AboutRon Coleman Expertise I am an expert on cichlid fishes, particularly New World cichlids. My broader expertise includes the behavior, ecology and reproduction of fishes in general. (I am NOT an expert on Goldfish. Please do not ask me questions about why your goldfish are sick -- they are almost always sick due to the way that they are sold). Also, please do not use abbreviations, such as "my GT has a swollen
eye" because I don't know what a "GT" is. The more clearly you can explain your question, the better chance I have of understanding what it is that you seek. Thanks.
Experience I teach at the California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I run a website, called the Cichlid Research Home Page . I also write for many popular aquarist magazines, and I am editor of Cichlid News magazine. I am a scientist and I spend my time teaching fish biology, ecology, behavior and evolution and doing research on the reproductive biology of fishes, particularly cichlids. I do research in the laboratory and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico. My main interest is understanding the evolution of parental care in fishes. I am interested in encouraging greater public awareness, understanding and participation in science.
Organizations belong to American Cichlid Association, Pacific Coast Cichlid Association, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, etc
Publications Cichlid News, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Copeia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, AUK, Environmental Biology of Fishes
Expert: Ron Coleman Date: 5/9/2008 Subject: my oscar
Question QUESTION: He has been acting very strange lately. He moved all his rocks to one side and seems to have a "net" area. He chills out there at the bottom ... not very active lately and he seems to be losing his (i say his, I have no clue) color...whats wrong with him?? He is getting bigger... maybe he needs an even bigger tank?? Please help, I love this fish!
ANSWER: Hi Susan,
When an oscar moves all the rocks, that is not a bad sign, that is a good sign. He or she is making a nest.
How large a tank is he in and how large is he/she?
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Ive had him/her for over 8 months ... The tank is 30 gallons. Im waiting for my taxes to get him a 55 gallon tank. Why would he be "fading" in color?
So, why do they "nest"? Thank you!
Answer Hi Susan,
Oscars (like many cichlids) often change color as they mature.
He/she is nesting because he/she remains eternally hopefully that a mate could be coming by at any moment.
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
