been together a few months. He has not touched any of them. But again, they were there when he went in.

As I said, this is just what I have experienced and I am not saying its the rule. I guess temeperament also changes from fish to fish and I also 'think' that if the Oscar's were fed live fish before, they are more of a problem because their hunting instinct has been fully triggered off and there you stand no chance
The possibility of spawning also throws another spoke in the wheel so we are preparing ourselves in case we need to move not only the loaches but any other fish should it become a problem

 

Hi @GaryG, Thanks... and thanks for the advice on trapping the little guys. Its water change night today and Cesar is going to try and catch them for me, he is better at it than I am and its also easier when tank is not full. If it doesnt work we will build the trap and do it that way.

Yeah... that was my first attempt at a planted tank..... but then these guys were not in the pipeline.... and then again... I fell in love with them and couldnt turn my back on them....they were in a tank with 5 piranas and the bigger one has actually got a whole chunck bitten off one of his pectoral fins....they deserved a good home so.... we will see what happens... If they do ever spawn..and we pull through any babies... it would be a dream come true...
I have anubias and java attached to the driftwood, they havent touched that, the amazon swords, they pulled out the ones on their corner of the tank so we replanted them on the other side and so far they have compromised on that.. not sure for how long though...

If it doesnt work... wht can I say??? Get another tank and try the planted tank again... haha..

The substrate is 2 bags PFS but there was a bit of (not sure what it is, but it is a very fine, same texture s PFS, black and white gravel that looks almost like silica) that had been left in the tank so I mixed it in with the PFS.

 

had a lekker laugh thx for the post !

 

Yes, its been very amusing watching them, I couldnt resist posting those pictures ...But also amazing to watch nature at work..

Water change last night was... haha an amusing mission! the gravel vac and pipe were attacked, they had a go at Cesar's hand.. We put in a slightly bigger flat stone and that then caught their attention.

As long as your hand is in the top half of the tank, they lovable and let you pat them, the minute your hand goes further than half way down the tank... you no longer welcome!!!
Have to say its awesome to just sit and watch them...

 

Beautiful Oscars. I have bred Oscars before and I would agree that you should perhaps remove the other fish. Just an excuse for another tank.
I have how ever had two females that went through the full spawning ritual with the laying of the eggs and simulated fertilization. If this is the case usually by the next day the eggs will be eaten. Also if it is a young male and female they may go through this process at least 4 times. But in the end totally worth it. Good luck

 

@mariodc, thanks.... Good to know you have bred them before, now I know one member I can ask for help please if this ever does happen!!!

Well, we not sure exactly how old they are but was told they were bought between 18 months and 2 years ago... Looking at size... im inclined to believe it.
I am listening to everyone's advice on removing the other fish and I have been doing as much reading up as I can and I did read that two females can go through the spawning ritual so we monitoring the situation and we will take the necessary steps if it is for real... not getting my hopes up too high but I am hoping it happens!!!
Fortunately we have a 3.2m tank standing that was supposed to be the next upgrade for Cesar's Arowana and stingray which we were only going to do towards the end of the year but if this turns out to be for real then we will setup the 3.2 and move his fish across and I will have the 2.2 that he has now to move things around.... as you say, if it does happen all the work will be worthwhile in the end...
Thanks for the good wishes... Keep your fingers crossed for me, ok..