Introducing Gorgeous George, the 2011 Babes auction "Mystery Fish"

If you were at the Babes in the Cichlid Hobby auction at the 2011 ACA Convention, you probably know something about this fish. It was first presented as a "Mystery fish" - basically, you were bidding on a white box you were not allowed to look into before bidding. As the Babes described it, the winner could charge other people a dollar to look in the box to see what you'd won, and the proceeds would go to the Babes' conservation efforts.

If you've never been to a Babes auction (this was my first), you should know that the Babes can be, well, persuasive. After all, they were auctioning off a white box, and if I remember correctly, it eventually went for something like a hundred and fifty dollars (I think the winner was Dave Schumacher).

That was just the beginning of the story, however... Apparently, Dave decided he didn't want the fish he had won, and put the box back into the auction (though he had charged several people a dollar to look inside first, LOL - turns out it was a ~12" Oscar). Several more people (including Chris/Reel Addiction, I think) won this fish, and then put it back into the auction. The third or fourth time it came up, I decided I wanted to bid on it (yes, I was drunk, too), but I only had two dollars in my pocket, so I asked Tony if I could borrow some money to bid on this fish. He said (in true Tony fashion) "Sure, man", and then started bidding against me. :lol: I eventually won the fish for $12, though I think it earned the Babes more than $200.

Like I said, the Babes auction can be fun! :wacko:

So why, even in my drunken stupor, would I do such a crazy thing as bid on a huge Oscar? Well, I guess i can blame it on Rachel, because ever since my wife Amy met Captain Cranky Pants (Rachel's Oscar), she has wanted an Oscar.

When we got it home, and got it into a 50 breeder QT tank with a Matten filter, my wife almost immediately named it "George" (any Loony Toons fans of my generation will get the reference to "I will name him George, and I will hug him and pet him and squeeze him, and ..."). At the time, he didn't look all that attractive, but we assumed this was because he was stressed, and figured once he settled in to his new surroundings, he would color up. As it turns out, we were wrong, and he's just butt ugly, so he is now named "Gorgeous George".

So here he is, in all his glorious butt-ugliness:


Oh, and yeah, he will probably live in our home forever, because for some reason, when women give fish a name, they become pets, not just fish. I have some gorgeous Protomelas, but do they have names? Noooo. Do our Discus have names? NooOOOOoo. But the 14" common plecostomus that I unfortunately inherited from a friend who was getting rid of his tanks is named "Plucky", and if I even hint that I might suggest that we get rid of him, my wife and daughters threaten my well being. And now, I have an Oscar named Gorgeous George.

So the question I pose to CCA members is this: What the phrell do I do with this fish!?!?!?!? As you can see from the pic, he's in a bare bottomed 50 breeder, but that can't be his permanent home (aside from not being big enough, it's just ugly, and life is too short to have ugly fish tanks). I have a 90 gallon planted SA tank with Discus, Rams, apistos, and cardinals, etc., but I am wary. I've read a lot online from many different websites, and Ted Judy just had a nice little article on Oscars in the latest TFH, but I always like cross-checking with my local cichlid peeps, because while the Interwebs are a great information source, there's nothing like going face to face with someone who has been there and done that.

So who in CCA keeps Oscars? (Other than Rachel, who has Captain Cranky Pants) Tell me about how *you* keep your Oscar - what size tank, what decorations, what tank mates, etc., etc.

Oh, yeah, and is Gorgeous George really as ugly as I think he is?

Absolutely fantastic post, Chris.
Between being distracted because a bunch of us were laughing our asses off in the back of the room and making sure that my donated thong was auctioned off I do recall you being a slight tipsy and giddy about your new Oscar.

Chris, he is really niiiii...prettt...
Really ugly!

Yeah, by the time I was all done with my registration desk duties, John Kim was all out of the "My husband went to the 2011 ACA convention and all I got was this lousy T-shirt" T-shirts, so I figured I better come home with something else.

He needs a big tank. He will rearrange it and attack the heater. He will pester you for food and make a big poopy mess, so he'll need a big filter. He will be a great addition to your family.

What makes her think is George and not Geogiana?

GREAT POST. LOL. HE WILL EAT ANYTHING THAT WILL FIT OR SWIM INTO HIS MOUTH. MINE LOVES KRILL,CRICKETS, WORMS, BEEFHEART, STRING BEANS, SWEET POTATO CHUNKS AND PELLETS. GET HIM INTO A 75G AND PUT A AC110\ EMPEROR 400 AND YOU SHOULD BE GOOD. ADD SAND AND YOUR AQUASCAPING SKILLS TO YOUR LIKING. ARE YOU PUTTING ANYTHING IN WITH IT?

Not having been there myself...

...I am nonetheless given to understand that 'using what you don't want to get what you do' is a time-honored tradition in marriage/family situations and has been successfully employed for centuries by all Parties to avert otherwise invariable and countless contretemps and maintain cordial relations (even if only superficially). As such, lest G.G. is to be fated to a life of misery brought about by claustrophobia arising from debilitating confinement, it seems imminently rational to suggest if not insist that G.G. needs a new and larger home - say 180 gallons or more. And since he/she may be nearing the end of an oscar's 15-20 year lifespan, could be that you will soon be able to convert his/her newly acquired domicile into something more consistent with your own predilections for husbandry.

Mind you this suggestion is in no way indicative of nor should it be construed as my having any sympathy for you and your self-inflicted milieu. Rather it is merely offered as a possible solution to counteract the consequences of your admittedly drunken 'appetites'. Here is another: http://www.grouprecipes.com/39182/fish-oscar.html

That being said, don't be too hard on yourself. I am certain that I am not alone in having returned from ACA with ill-advised or questionable acquisitions to further and needlessly complicate my life that cannot be excused or explained by having been in an 'altered state' - more's the pity. You are an inspiration to us all.

Lol, seems like you are not the only one who bought a Oscar at the convention. I actually bid (Unopposed) for a Oscar in the silent action. I actually wanted a pair and even though Oscars are darn near impossible to sex, was able to get the last two they had.

Ted was saying that they where from Columbia and I can't remember if he said they were wild caught or F1's.

I had Oscars as a kid and always liked them. Now that I have plenty of tank room for them I won't have to trade them in(once they outgrew my tank) like I did when I a kid.

I really do think I got lucky and ended up with a pair based on the way they are interacting. Or maybe it's just wishful thinking,lol. Only eggs will tell!

Avatar said:

...I am nonetheless given to understand that 'using what you don't want to get what you do' is a time-honored tradition in marriage/family situations and has been successfully employed for centuries by all Parties to avert otherwise invariable and countless contretemps and maintain cordial relations (even if only superficially). As such, lest G.G. is to be fated to a life of misery brought about by claustrophobia arising from debilitating confinement, it seems imminently rational to suggest if not insist that G.G. needs a new and larger home - say 180 gallons or more.

Click to expand...

LOL, great minds think alike! The thought had occurred to me that this would be a good sales pitch for a 180. In the meantime, I may actually setup the 150g plywood tank I bought from Albrecht a while back (http://www.capitalcichlids.org/forums/showthread.php?t=6778), and put him and Plucky in there with some dither fish (George is quite shy, and hides in a corner of the tank whenever anyone comes up to the tank. If he doesn't know you're watching him, though, he's out and about exploring his (albeit fairly small) tank.

man thats one ugly fish! so can it live together with plucky?? =)

A 150 would be an awesome home for George and Plucky...just make sure that Plucky doesn't eat the interior coating of the plywood tank. You'll know if he is if he's pooping blue

Matt

Put him in a 75g and he will be fine. Reef ready is always a plus. If you find a 10" pleco you can put it in with him at the same time and they sould be ok. Titanium heater is a good idea because he will try to move everything that will fit into his mouth, and even some of the stuff that doesn't. I think he should look good in a tank he is happy in. Good story btw.

Sounds like GG hit the lottery in coming home with your, Chris. Personally, I'd have no idea what to do with a monster like him.

Keep us posted.

Well, I'm afraid George has to go. We need to renovate the basement and I don't have room for his tank any more.

So who wants him? He's free to anyone that will give him a good home. Kevin or DQ, want to add to your colony? Since I need to get rid of tanks and some other gear, I'll be happy to throw in some free equipment to sweeten the deal!

Rastafish wants the 50 breeder tank he's in, so I would like to move George soon. PM me if you're interested. I live in Catonsville, but would be willing to deliver within a 40 minute drive or so.

I'M GOOD BUT THANKS FOR THINKING OF ME.