OSCARS

[Exiled]

I'm coming back to aquariums after about 10 yrs of not keeping one. I still remember how to keep a nice tank and amazingly I've retained my knowledge of of fish taxonomy.... One type of Fish I never had though, was an Oscar. I want to make an All-Oscar tank. Any advice and suggestions, stories, pics would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[JoeFish]

I have had oscars for about ten years so I will share some hints I wish I knew before I got my first one. Get a big tank when right from the get so you dont have move they later. Big filters, oscars can be meesier than goldfish. Before you fill the tank determine what plants and decorations you want and where they will go, then silicone them in place. If you dont silicone them down you will find them rearanged to the oscars liking not yours. Try to hide the heater where the fish cant get to it, some like to attack the light when it comes on. Be prepard for some fighting if you get more than, ussally they wont hurt each other too bad. I would also encourage raising your own feeder fish that way you know your not getting any diseases or parasites. If you decide not to use feeder fish you will be missing out.

 

[Aienu]

If you get all your fish from the same spawn (obvious from their patterns and size and such) they shouldn't be too aggressive towards each other as they normally grow at about the same rate. If you do decide to use feeder fish or guppies (I personally do not recommend this), just be aware--after my sister fed my Oscars guppies while I was away, one has been trying to eat the other one ever since and I have hence had to separate them. I mainly have mine on Alife pellets, and the occasional ghost shrimp or guppy/small goldfish. I hand-feed the fish/shrimp from above the water and they reach in. IMO it reduces them knowing that theyre eating fish and will reduce the likelihood of them trying to eat each other. Again, that is MO . I recommend no more than 1 Oscar per 30 gallons (for when they hit full size), and no more than 6-7 for 150 gallons. The bigger the tank you have them when they're smaller, the faster they will grow. It's amazing Have fun!

 

[Exiled]

Hmmmm, I'm glad I posted this question. Thanks for the imput, people. I'll have to think about whether to do Oscars or not for a while longer. i don't have room for a tank any larger than 50g--and that's a tall one not the wide type
8)

 

[smb]

Hmmmm, I'm glad I posted this question. Thanks for the imput, people. I'll have to think about whether to do Oscars or not for a while longer.
8)

I would recommend a minimum of a 75g tank for 1 Oscar and a 130g for 2.

 

[Exiled]

if that's the case, It's time for me to move on to a new idea.
Maybe some other more docile cichlid. The Discus or something.