100 Gallon Stocking Options

jb12288

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Right now my tank is still in the cycling process. It shouldn't be too much longer before i can start adding fish. My first fish will be my 8 convicts, with 1 breeding pair, and my red tiger oscar. I am wanting to add possibly a Frontosa, but i am not sure if that will work or not. Any comments on the frontosa being put with oscar and convicts? I will go to my LFS tomorrow so that Buddy can put the frontosa on order for me if it matches good with my other fishes.
 
I see some problems with that amount of convicts, you could potentially have 4 pairs, which would seriously limit your tank stock list. Are the 8 cons a must or could you reduce the number to 1 or the pair you already have?

EDIT: I wouldnt do frontos in your set up, they like to be in groups and would really need a larger tank to allow this.
 
I see some problems with that amount of convicts, you could potentially have 4 pairs, which would seriously limit your tank stock list. Are the 8 cons a must or could you reduce the number to 1 or the pair you already have?
i agree. 8 cons with a pair could turn nasty. you'll probably end up with at least 1 other pair. 2 pairs in a 100 gal with an oscar might be ok but the cons might get rough with the oscar.

imo, keep 1 con or the pair, keep the oscar, forget the frontosa and go with 1 or 2 small but colorful new worlds. like sajicas or something
 
I see some problems with that amount of convicts, you could potentially have 4 pairs, which would seriously limit your tank stock list. Are the 8 cons a must or could you reduce the number to 1 or the pair you already have?
i agree. 8 cons with a pair could turn nasty. you'll probably end up with at least 1 other pair. 2 pairs in a 100 gal with an oscar might be ok but the cons might get rough with the oscar.

imo, keep 1 con or the pair, keep the oscar, forget the frontosa and go with 1 or 2 small but colorful new worlds. like sajicas or something

i could keep my convicts in the tank they are in and move the pair over to the 100. I only have 1 male convict, the rest are females.
 
I see some problems with that amount of convicts, you could potentially have 4 pairs, which would seriously limit your tank stock list. Are the 8 cons a must or could you reduce the number to 1 or the pair you already have?
i agree. 8 cons with a pair could turn nasty. you'll probably end up with at least 1 other pair. 2 pairs in a 100 gal with an oscar might be ok but the cons might get rough with the oscar.

imo, keep 1 con or the pair, keep the oscar, forget the frontosa and go with 1 or 2 small but colorful new worlds. like sajicas or something

i could keep my convicts in the tank they are in and move the pair over to the 100. I only have 1 male convict, the rest are females.

A breeding pair can fill a tank really fast. The guy who bred my cons has a 55 that is loaded with them, and he started with two. The group antics are actually quite awesome.
 
I wouldn't go with another big fish unless you reduce to 1 or 2 convicts as others have suggested. As you probably know very well, oscars get rather large. I personally wouldn't even put two oscars in a 100 gallon. But I would consider in your situation, an oscar and either a jack dempsey or a electric blue jack dempsey, though probably grown a bit, since they grow slower than the oscar, and an ebjd is not something you want the oscar to consider food.

Don't know how big or old your oscar is. They can be very picky for tankmates, so even if the fish is big enough, if you have an older oscar, I would watch the attitude. Rearranging the tank, if they are not put in at the same time can help.

In all honesty, the absolute maximum load I would want to deal with in a 100 gallon, would be 1 oscar, 1 jd, and 1 pair of convicts, i would personally keep just one oscar in a 100 gallon, but I err on the side of caution, and also feel 75 gallons is the minimum an oscar should have (that said, mine is in a 55, and soon he won't have room to turn around since the tank is just under 13" wide).
 
I wouldn't go with another big fish unless you reduce to 1 or 2 convicts as others have suggested. As you probably know very well, oscars get rather large. I personally wouldn't even put two oscars in a 100 gallon. But I would consider in your situation, an oscar and either a jack dempsey or a electric blue jack dempsey, though probably grown a bit, since they grow slower than the oscar, and an ebjd is not something you want the oscar to consider food.

Don't know how big or old your oscar is. They can be very picky for tankmates, so even if the fish is big enough, if you have an older oscar, I would watch the attitude. Rearranging the tank, if they are not put in at the same time can help.

In all honesty, the absolute maximum load I would want to deal with in a 100 gallon, would be 1 oscar, 1 jd, and 1 pair of convicts, i would personally keep just one oscar in a 100 gallon, but I err on the side of caution, and also feel 75 gallons is the minimum an oscar should have (that said, mine is in a 55, and soon he won't have room to turn around since the tank is just under 13" wide).

Well I have been doing alot of thinking today as I have had ample of time while at work. I am going to give all my convicts to my LFS beside the pair. I have already called and the said that could take them in. What about a Trimac Cichlid, would that work good?

here is my oscar he is about 5 1/2"
PICT1017.jpg
 
i don't think the trimac is a good idea. while i have no personal experience with them, i've always heard that they are really aggressive and get to a decent size. Oscars may grow to a large size but they're pretty docile for cichlids and chances are he would at least get a serious beat down by the trimac if not killed.

If you want another larger cichlid, go with what karou-sama says and get a jack dempsey. they're colorful, a decent size and have lots of personality. be careful tho, some jd's are downright vicious(sp?). my gf bought an oscar on an impulse (even tho she knew we didn't have the space) and put it into my 60 gal with my female jd. the oscar was about an inch bigger than the jd but 3 hours later the oscar was missing his left eye, the right side of his head and all his fins. it was sad and we had to euthanize him.

if it were me...i'd go with 1-2 sajicas. i'm on a sajica kick right now tho and i'm trying to find space for them in one of my tanks
 
i don't think the trimac is a good idea. while i have no personal experience with them, i've always heard that they are really aggressive and get to a decent size. Oscars may grow to a large size but they're pretty docile for cichlids and chances are he would at least get a serious beat down by the trimac if not killed.

If you want another larger cichlid, go with what karou-sama says and get a jack dempsey. they're colorful, a decent size and have lots of personality. be careful tho, some jd's are downright vicious(sp?). my gf bought an oscar on an impulse (even tho she knew we didn't have the space) and put it into my 60 gal with my female jd. the oscar was about an inch bigger than the jd but 3 hours later the oscar was missing his left eye, the right side of his head and all his fins. it was sad and we had to euthanize him.

if it were me...i'd go with 1-2 sajicas. i'm on a sajica kick right now tho and i'm trying to find space for them in one of my tanks

with all the responses about larger fish i have decided to also give my oscar to the lfs as well, with all of my cichlids including the pair and start with all new fish. So anyone with suggestions about what cichlids i should get will be of great appreciation.
 
Agreed,

oscars are a odd one. They are not really aggressive, but they have their moments and the occasional psycho member of the oscar society.

My fish grew 10" in a year from a baby at 1". So, you must figure in another 6 months or so, your oscar will be 10-12".

So, finding the appropriate sized tank mate will be interesting.

If you are good about keeping check on the water quality, you could manage a second oscar, because you sound like you really want a second fish. You would have to hope that your current oscar would like and pair up with the new one. The younger the better for this to work. You would have to get one about the same size, as well as try to make sure they get equal food, so one doesn't jump ahead on the growth curve.

I would figure at least a 50% change twice a week with two oscars to keep nitrate under control, just as I need to change mine nearly that much already in the 55 and he is just under 12". It seems I can go a couple extra days since switching him to Hikari Cichlid Bio-Gold+ (less than half the price online compared to in-store), he also seems to poop less with the same feeding with this food.

I have looked up a lot about oscars, and personal experience ... read up on jds/ebjds ... but the others, I haven't looked into much. I wouldn't go with African Cichlids, because they are more aggressive, even though usually being much smaller, and, they also need a higher ph level (different lakes, different levels).



What are the dimensions of this 100 gallon. That could make a big difference too. A 4 ft long 100 gallon, which I have seen many of, I would be strongly hesitant of a second large fish due to territory, unless the two are paired, and you have some decor to break up the tank and give a sense of personal space. A 6 ft long 100 gallon is better suited for a second big fish, since they can claim stake to a side, and still have 3 ft without invading the other territory. Full grown, an oscar will be over a foot long, so you look at a 4 ft tank and realize that your little guy only needs to travel 30-36" for his nose to hit the other side, it shrinks the tank quickly.


Caring for fish can be easy and complicated at the same time. When mixing large fish, you have to give territory, watch for individual aggression, for I have seen two oscars grow up together, and one turned cruel and aggressive, while the other was timid and gentle. Tall plants, caves/hidey-holes, and good water quality help a lot. Poor water quality is an agitator. High nitrates, or levels of ammonia and nitrite can spark aggression, even between a paired up couple. Think about how people are more agitated in 100 degree whether, or if pollen is high and they have allergies, and other outside factors that can turn pleasant people into not-so-fun to be around disgruntled citizens ... congested traffic on a hot day with a car with a broken a/c is a great example :p


I think with a paired up set of convicts, you will honestly be best served with no second large fish, or see if your lfs will let you try to find a mate for your oscar. This way, the convicts can establish one side of the tank as theirs, especially for breeding (they will get aggressive and protective of the eggs and fry), then the oscars will take the other side to call home for sleeping, and possible mating. The problem I see that could happen, unless you have very passive members of the respective species, is if you get another large fish, unless they establish left, middle, right territories, there may be a bit of claustrophobia-induced aggression.


Strange things happen. People have pulled off combinations that shouldn't work before. I am only trying to tell you the easiest way about it. Less fish, less water changes. Less fish, less chance of aggression. But ... if you and your LFS are willing to try, watch, and put the effort, you never know what you may get away with. Point is, some oscars will eat a new oscar introduced, some will have parental instincts and allow the baby oscar to follow it around like a puppy.
 
Agreed,

oscars are a odd one. They are not really aggressive, but they have their moments and the occasional psycho member of the oscar society.

My fish grew 10" in a year from a baby at 1". So, you must figure in another 6 months or so, your oscar will be 10-12".

So, finding the appropriate sized tank mate will be interesting.

If you are good about keeping check on the water quality, you could manage a second oscar, because you sound like you really want a second fish. You would have to hope that your current oscar would like and pair up with the new one. The younger the better for this to work. You would have to get one about the same size, as well as try to make sure they get equal food, so one doesn't jump ahead on the growth curve.

I would figure at least a 50% change twice a week with two oscars to keep nitrate under control, just as I need to change mine nearly that much already in the 55 and he is just under 12". It seems I can go a couple extra days since switching him to Hikari Cichlid Bio-Gold+ (less than half the price online compared to in-store), he also seems to poop less with the same feeding with this food.

I have looked up a lot about oscars, and personal experience ... read up on jds/ebjds ... but the others, I haven't looked into much. I wouldn't go with African Cichlids, because they are more aggressive, even though usually being much smaller, and, they also need a higher ph level (different lakes, different levels).



What are the dimensions of this 100 gallon. That could make a big difference too. A 4 ft long 100 gallon, which I have seen many of, I would be strongly hesitant of a second large fish due to territory, unless the two are paired, and you have some decor to break up the tank and give a sense of personal space. A 6 ft long 100 gallon is better suited for a second big fish, since they can claim stake to a side, and still have 3 ft without invading the other territory. Full grown, an oscar will be over a foot long, so you look at a 4 ft tank and realize that your little guy only needs to travel 30-36" for his nose to hit the other side, it shrinks the tank quickly.


Caring for fish can be easy and complicated at the same time. When mixing large fish, you have to give territory, watch for individual aggression, for I have seen two oscars grow up together, and one turned cruel and aggressive, while the other was timid and gentle. Tall plants, caves/hidey-holes, and good water quality help a lot. Poor water quality is an agitator. High nitrates, or levels of ammonia and nitrite can spark aggression, even between a paired up couple. Think about how people are more agitated in 100 degree whether, or if pollen is high and they have allergies, and other outside factors that can turn pleasant people into not-so-fun to be around disgruntled citizens ... congested traffic on a hot day with a car with a broken a/c is a great example :p


I think with a paired up set of convicts, you will honestly be best served with no second large fish, or see if your lfs will let you try to find a mate for your oscar. This way, the convicts can establish one side of the tank as theirs, especially for breeding (they will get aggressive and protective of the eggs and fry), then the oscars will take the other side to call home for sleeping, and possible mating. The problem I see that could happen, unless you have very passive members of the respective species, is if you get another large fish, unless they establish left, middle, right territories, there may be a bit of claustrophobia-induced aggression.


Strange things happen. People have pulled off combinations that shouldn't work before. I am only trying to tell you the easiest way about it. Less fish, less water changes. Less fish, less chance of aggression. But ... if you and your LFS are willing to try, watch, and put the effort, you never know what you may get away with. Point is, some oscars will eat a new oscar introduced, some will have parental instincts and allow the baby oscar to follow it around like a puppy.


It is a 5 foot long 100 gallon. The picture you are seeing was taken last night. I finished my fishless cycle and put my oscar and convicts in there. It is very bare right now, I have 2 fake plants, uggh, and a small cave. I orderd a 12" piece of Malasyian Red Driftwood to decorate with and I am thinking about maybe some live plants to replace the fake ones, along with rock work coming soon.
 
I changed my mind once more. I decided to keep my osacr and convict pair. Today while I was at my LFS giving them my other convicts I made my mind up and bout a Jack Dempsey

PICT1019.jpg


PICT1018.jpg

sorry about the photos being blurry, my camera isnt the best

I have him in my 29 gallon for the time being untill he is grown a little bit and big enough to go in with the oscar. He is in with my feeder fish, I do weekly water changes in it. I don't see any problems with him being in there for about 1 month, all that is in there are 10 comets and 20 guppies. So the guppies should keep him feed along with the brine shrimp, blood worms, beef heart, and pellets i will feed him.
 

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