Im New Here And I Have A Question.?

[joejoehead]

ok.. i have a ? about oscars. will oscars grow as according to tank sizeor will they just keep growing.. and do they all grow the same size.. what oscar is the smallest oscar...

 

[celaeno]

all oscars grow to 12", i think. they need 55 gallons per fish.

 

[joejoehead]

all oscars grow to 12", i think. they need 55 gallons per fish.

ya but i was thinking of getting a baby but i think i should not get an ocar then because i hav a 36 corner tank..

 

[Gatorbait]

Some get larger than 12"

IMO, the minimum tank size for a single fullgrown Oscar is 75g.

 

[SamUK]

all oscars grow to 12", i think. they need 55 gallons per fish.

ya but i was thinking of getting a baby but i think i should not get an ocar then because i hav a 36 corner tank..

yea im afraid thats not big enough.


75 gallons is the minimum tank reccomended for them as males can and should reach 16"

 

[t1tanrush]

Answer to your question, will fish grow to their tank size physically? Yes, they will, but their internal organs will not stop growing, and their body won't expand, but their organs will, and your fish will pretty much " pop " in a way, the organs just won't be able to fit in the body and you'll have a dead oscar before you know it. 75g is the minimum for these fish, although with a female you MIGHT get away with one in a 55g, but it would be much better in a 75.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I'd also like to add that even if you put a large growing fish in a tank too small for it, the fish will keep growing regardless of the tanks size to a certain extent (i.e. you aren't going to keep a 12inch long growing pleco or any other fish at 2inches long even if you put it in a very small tank).
A small tank may stunt a large growing fishes size to a certain extent, but this is very bad for the fishes health and will reduce its life expectancy and general health and quality of life. It is thus important to get your fish a tank large enough for it if you are to be a good and responsable fishkeeper- gallons isn't everything though, the actual width, length and height of the tank is also very important (the fish must have ample room to turn around in the when full grown and plenty of space to patrol the length and height of the tank) since tanks vary so much in shape and size now days.
If you cannot afford a large enough tank for the fish you want, simply don't get the fish. A 36gallon corner may surfice for a while for a juvenile oscar, but you will inevitably have to upgrade the tank sooner or later so you might as well get a much larger tank now if you want oscars .

 

[Gatorbait]

I'd also like to add that even if you put a large growing fish in a tank too small for it, the fish will keep growing regardless of the tanks size to a certain extent (i.e. you aren't going to keep a 12inch long growing pleco or any other fish at 2inches long even if you put it in a very small tank).
A small tank may stunt a large growing fishes size to a certain extent, but this is very bad for the fishes health and will reduce its life expectancy and general health and quality of life. It is thus important to get your fish a tank large enough for it if you are to be a good and responsable fishkeeper- gallons isn't everything though, the actual width, length and height of the tank is also very important (the fish must have ample room to turn around in the when full grown and plenty of space to patrol the length and height of the tank) since tanks vary so much in shape and size now days.
If you cannot afford a large enough tank for the fish you want, simply don't get the fish. A 36gallon corner may surfice for a while for a juvenile oscar, but you will inevitably have to upgrade the tank sooner or later so you might as well get a much larger tank now if you want oscars .

Good point.

I'm guilty of saying "75g" minimum for an Oscar. When in all actuality, I'm talking about the footprint for the average 75g tank whereas what's normal for me may not be for others or maybe it's a custom built tank.

This is also misleading because the "average" 75g and 90g tanks are the same footprint but the 90g is taller, which means nothing to large cichlids and is a waste of space.