Oscar friend

[Losi]

I am getting a bigger tank for my Oscar (Ottis) at the weekend and wondered if you can introduce any other fish (apart from another Oscar) into the tank.

Obviously anything like neons etc would rapidly become a meal but I know that Oscars can live with other Cichlid's.

Any ideas or is this not a good idea??

cheers in advance

 

[A.K.A Zak]

well if you have a big enough tank you can get 1 or 2 iredesent sharks, they look neet and are quite active. but you have to have a big tank, these guys get 30 inches.

 

[Cian McLiam]

Quite a few people can succesfully keep a large plec with their Oscar, I read a magazine article recently that said a robust Plec like a L014 wont take any crap from an oscar so could be worth a look.

Ken

 

[CFC]

How big is the new tank? The size will play a large part on what, if any, tankmates can be added, IMO if the new tank is less than 75g then you shouldnt add any tankmates apart from maybe a large plec as the oscar will see them as invaders in his territory, if the tank is over 75g then any fish that is too large to swallow but still fast enough to out run a oscar will be fine, silver/bala sharks, silver dollars, larger medium sized species of pimeloid catfish (sorubim lima shovelnoses, ornate pims etc) are all possibilities.

 

[Losi]

The new tank is 100g but I dont feel this is big enough for another Oscar (which is the reason I asked for alternatives )

I will have a look at the local LFS after the tank is set up and running.

Thanks

 

[thecichlidaddict]

Any medium to large S/A or C/A cichlid that is not overly aggressive will work as a tankmate for this guy. Keep in mind that it is harder to introduce a new companion to your estabilished Oscar then it would be to grow them up together. It will help if you add the new fish at the same time as you add the Oscar to the new tank, rather then introducing the Oscar beforehand, but it sounds like he's already in there.

 

[smb]

I would try a few silver dollars. You don't want anything that will bully your Oscar, which would be most cichlids especially if the Oscar is young, and silver dollars are quick enough to stay away from him.

 

[Losi]

He is not in there yet so I could introduce the two of them at the same time.

 

[smb]

He is not in there yet so I could introduce the two of them at the same time.

You also have to worry about the Oscar being bullied if you add a Texas or Jack Dempsey as Oscar's aren't the most aggro of fish.

 

[Losi]

I may go for silver dollars but I will have to see if the LFS has any.

 

[Wilsta]

hey Losi,

I am in a similar boat as you, I have a 6 inch oscar and am looking to upgrade in tank size shortly to house my growing oscar and am also looking to get some new house mates for him... i am interested in blue acaras, firemouths and silver dollars. I am worried on how my oscar will react to when i introduce him to new fish... i am looking at getting a 115g tank. so if anyone has any ideas

 

[Losi]

I considered a blue acara, do ya think that they would be OK together?

 

[tdnp]

I used to keep mine with a large plec, pangasius,red finned shark(fully grown)
a couple loaches and a Green Terror there was a little bit of fighting but not much