Re: Uaru tank mates (and my poor Oscar), Oscar Is A Bully – 8/19/07
Thank you for replying so quickly, I think my best option is to invest in a new tank.
Can you help me with one last thing (for now)? I have a 300 litre tank with two 4" Oscars, they are the only fish in the tank. One seems maybe half an inch larger and is a lot more aggressive, he attacks the smaller Oscar who now spends most of the time lying under an ornament. It is off its food somewhat and its colour is more a greeny with orange than the lovely black and orange it was a few weeks ago. It doesn't react to me either (which it used to) it seems very sad and lonely, is there any reason other than bullying for this or anything I can do to help? Thanks a million Chuck!
< An Oscar is a cichlid and cichlids by nature are very territorial. With only two fish in the tank, they view each other as competition. So one will always be dominant in the tank and pick on the other fish. Way you can do is increase the number of fish and spread the aggression out. These other fish are called dither fish. Good choices would be silver dollars, giant danios or any other large, fast schooling fish.-Chuck>

Uarus In A Community Tank   8/19/07
Can you tell me if Uarus can be kept in my community tank with guppies, kuhlii loaches and glass catfish? I've tried looking on the web for information but its hard to come by. They are about 2 inches in size i have two of them. They had been kept with my Oscars who are getting too aggressive towards them. Any help would be great, thanks
< Sorry, Uarus are cichlids from South America that can get up to 10 inches +. They are usually Ok with fish approximately the same size. I'm afraid in your community tank they will pick on the other fish and even eat them if they can. I would not recommend that you place the Uarus in this community set up.-Chuck>

Are my Oscars ok with my other fish?
I have a few tanks set up at the minute, I've only been interested in aquariums about 2 years now (so I'm still learning).
<Me too, though I've "had" tanks (or is it the other way around?) for decades>
I've recently bought two tiger Oscars they are in a 90 litre tank they are only 2 inch's at the minute, I also have 2 Uaru fish in this tank, they too are just under 2 inch's, Are these fish ok together?
<Mmm, no... in time the Oscars will work the Triangle Cichlids woe... Might not be as bad, as quickly if this system were much larger... but I would separate these and plan on having even a much larger system for the two species in a half year or so...>
The Uaru are extremely timid and the Oscars usually stay in under ornaments when the lights are on. Is this normal?
Many thanks Karen
<Mmm, not really normal behavior for the Oscars... but they can be shy at times... Grow out of this in time, with training by you, feeding... Bob Fenner>

Uarus With Peacocks – 4/13/07
Hey guys, I was wondering if I could put a captive bred "Uaru" with mild mannered peacocks?  The article on this fish on your site states that  captive species can tolerate broader ranges of pH and hardness.  My pH is  about 7.9 and not sure what hardness is but I do have aragonite and crushed  coral as substrate.  I know South American and African mixes aren't  recommended but will this fish at least survive in these water conditions? Thanks, Jason
< It is true that captive raised fish are more tolerant of a wider range of water conditions. They should survive but the Uaru may not thrive.-Chuck>