5ftx2ft Oscar tank

[njr_]

I am currently cycling my 5ft by 2ft (110 gallon) tank.
I am going to be putting in a juvenile (2-3 inch) Oscar in there and am really REALLY undecided on what tank mates to add with him.
Flagtail? Pleco? Silver dollar?
Please someone make my decision easy for me with suggestions
Thank you

 

[GaryE]

It can't be easy, as the fish will live a very long time. Larger fish tend to have longer lifespans, so you have to like them.

Common plecos end up as oscar companions because there's nowhere else to put them once they reach a certain size. To me, they are always a bad choice, because tank conditions combined with their growth cut the end off their lives. Common plecos should be uncommon fish for mega tanks, and only for people who would choose them as the first fish in the tank. They get too big and generate too much waste.

But there are very interesting Loracarid catfish you could research that would be ideal. They aren't cheap, but they are often a reasonable size (under 20cm).

Which flagtails are you contemplating? There are a lot of very different species sold under that name, and they are all different to keep.

Silver dollars are social fish. They take space. And to me, they don't do much in that space.

Oscars are predators that don't like the company of other fish much, in general. Your tank size is great - most people cram them into too small quarters, but you've gotten that right. I would look up the various Baryancistrus species, and if they don't work for you, explore off of them.

 

[Colin_T]

What is the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply?
This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website (Water Analysis Report) or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

Oscars and the other fishes you mentioned come from soft water with a GH below 150ppm.

Silver dollars live in groups and should be kept in groups of at least 6 (preferably 10) or more.

Plecos can get big 18-24 inches for the common pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus).
Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps can reach 12-18 inches.
They both produce a lot of waste, which can lead to hole in the head disease if the tank isn't well maintained.

 

[njr_]

It can't be easy, as the fish will live a very long time. Larger fish tend to have longer lifespans, so you have to like them.

Common plecos end up as oscar companions because there's nowhere else to put them once they reach a certain size. To me, they are always a bad choice, because tank conditions combined with their growth cut the end off their lives. Common plecos should be uncommon fish for mega tanks, and only for people who would choose them as the first fish in the tank. They get too big and generate too much waste.

But there are very interesting Loracarid catfish you could research that would be ideal. They aren't cheap, but they are often a reasonable size (under 20cm).

Which flagtails are you contemplating? There are a lot of very different species sold under that name, and they are all different to keep.

Silver dollars are social fish. They take space. And to me, they don't do much in that space.

Oscars are predators that don't like the company of other fish much, in general. Your tank size is great - most people cram them into too small quarters, but you've gotten that right. I would look up the various Baryancistrus species, and if they don't work for you, explore off of them.

Flagtail characin is that I had in mind. Or possibly a Severum with him

 

[GaryE]

I'll be unpopular and say there's a big issue with flagtail characins, Semaprochilodus taeniurus. They are too big for your tank. You have a good gallon size, but only a five foot front glass. That's only 5 times the length of an adult, and that's a migratory, restless Characin. It needs room to swim. Without it, it stays alive and hovers for years, with no natural behaviour.

People keep them alone with Oscars, but they are shoaling fish that should be in groups of 6 to 10. Anyone CAN ignore that, but lone shoaling fish are not fun to watch. They spend their lives visibly waiting for the fishkeeper to make it right.

That's a fishkeeping philosophy a lot of people disagree with, as it is very inconvenient for us.

If you don't care about the geography of the tank, why not Asian barbs? They are shoalers that need to be in groups, but a lot of them are a fraction of the size of flagtails, too large and high bodied to be eaten by an Oscar and robust enough to thrive in that tank. There are some very beautiful species, and I believe many of them are more available in the UK than they are where I am.

 

[njr_]

I'll be unpopular and say there's a big issue with flagtail characins, Semaprochilodus taeniurus. They are too big for your tank. You have a good gallon size, but only a five foot front glass. That's only 5 times the length of an adult, and that's a migratory, restless Characin. It needs room to swim. Without it, it stays alive and hovers for years, with no natural behaviour.

People keep them alone with Oscars, but they are shoaling fish that should be in groups of 6 to 10. Anyone CAN ignore that, but lone shoaling fish are not fun to watch. They spend their lives visibly waiting for the fishkeeper to make it right.

That's a fishkeeping philosophy a lot of people disagree with, as it is very inconvenient for us.

If you don't care about the geography of the tank, why not Asian barbs? They are shoalers that need to be in groups, but a lot of them are a fraction of the size of flagtails, too large and high bodied to be eaten by an Oscar and robust enough to thrive in that tank. There are some very beautiful species, and I believe many of them are more available in the UK than they are where I am.

Thank you for your help I will look into them. My plan was to have my one Oscar, a shoaling fish of some kind and then a unique catfish. I like “shark looking” catfish that don’t get too big. Any suggestions on this?

Also what about a single Severum in this tank?

 

[GaryE]

I hope someone who keeps Oscars checks in. I've seen severum in that set kind of set up. I would go with a catfish that stays under a foot, ideally around 8 inches. But that's me.

Shark shaped cats are aerodynamic, which means they are adapted to move in flowing water. Again, with 5 foot of front glass, they would just get in the way of the Oscar, and annoy him. Maybe an African Synodontis would work, but you would have to research that as I'm brainstorming. I haven't done that, though I have see some very nice Synos. I don't know how they'd do with an Oscar.

A thing a lot of aquarists don't realize is the size of some common barbs. They're cute and small when we buy them, but many species turn into Oscar proof adults. If your Oscar turns out to have an amped up hunting drive, then bad things are always possible, even with tankmates that aren't bite sized. But most Oscars seem to accept high bodies tankmates of around 5 inches, and a lot of Dawkinsia barbs fit that bill.

 

[Magnum Man]

when younger, I had a lot more predatory fish, among them, many Oscars... Oscars are one of those fish with a lot of personality, you may end up with one that likes having a buddy, or one that will thrash just about anything you put in there... I've even seen tetras in with Oscars... smaller, faster fish than the Oscar could catch ( I would never do that... not much of a life for the smaller fish )... it goes without saying, that unless the "other fish is a fast swimmer, that it needs to be similar size to the Oscar, both when added to the tank, and the "gets to" size... Oscars are gulpers, not fin nippers, I've even seen a big angel fish in with an Oscar before... I do have large barbs... the only caution there... often Tin Foils are used as dither fish, but they need to be in a big group, or they are too skittish, & I'm really liking my Dawkinsia, but my barbs are in a cool water tank, and most barbs of that type prefer cooler water, than an Oscar would be happy in... my last Oscar shared the tank with a 12 inch Tiger Shovelnose Catfish... wasn't a match made in heaven, but worked... part of the challenge, is the Oscar will use the whole tank, top to bottom, so it's difficult to find a fish that won't be sharing the same space

 

[njr_]

when younger, I had a lot more predatory fish, among them, many Oscars... Oscars are one of those fish with a lot of personality, you may end up with one that likes having a buddy, or one that will thrash just about anything you put in there... I've even seen tetras in with Oscars... smaller, faster fish than the Oscar could catch ( I would never do that... not much of a life for the smaller fish )... it goes without saying, that unless the "other fish is a fast swimmer, that it needs to be similar size to the Oscar, both when added to the tank, and the "gets to" size... Oscars are gulpers, not fin nippers, I've even seen a big angel fish in with an Oscar before... I do have large barbs... the only caution there... often Tin Foils are used as dither fish, but they need to be in a big group, or they are too skittish, & I'm really liking my Dawkinsia, but mine are in a cool water tank, and most barbs of that type prefer cooler water, than an Oscar would be happy in... my last Oscar shared the tank with a 12 inch Tiger Shovelnose Catfish... wasn't a match made in heaven, but worked... part of the challenge, is the Oscar will use the whole tank, top to bottom, so it's difficult to find a fish that won't be sharing the same space

What would you suggest for my 110. A shovelnose would be too big. Any other suggestions ?

 

[Magnum Man]

Right now I'm back in love the silver dollar clan... I've been exploring the non common Silver Dollars... ( you would want 4-5 to go in the group... I'm particularly liking Tigers right now ) some of the other South American Cichlids might be good, particularly in a different body shape than the Oscar... Severum's fit, but some get pretty large... maybe some of the armored catfish... I also had a Royal pleco in with one Oscar... they are super cool looking, but don't expect any glass cleaning from them... a lot of the pleco family will work well, as they are typically stuck to something, and not in the Oscars way... my thoughts there, if you are going to get a pleco, it needs to be, or get big enough, & might as well look interesting...

Royal pleco - - Image Search Results

again with plecos, you need to do your research, as some will get too big, and some won't get big enough...