Are you seeing your oscar fish shaking too often? Is it funny or stressful? In this article, we’ll look into why your oscar fish shakes with 4 possible reasons.
Why Is My Oscar Fish Shaking? Oscar fish shake their tails and bodies during mating. The shaking could also indicate stress or illness, especially if it looks more like shivering.
We can call it by many names:
- Shaking
- Vibrating
- Swishing
- Shimmying
- Twitching
Something is happening to cause it. Let’s find out. The nerves and muscles are tensing up and this indicates that they aren’t relaxed. Is it stress or a mating ritual?
Severe shaking is definitely indicating the onset of a disease that must be treated or it could be fatal.
4 Reasons Why Oscar Fish Shake
- Mating
- Illness
- Aggression
- Changes in Water Quality
Is My Oscar Fish Shaking Because It’s Mating?
Your oscar fish could be looking for a mate during breeding season. Shaking their body is one way to show it. Look at their mouths to see if they are also locking their jaws.
There is a close connection to fighting and mating. The oscar fish are competing for the chance to mate. This results in both actions getting mixed up. Mating behavior can rapidly turn to fighting.
Oscar fish can get violent when it comes to breeding. They could hurt each other for the opportunity to mate. The shaking is the first sign. Don’t be alarmed until you notice aggression. Removing the most violent oscar fish may have to considered in this case.
Are My Oscar Fish Shaking Because They Are Sick?
An illness or infection may end up being displayed externally through twitching or shivering. Careful observation is required because shaking is still considered to be normal if there are no other signs present to indicate illness.
Does the shaking look like it’s out of control? The nerves and muscles in your oscar fish may be shivering without their ability to stop it. If there aren’t any threats or potential mates, then the matter should be taken seriously as a possible infection.
See if it persists longer than a day or two. Seek professional help and look into clearing up any possible infections that may lie within.
Do Oscar Fish Shake When They Are Being Territorial?
Yes. Aggression results from territorial disputes. Shaking is a precursor to fighting. Fighting between oscar fish stems from mating or protection of their territory.
Oscar fish can get territorial in the wild. They will bring this tendency into your tank and defend a space they want to call their own. If another fish gets too cold, they may shake their tail to warn them of possible repercussions.
Sometimes you will notice oscar fish shaking when you place your hand in the tank. They see your hand as an intruder as well and would like to wish it away with shaking. Your hand is trespassing according to the territorial oscar fish.
Do Changes In Water Quality Cause Oscar Fish To Shake?
If your water temperature gets too cold, oscar fish may slow down or shiver. If it’s too warm, toxins in the tank may increase and cause the water quality to be abnormal. This may cause stress in your oscar fish. Make sure the temperature stays between 75-80°F.
Stress may be demonstrated with shaking. Remember that the water must not be too soft or too acidic. A pH balance between 6.0-8.0 is ideal. Keep the water hardness at about 12-15dH.
If your oscar fish is shaking and hiding, the water parameters are probably off.
- Test the water
- Change the water more frequently
- Check your filter
- Check your heater
- Clean the tank
A water testing kit is necessary to make sure the levels are ideal. Water changes twice a week will also help if your oscar fish is shaking in frustration to the water quality. 25-75% water changes at your discretion while observing to see if the shaking stops is recommended.
It goes without saying that the filter and heater must be working properly. If you notice the tank getting dirtier than usual, cleaning it up more frequently will be needed. A new filter is hopefully not necessary, but it’s important that the heater is keeping the temperature constant between 75-80°F.
Conclusion
Oscar fish shake. It’s normal. Sometimes they do it out of aggression or during their mating process. Shaking also occurs when oscar fish are acting territorial. Place your hand in the tank and see if they shake their tails.
A sick oscar fish could be shaking due to an infection or poor water quality. Shaking is also a sign of stress in oscar fish. It’s best to observe which of these reasons is causing the shaking and act accordingly.
We hope this article assists you and your shaking oscar fish.
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