Chat transcripts

[20:04 28/05/2004] <@craig> Good evening everyone!
[20:04 28/05/2004] <@craig> Welcome to this weeks Live! Fishchat!
[20:04 28/05/2004] <@craig> Our speaker tonight will be JP, talking about Oscars.
[20:04 28/05/2004] <@craig> As is usual please hold your question until after the presentation.
[20:05 28/05/2004] <@craig> JP, when ever you are ready. :-)
[20:06 28/05/2004] <+JP> Since the oscar hails from the Amazon River, it is prized there as an important food fish, and, less importantly, as a game fish. Fishing for them in that region of the world is similar to pan fishing in the United States.
[20:06 28/05/2004] <+JP> There are three very common varieties of oscar. There are the tiger, red, and albino versions. There are many other versions, but they are more rare.
[20:06 28/05/2004] <+JP> Here are a few pictures, not the best, but something's better than nothing. The second picture looks almost exactly like my own oscar.
[20:06 28/05/2004] <+JP> http://www.aquariumfish.com.my/fishnotes/oscar.html
[20:07 28/05/2004] <+JP> I have written the rest of my presentation this evening as a "guide" to keeping one oscar in its own tank, as a pet really. Since I have no experience with keeping more than one oscar, or any with keeping them with other fish, I thought this would be best. Most of the material in this presentation has come from my own personal experiences from keeping the oscar.
[20:07 28/05/2004] <+JP> Oscars, at least from what I have seen, are rather hardy fish. If you are a person that likes to have all of your water chemistry perfect, here is what the oscar likes: They need a neutral pH between 6.5-7.0. The hardness can be anywhere from soft to hard (dH: 5.0-19.0).
[20:11 28/05/2004] <+JP> The oscar is an easy fish to feed. They will eat just about anything that they can fit in their mouths. Foods ranging from pellets to live fish can be feed. Now, I'd like to go over foods.
[20:11 28/05/2004] <+JP> When Joe was purchased, he was only about three inches long. Until he was around five inches, he was feed Wardley's Cichlid Flakes as his main food. After the five-inch point, his main food was switched to Hikari Cichlid Pellets. The good thing about their pellets is that they come in a different range of sizes, spanning from very small, to extra large. The Oscar is an easy fish to feed, but they do get used to their diets fast and don't ca
[20:11 28/05/2004] <+JP> When I switched from flake to pellet, Joe would simply spit the pellets out at me. To get him to start eating his new food I didn't feed him for one day. The next day when I tried feeding him again, he spit the pellets out again, so I didn't feed him for another day. Finally, on the third day of not getting his regular meals I guess he realized that the little pellet boycott that he was throwing wasn't going to work. He has been eating the p
[20:13 28/05/2004] <+JP> When most people think of feeding large fish, they always want to feed them the "feeder" fish that we find in most of our local fish shops. These fish are usually kept in terrible conditions, and as a result are unhealthy and may even be diseased. Do we want to feed unhealthy and diseased fish to our own fish? I think not…
[20:14 28/05/2004] <+JP> If you want to be able to feed live fish to your fish, the best thing to do is set up a tank specifically for raising feeders on your own. The feeder guppy will multiply fast therefore producing lots of healthy food. Some other live foods include earthworms and crickets.
[20:14 28/05/2004] <+JP> I don't recommend going out into your yard and find these yourself. First of all, we don't know where these insects have been. If they had happened to have eaten some soil, for example, that had chemicals sprayed on it, you'd therefore be feeding those chemicals to your fish. Do we want to feed chemicals to our fish? Again, I think not…
[20:15 28/05/2004] <+JP> The best kinds of insects to feed our fish are ones from bait shops. These have been in captivity, or even breed in captivity, and really pose no risk. I recently came across this article that explains how to build a home to raise worms in.
[20:15 28/05/2004] <+JP> By doing this, you know exactly what the worms have been exposed to. If you read the entire page in which the worm article is on, you will find ways to raise many other kinds of live foods yourself. Here is the article: http://faq.thekrib.com/live-food.html#earthworms
[20:16 28/05/2004] <+JP> Well, enough about feeding already. Now I'd like to go over my maintenance routine. Joe's tank receives once a week 50% water changes along with a very thorough gravel vacuuming. And that wraps up my maintenance routine.
[20:16 28/05/2004] <+JP> If you are looking for a fish that is full of personality, and loves to interact with people, than the oscar is what you need. Joe greets me every time I walk up to his tank. He's learned many tricks since I've had him.
[20:17 28/05/2004] <+JP> For one, he loves for me to pet him. Just a simple tummy rub is what he loves. He also likes to play with his ping-pong ball. He will attack it for hours. He now always eats straight from my hands. So far I've been lucky and haven't lost any fingers.
[20:18 28/05/2004] <+JP> For one, he loves for me to pet him. Just a simple tummy rub is what he loves. He also likes to play with his ping-pong ball. He will attack it for hours. He now always eats straight from my hands. So far I've been lucky and haven't lost any fingers.
[20:18 28/05/2004] <+JP> Thank you, this concludes my presentation tonight. :)
[20:19 28/05/2004] <@craig> Thanks JP! :-)
[20:19 28/05/2004] <@craig> If you have a question for JP, please type: /query craig I have a question
[20:20 28/05/2004] <@craig> In the interum, JP, what is the minimum suggested tank size for an oscar?
[20:21 28/05/2004] <+JP> A 55 gallon. Although like I mentioned in the presentation, they can only be in this size tank for so long if you want them to become full grown.
[20:21 28/05/2004] <@craig> Jess. :-)
[20:22 28/05/2004] <@Jessica> jp, what kind of filtration would you recomend for this fish? I have heard they are very messy fish
[20:22 28/05/2004] <+JP> As much as you can get. I love Aqua-Clears. They're noisy, but effective.
[20:23 28/05/2004] <@Jessica> well, then what minimum.. would you say you need the water moving 7times an hour, 10, more, less?
[20:25 28/05/2004] <+JP> Some of that depends on tank size. With Joe's tank, it gets roughly 11-12 turns an hour. I say have at least 10 or more. More can't hurt.
[20:25 28/05/2004] <@craig> Anyone else have a question for JP?
[20:27 28/05/2004] <+JP> I don't think they do.
[20:27 28/05/2004] *** craig sets mode: -m
[20:27 28/05/2004] <@craig> No time better than the present, the floor is now open for general discussion. :-)
[20:28 28/05/2004] <@Jessica> *applause* thanks jp. awesome :-D
[20:28 28/05/2004] <Gopi> Yay JP
[20:28 28/05/2004] <megan> great job jp :D thanks
[20:28 28/05/2004] <@craig> JP, thanks for being here this evening.
[20:28 28/05/2004] <+JP> No problem.
[20:28 28/05/2004] <+JP> Hopefully nothing real important got cut off.
[20:29 28/05/2004] <@samantha> JP, great job :D
[20:29 28/05/2004] <+JP> Thanks.
[20:29 28/05/2004] <russ> Great presentation JP.
[20:30 28/05/2004] <@craig> JP, email me your notes and I will doctor the transcript. ;-)
[20:31 28/05/2004] <+JP> Alright.
[20:31 28/05/2004] <@craig> I could have asked this earlier, but I wanted to save something to promote discussion..
[20:32 28/05/2004] <@craig> What kinds of tank mates are suitable for oscars? I've seen common plecos being kept with them because they are able to defend themselves, any others?
[20:32 28/05/2004] <+JP> I knew this would be asked.
[20:33 28/05/2004] <russ> need some assistance?
[20:33 28/05/2004] <+JP> Why not.
[20:33 28/05/2004] <@craig> That was a general question for anyone. :-D
[20:34 28/05/2004] <+JP> The reason I got Joe was that he had killed everything that the shop tried to keep with him, remember he was only around three inches. He had killed a 5 inch pleco, other oscars, and some silver dollars. So what I'm saying is, if they want to have tankmates thingK}*’ould be alright. But if they don't, you'll find out pretty fast.
[20:35 28/05/2004] <+JP> I liked his personality.. :D
[20:35 28/05/2004] <@Jessica> :-D
[20:35 28/05/2004] <russ> For simplicity sake, just about any fish (from the same region) that naturally resides in the same waters and large enough not to get swallowd or mangled. But would you believe that piranahs can also be kept togethr with oscars?
[20:35 28/05/2004] <+JP> I've heard of it.
[20:36 28/05/2004] <russ> of course it will take a very large tank to accomplish this ;-)
[20:36 28/05/2004] *** Betsy (~Betsy@ip68-110-12-101.tc.ph.cox.net) has joined #fishchat
[20:36 28/05/2004] <@Jessica> sam andrew and I saw an oscar or 2 in a 30K tank in vegas, there were pacus and freshwater stingrays among other fish there.. all were very large
[20:37 28/05/2004] <russ> with a large enough tank, pacus can also be considered tankmates for oscars
[20:37 28/05/2004] <+JP> They all have their own personality, like any other cichlid. They tolerate what they want to tolertae.
[20:37 28/05/2004] <@craig> So I guess it all boils down to making sure you select tank mates that have as much if not more 'tude than the oscar?
[20:37 28/05/2004] <+JP> Yup.
[20:37 28/05/2004] <russ> that also ;-)
[20:39 28/05/2004] <@craig> I've been becoming interested in them, but I am afraid I would lose body parts if I set up a tank for one. :-D
[20:39 28/05/2004] <+JP> It would be worth it.
[20:39 28/05/2004] <Betsy> at least you wouldn't have to buy fish food.
[20:39 28/05/2004] <+JP> That too.
[20:40 28/05/2004] <@craig> Russ or JP, are there any interesting stories you want to tell about oscars?
[20:40 28/05/2004] <+JP> I got a million. :D
[20:40 28/05/2004] <+JP> You've all heard many of them.
[20:40 28/05/2004] <@craig> Fess up man! ;-D
[20:41 28/05/2004] <@Jessica> tell them again, many people read the transcripts
[20:41 28/05/2004] <+JP> Pfft.
[20:41 28/05/2004] <+JP> My Cheerios got all soggy.
[20:41 28/05/2004] * @craig is particularly fond of the game of ping-pong you had with Oscar Joe..
[20:41 28/05/2004] <+JP> Let's tell that one....
[20:42 28/05/2004] <russ> taugh him everything I know;-)
[20:43 28/05/2004] <+JP> So one day I decide that I'm going to drop a ping-pong ball in Oscar Joe's tank just to see what he'd do. After getting the lid open, I peer over the side and drop the ball in. Before I even had a chance to think about closing the Joe popped the ball right out of the tank into my eye. The end.
[20:43 28/05/2004] <Betsy> What other sports has Joe taken up lately?
[20:43 28/05/2004] <@Jessica> lol
[20:44 28/05/2004] <+JP> He is sportless at the moment.
[20:44 28/05/2004] <Betsy> Awwww.... Does he have any hobbies?
[20:44 28/05/2004] <+JP> The ping-pong ball incident took place when he was about 8 inches. I'd hate to see what he'd so to one at 12 inches....
[20:44 28/05/2004] <Betsy> Sounds like time for the soccer ball....
[20:44 28/05/2004] <@Jessica> lol
[20:45 28/05/2004] <+JP> He likes to crash into the tank hood. He's also taken up redecorating.
[20:46 28/05/2004] <Betsy> Maybe he could have a second job as a crash test dummy?
[20:46 28/05/2004] <Betsy> Or on trading spaces?
[20:46 28/05/2004] <+JP> Hey, I've told him it's a big fishy world out there..
[20:46 28/05/2004] <Betsy> Do you have to put clamps on your tank lid to keep it down?
[20:47 28/05/2004] <+JP> He never got the lids in the 55 to stay open after slamming them. Don't have to worry with the 100, it has a canopy.
[20:48 28/05/2004] *** Gopi (~Gopi@c68.115.53.221.ona.wi.charter.com) has left #fishchat
[20:48 28/05/2004] <Betsy> Well, that's good. Personally, I would worry, and attempt to adapt those child proofing things for toilets to the tank lid.
[20:48 28/05/2004] <+JP> If he wants to explore and stuff, I'll let him. :D
[20:49 28/05/2004] <@Jessica> lol
[20:50 28/05/2004] <@Jessica> jp, tell us about moving a large oscar
[20:50 28/05/2004] <russ> JP, again, great presentation...catch everyone later :-)
[20:50 28/05/2004] <Betsy> I wonder if you could make a reverse scuba suit for fish
[20:50 28/05/2004] <+JP> Take care Russ. And thanks. :)
[20:50 28/05/2004] <@Jessica> g'night russ
[20:50 28/05/2004] <+JP> Jess, it was a hoot. That's all I can say.
[20:50 28/05/2004] <@craig> Think I'll close up shop here for the evening..