ACK!!! Help!

[AquaNut]

Help meeeee! Here I am at work, perusing the classifieds because I've been looking for a cheap 20ish gallon aquarium for my tiger barbs and CAE to move into, and what do I find? 20 gallon system, complete with stand, cheap.

I call the number, the girl says they still have it. I ask if I can pick it up after work, she says sure, but there's just one thing the paper didn't mention. Oh? What's that, I ask. It has fish in it. Oh. What kind of fish do you have in there? (I'm thinking if it's just some guppies or platies or a few tetras, I'm sure I can work them into one of my existing tanks without too much difficulty). She says, "There's a big oscar, some goldfish and an algae eater in there right now." Gah. I told her I have to think it over.

Now what? I can't let some un-knowing hopeful fish hobbyist wannabe take home that oscar in a 20 gallon tank, and I can't leave it where it is, either! I was really looking for an empty tank so I can spread out the fish I've already got, not an overstocked tank with an oversized inhabitant! What is the minimum ADEQUATE tank size for one oscar? I don't want him to be cramped, and I'm trying to figure out how I can rescue him from his current habitat.

Pleeeeeeease help soon so I can save this guy!

 

[angel_lover]

Hi Aquanut!!!! I dont know where you live but there is an aquarium superstore near where i live and they take large oscars.Do you have any superstores near you??They would probably take him

P.S I've heard the minimum tank size for an oscar is a 55gallon but dont quote me on it.I could be wrong.

 

[AquaNut]

Hi angel lover!

Nearest large pet place is a Pet-cetera fifty miles/eighty km from here, but I wouldn't take a silverfish to them, let alone an oscar! There's only one lfs in town and I doubt that they're any better equipped to handle a large oscar than I am. I hate the idea of leaving him with some clearly unknowledgeable fishkeeper, especially since nobody who calls for that 20 gallon tank is going to be looking for a large oscar to go along with it. :\

P.S. I read your angel chronicles earlier today... mine are doing the exact same thing and I think they may have to be separated temporarily too!!!

 

[smb]

I know a lot of people say a 55g but I just don't think 55g's are a good aquarium for CA/SA's due to the lack of depth. A 75g would be my recommended minimum for any cichlid that gets over a foot long to be honest. It just gives the fish more room to turn around in.

 

[AquaNut]

I really don't think I can do it, then. I'm already looking for a much bigger tank for my 45 gallon community to move into (100 gallon-ish). I can't make room for a new 100 gallon AND a 75 gallon tank for the unknown oscar.

 

[smb]

Wel, the 55g is a heck of a lot better than a 20g tho. I was just saying what I felt a min. size should be. If it was between a 20g and a 55g then a 55g would definately be better for the Oscar and I would give it a try. The Oscar will love you for it.

 

[missyintx_99]

My Oscar is 8" now and doing well in a 55g. I can't imagine having him in anything smaller. If you have anything bigger you could put him in, you'd be doing him a tremendous favor. Poor thing. I wish I could take him!
I know you said you have these other plans, but maybe fate put this Oscar in your path for a reason, if for nothing more than to save him from his current miserable existance?
(Am I getting to philosophical for ya now? )

Good luck.

 

[AquaNut]

Well... I'm home from work now; I had all kinds of errands to run after work, none of which involved bringing home an oscar. I have a sneaking suspicion she'll still have him if I call tomorrow.

Here's what I found in the island Buy & Sell.... a 60 gallon complete set-up (filters, heater, stand etc) for $300 or a 75 gallon 'just the tank with canopy' for $150. I know if you live in a reasonable sized city, used equipment is easy to come by, but it's not here, so consider that all other equip for the 75 gallon would need to be purchased at lfs prices. I actually have a spare HOB filter rated for an 80 gallon tank; I'm not using it right now because it's too loud for my liking, but I could certainly use it for the time being. I think I have a spare 150 watt heater in the depths of my fishie storage cabinet, too... I guess I'd still need a couple hundred watts more heat. Last but certainly not least, where the *%#@& am I gonna set up this 75 gallon tank, anyway? *sigh* I guess I'll find a spot. Can't very well leave poor Oscar where he is, can I.

I'm replacing the carpet in my living room with laminate flooring; the guy is coming to measure it on Monday. All the tanks in my living room are going to have to be drained and moved... Oscar is going to have to stay in his 20 until the new flooring is in. I'm going to need TONS of help with this... I've never kept anything bigger than my angels. Oscar, here I come.

 

[smb]

I'm going to need TONS of help with this... I've never kept anything bigger than my angels. Oscar, here I come.

You'll do great. You think those Angelfish have personality? Wait til you have this Oscar for a while. They are almost like puppydogs.

 

[AquaNut]

It's kind of ironic that just last week I was asking about what kind of cichlids I could keep in my 33 gallon tank after I move all my fish around because I wanted to start keeping cichlids. Freshmike is keeping planted tropicals and I'm gonna keep cichlids What is this world coming to?

As an aside, smokin' game between the Oilers and the Avalanche right now.

 

[freshmike]

LOL @ Aquanut!!!!

 

[AquaNut]

I just talked to the lady with the oscar. I'm going over to pick up the tank and fish after work!!! I'm really excited. I hope he's not in rough shape, but if he is, I'll fix him up.

 

[smb]

That's great Aquanut. How big is he btw and what strain?

Post some pics of your new buddy if you can. He's going to love you for this.

I'm going to go on record here saying that this will be your fav fish you've ever had so far and you will want more cichlids within a year. Cichlids have that much personality and "puppiness".

 

[AquaNut]

I don't know anything about him yet!! I guess the tank belongs to a teenaged son; I've only talked to the mom, and she doesn't know anything except that he's "a fair size". I'll definitely be posting pictures later on this evening, once I get him home and set up!

Like I said before, he'll likely have to stay in his wee 20 gallon tank for a week or two, until my new flooring gets put in. There's just no less chaotic way I can think of to do it right now. Even without the new oscar, the new flooring is going to be a massive undertaking (five tanks in my living room that will need to be moved all at once).

I have a sneaking suspicion you're right about my wanting more cichlids. I already had some quiet plans to get a pair of cons. Hmmm... those plans may work very well in conjunction with the acquisition of an oscar who's accustomed to live food (she said there are feeder goldfish in with him right now ).

I can't wait to see my new buddy and get him home for some good fishy love and tlc.

 

[freshmike]

Awww that's sweet!!! He will really appreciate it too!!! Oscars are sooo friendly!