Message for 'Wilsta'

[Losi]

Wilsta,
as promised.

I visited my LFS at the weekend to ask about possible tank mates for my Oscar. They have said that unless you have a very large tank that they are best on their own (I have a couple of plecs in with him but thats ok).

N.B. they also had Albino Oscars whih were very tempting but wanted £22 for them!!

 

[Wilsta]

Thanks Losi for the information, I am still very keen to setup an Oscar tank but it all depends on what size tank it is... I am still waiting on a friend of mine to get a suitable size tank cause he knows someone personally who builds them apparently? but the problem however is that i live in an apartment block on the 2nd floor which would be a problem cleaning the tank etc, carrying the tank up the stairs etc and most important fitting the tank through the front door for starters... i think two foot depth is my bare minimum, and about 4ft in length to fit it in... but i was also at the LFS last sunday and I too asked the guy whom happens to be a cichlid specialist.. he had tanks with oscars in it with other fish, and they were only 4ft by 20" height by 16" depth, so i am assuming that its possible. he had about 4 or 5 oscars in it and they were atleast 8 inches long! so 1 oscar in a 4ft by 2ft by 2ft whom is 6" (atm) in length would be fine in this size tank. I think, I am just going to experiment with different fish can always take them back i guess?!?

 

[Eelzor]

Hey Wilsta, I know the superb tankmates for oscars. I am actually starting an Australian Salmontail Catfish tank. Salmontail Cats can be kept with oscars, but you would need quite a large tank. Heres a link - Salmontail Catfish

 

[Wilsta]

Thanks Eelzor

but they grow absolutely huge 80cm!!!! I dont know how much you know about these guys, but do you know if they grow slowly? I think i may have to do some research on them before i make any more decisions. but they look pretty interesting and arent too expensive either like $20AU each do you think a 4ft x 2 x 2 is big enough? i guess not

 

[Eelzor]

I am actually getting about 4 in a 20 gallon for now, and unfortunatly they grow unbelievable fast. With a normal varied diet, in a year they should reach 10inches. But since they are so huge, I am not putting them in a tank But for now, I would think they are good while they are small. Once they hit the 10inches I think they grow slowly from there. But think on the bright side, since they grow fast they will not undergrow your oscar, so the oscar doesn't consider eating them. The tank you said (4x2x2ft) is quite big in my opinion and will be fine for a very long time indeed. I suggest adding 2 salmontails. I would worry about size later. That's what I usually do.

 

[Wilsta]

do you think the oscar would peck at there long whiskers??? pleco's seem boring to me i think the salmoncatfish you have mentioned are pretty active... but i will speak to someone who is in the business and lets me know for sure if they are a good tank mate for an oscar... there are so many factors i have to consider...

 

[Eelzor]

do you think the oscar would peck at there long whiskers???

I am not sure if you completely read it, but it says that the salmontail catfish have a mucusy thing on there whiskers that irritate human skin. The oscar won't bother at all even if it didn't have the 'mucusy thing' on the whiskers.

pleco's seem boring to me i think the salmoncatfish you have mentioned are pretty active...

Oh yes they are, they never hide and will even let you pat them easily, but they dart away once you touch them because your hands are very hot compared to their cold skin. They are always usually swimming up and down the glass tanks. It's just there nature. I love it though.

but i will speak to someone who is in the business and lets me know for sure if they are a good tank mate for an oscar...

Good to get other opinions Tell me what they say too, I want to know more about these species.

there are so many factors i have to consider...

I'm here to help!

 

[Wilsta]

Eelzor, would you know if the salmontail Cat is a shoaling fish... you have me very curious now about these fish...

how on earth are you going to fit 4 in a 20gal tank? what are you gonna do when they are all squashed up against the glass hehehe

I have another question for you have you ever seen these guys with an oscar? or are you just assuming they are compatible?

 

[Eelzor]

Eelzor, would you know if the salmontail Cat is a shoaling fish...

No it is not. You can have them in any number. But I find they are a lot more playful in groups.

you have me very curious now about these fish...

Yes, it is a part of my sinister plan - muahahahahahahhaha!!!

how on earth are you going to fit 4 in a 20gal tank? what are you gonna do when they are all squashed up against the glass hehehe 

It's only temporary until I get my swimming pool ready But seriously, it's only temporary.

I have another question for you have you ever seen these guys with an oscar? or are you just assuming they are compatible?

I have seen them! - Get a load of this beaut tank!!! I found it on the web.

 

[Wilsta]

how much have you seen these catfish for?

Okay you have your evidence (the picture), court dismissed! nice gourami.. how on earth do they ever get that big, will never know...

where abouts in aus are u from eelzor?

 

[Eelzor]

I am in Queensland

Aquamanis - Western Australia
Kossy - Southern Australia
Lithril's Dad - Tasmania
(Forgot Name) - Victoria
Wilsta - Don't know yet
Eelzor - Queensland
(Forgot other name) - New South Wales

All we need is someone from Nothern Territory and we have someone from every state of australia on the forums!!!!

By the way I seen 3 inch salmontails for $8 each.

 

[Wilsta]

I am from Sydney

good that we have the whole continent covered well almost!

$8 is pretty reasonable price for 3" I would probably have to get atleast 4/5 inches maybe a little bigger cause my oscar is pretty moody!

 

[Eelzor]

Yes, oscars are very different from each other and their attitudes differ so much from each other from what I have seen. If you have any more questions just type in this post to keep the info in one post bundle. By the way I though you might be interested in this! - Shark Catfish's

 

[Wilsta]

hmmm they are quite HUGE! hehe
these arent closely related to salmontail catfish are they??

i may get two salmon catfish you have slightly twisted my arm without the twisting part hehe

but first off all, get the tank, move the tank, build a stand for the tank, set up the tank, cycle the tank, enter the fishes!

list so far - 1 oscar
2 salmontail catfish

 

[Eelzor]

Good to see you have started!

hmmm they are quite HUGE! hehe
these arent closely related to salmontail catfish are they??

Well, they are closely related to them but they don't get THAT huge. I believe the "Columbian Shark" is another closely related catfish with the salmontails. They look so very alike though!

Columbian Shark