Who Gives A Fish Forums

What's the best way to encourage natural hunting behavior in my Oscar? He's got a 75 gallon tank with plenty of hiding spots, but he just waits for pellets to drop. Wanna see him chase something.

Try live feeders, dude. My Oscar goes nuts for ghost shrimp. Just make sure they're from a clean source, no sketchy pet store stuff. Also, maybe cut back on pellets for a bit, make him work for it.

I've had success with small guppies. They're fast enough to keep it interesting but not too hard for the Oscar to catch. Just watch the tank after, though, mine got lazy once he figured out they'd swim into his mouth.

Live food can introduce parasites if you're not careful. If you're set on it, quarantine the feeders for at least a week. Otherwise, try dangling a piece of krill on a fishing line. It mimics prey movement without the risk.

goldrush wrote: ↑Wed Aug 06, 2025 1:58 pm I've had success with small guppies. They're fast enough to keep it interesting but not too hard for the Oscar to catch. Just watch the tank after, though, mine got lazy once he figured out they'd swim into his mouth.

Yep, mine did the same thing! Now I only do it once a month to keep him sharp. It's like a treat for him.

Oscars are smart. If you're gonna use live food, mix it up. Try earthworms or crickets occasionally. They're gut-loaded and less likely to carry diseases than fish. Just don't overdo it, or he'll ignore pellets entirely.

The key is stimulation. Even without live food, you can use a laser pointer or a sinking pellet tied to a string. Move it erratically to trigger his predatory instincts. Works wonders for my Jack Dempsey.

Thanks for all the ideas, everyone. Gonna try the ghost shrimp first and see how it goes.

Just a heads-up, if you're using ghost shrimp, remove any uneaten ones after a few hours. They can nibble on your Oscar's slime coat if he's not interested. Learned that the hard way.

My Oscar never liked live food. Maybe he's just chill. I just wiggle the pellets with tweezers, and he goes for it. Not the same, but it's something.