Oddball Tankmate For Oscar And Gt

[ChilliPepper]

As title really, I am looking for a suitable tank mate/s for my oscar and female GT for when they go in the 5ft tank. I'd like something with a 'wow' factor, something which looks a little odd, and quite impressive. Doesn't have to be particularly large. I am planning on getting a Fluval Fx5 filter system if that makes any difference... Also the tank will be mainly rocks/sand with a few silk plants... I am thinking of maybe trying a severum as well, so this may limit suggestions. A cool bottom feeder/dweller or something would be good...Open to suggestions, something which looks good alongside a red tiger oscar and a green terror....What sort of bichirs would be OK? I really like the marbled and ornate bichirs...Or a snakehead?

 

[angelfishguy]

what about 1 of these?
tire track eel

 

[ChilliPepper]

what about 1 of these?
tire track eel

Thanks, they are very nice, but think they will get too big

 

[indigoj]

Tyre Track can reach 3ft

Bichir could be ok, an Ornate can reach 2ft though. What is the water volume of the tank though as both Oscars and Green Terrors need a fair bit of space themselves.

 

[furry catfish]

Yea what indigoj said,a bichir,or some sort of spiny eel?

 

[always4lora]

Spiny eel may end up food depending on the size of the oscar and might also might struggle to compete for food. Ornate bichir would be good if your tanks 24" wide as theyre commonly available and really good looking.
Also up the filteration if you can , i had a single fx5 running on my tank and IMO wasnt enough so got a eheim 2078e to go with it. I'd have an internal or another external if i could but no room for the external and the internals dont look great.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Tyre Track can reach 3ft

Bichir could be ok, an Ornate can reach 2ft though. What is the water volume of the tank though as both Oscars and Green Terrors need a fair bit of space themselves.

It would be around 400L. I do really like the Ornates, just wanted to explore other possibilities too

 

[indigoj]

Not really space for an ornate in 400l with an Oscar and GT, maybe for a while but not long term.Remember 300l is the absolute minimum for an Oscar on it's own.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Not really space for an ornate in 400l with an Oscar and GT, maybe for a while but not long term.Remember 300l is the absolute minimum for an Oscar on it's own.

What small bichirs could be considered? Don't really want to have to rehome, as I get attached to my fish. Hence why I'm buying a bigger tank so I can keep my GT!

 

[ChilliPepper]

What about a Rainbow Snakehead Belher's Snakehead Channa bleheri or an Asian Snakehead Channa asiatica?

 

[always4lora]

snakeheads should be kept in species only tank really.

 

[ChilliPepper]

snakeheads should be kept in species only tank really.

Oh, it says on Wildwoods:

Channa asiatica (Asian Snakehead , Small Snakehead )
An attractive and small snakehead species that works well in community tanks with fish too large to be considered food. Basic colouration is greenish-brown, but with numerous silvery-blue speckles on the face and flanks, and a prominent eyespot on the caudal peduncle.

Channa bleheri (Rainbow Snakehead , Belher's Snakehead )
This stunning dwarf snakehead was discovered by Heiko Bleher during one of his expeditions to India in 1991. It has since become one of the most popular snakeheads and is now commercially bred and easily obtained.

It is a very colourful species, but variable, typically sporting some mixture of red, yellow, green, and blue on its body. It can even be kept in community tanks with fish too large to swallow (rainbowfish, medium sized barbs, silver dollars, etc.). Its small adult size (typically around 13-16 cm) makes this species one of the best snakeheads for home aquaria and one of the few that can be bred relatively easily.

 

[always4lora]

Snakeheads are best kept in species tank. Snakeheads are really nice fish but in my opinion and experience with them you should either have them in a tank by themselves or not at all.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Snakeheads are best kept in species tank. Snakeheads are really nice fish but in my opinion and experience with them you should either have them in a tank by themselves or not at all.

Thanks, I appreciate your experience, just wondered why they wouldn't be compatible with an oscar and GT? I know it's a risk, but most things I'm thinking of putting with them pose a risk, and even putting them together was a risk

 

[always4lora]

difference with snakeheads is though they have a nice set off teeth and can do some real damage if they disagree with your fish. Taking a risk is ok if you have a spare tank large enough to seperate them. Where about's are yo based as theyre illegal in the states apart from maryland or somewhere like that.