Oscars in a 55gallon

[wrs]

so Im quite sure that my aunt is getting my brother a 55 gallon tank now for his graduation. If so, he just wants oscars, he likes how theyre mean and stuff like that. I know that oscars are supposed to be kept in a 70+ gallon tank, but would they be okay in a 55 gallon tank? If so, he'd probly only be able to have just the one right? and how long would it live in there before it gets to big for the tank. Also would an angel fish and bala shark be ok with it if there can be a few more fish in the tank?

 

[Dwarfs]

75 should be the minimum

 

[Vip]

55g is fine for just 1. But remember the bigger the better and do you think he will want just one after he gets attached to it go for a 90g

 

[Dakota Ice]

Vip is right, a 55 gallon tank is perfectly fine for one Oscar. Remind your brother that if he gets an Oscar, all other fish are out the window. A 55 gallon tank is bare minimum for an adult Oscar, and there is no room for anymore fish that are large enough to live with an Oscar. The tank will need good filtration, and frequent water changes. If he wants this fish, he has to keep committed, if he can't, then maybe you should talk to him about other fish that would even better in a 55 gallon, like tetras, some cichlids, and most, if not all, gourami's.

I hope I helped,
Dakota

 

[CFC]

I would disagree, my oscar will use the whole of my 200 gallon tank and looks like it should probably have more room, i couldnt imagine keeping one in a 55g except as a grow out tank up to around 8" max, its not so much the length of the tank but the height as the 18" height of a 55g offers the oscar no room to move up and down. I would say nothing smaller than 75 gallons for a single oscar with prehaps a couple of large catfish as tankmates and a 125 for two oscars, though with this tank you could also get away with a large schooling fish like silver dollars and some catfish.

 

[Vip]

Good point CFC but i still stand by what i said because we know alot of oscars live by themselfs in 55g with no trouble, but in this case i cant see them just getting one oscar for just one tank, and even then who would? thats boring.
I agree on getting the 125g because then at least he can get silver dollers and even a severum or convicts.

 

[wrs]

well my aunts buying it for him, and he'd never ask her to get one that big because of the money that it costs. ill just tell him no to the fish. He'll probly disobey me though. And he'll never do any of the changes, he has a hard time feeding my baby guppies when i ask him to, lol