Oscars

[450ltrtank]

hi im soon to be getting some oscars but im not sure s to how set the tank what do they prefere is it bogwood or rock or realplants of fake plants really not sure and aslo what are the ideal levels to have my tak at ie ph levels etc and and what is the ideal temp for the water to be ? and also im looking for ideal tank mates i quiet like the parrot fish are they ok and also the e b jack i really like that ?>??

 

[Uriel]

Oscars need large well filtered tanks. They get very big very fast. The growth in the first year is amazing. That being said they do make amazing pets. I wouldn't worry about ph as trying to alter you tap water ph is going to cause a lot of problems. Better to acclimitize the oscar slowly to your tap water ph. 25 degrees c is about the average temperature. As for tank mates bear in mind that they will need ideally to be added while oscar is small as fish added to adult oscar tank is probably in a lot of trouble. Also most fish you will need to add an adult size while oscar is small as oscar will out grow most types of fish and oscars will also eat anything they can get in there mouth.

 

[450ltrtank]

i have a 5ft x 2ft x 1.5ft tank how many oscars is ideal in this size tank ? and what is best to put wid the fish wise and also plant and rock/wood ?

 

[Verminator89]

You'll get contrasting opinions on Oscars and tank size. Alot of people will say 1 Oscar in a 450L as they get big, and very quickly as mentioned. I agree with this sentiment also, although in saying that you could probably get 2 in a tank this size, but i wouldn't get any more than that.

As for tank mates, anything large and robust that can handle themselves. Anything that will fit into the Oscars mouth will be eaten, and my 3" Oscar was eating adult platys easy! So take care. Also, the speed at which they grow (especially first 12 months) is phenominal. Your talking an inch a month easy, and will readily hit a little under 9" within the first year. So if you want tank mates its best to get the Oscars last, else your nice expensive EBJD could get gobbled up before its hit a good size as they are quite sluggish growers i've found. Mattlee's Oscar (Keith) is testament to the trials and tribulations you will go through with Oscars. His is also a beast of an Oscar, certainly one of the biggest i've ever known of.

 

[england]

Ensure you have great fileration as cichlids are messy, esp oscars, as stated i would probally say two would be ok, but as always with cichlids you wont know until you try, you may have to re-gig and rehome etc, as for tank mates, depends what sort of money your looking at spending, personally i hate these orange parrot fish...lol....However a true parrot cichlid is absolutely stunning, I would reccomend in a tank this size to try to limit the cichlid injection as its not huge, i had a 5/2/2 and tried various mixes of cichlids,which didnt work, ended up just with a pair of oscars, with bala sharks,ornate birchir,gibbicep plec,channa pluero, which was the most peaceful mix i had,

 

[ChilliPepper]

Not all Oscars will eat small fish. I've just put a one inch Sajica in with my big guys and my Oscar who is about 9 1/2" has not even batted an eye at him. TBH he is too lazy to chase other fish. All down to an individual's temperament, but if you get them from babies and always feed them, then why would they try and eat other fish? Some would I suppose.

Well filtered tank is a must, with a strong cover as they can jump.

Have a look at my stocking for what I keep my O with, but baring in mind he is a laid back chap. The only fish I really had a problem with was a Green Terror.

Two baby Oscars grown up together in that tank would be fine IMO, but you may need to separate when they get bigger if they don't get on. Same as with any cichlid - all vary in temperament and it's the luck of the draw a lot of the time.

 

[y2blade]

I have a bog wood and plastic plants in mine (Oscars like to rearrange the tank so real plants don't last long)


mine is in a tank with a large Pleco at the moment ....I've heard that Convict Cichlids can make good tank mates for Oscars...anyone able to confirm this please?

 

[matt_storey]

I was advised not to get convicts, they are pound for pound one of the toughest cichlids out there especially while breeding. In the words of an employee at my local MA - "Dont ruin your tank with these vermins!"

 

[ChilliPepper]

I was advised not to get convicts, they are pound for pound one of the toughest cichlids out there especially while breeding. In the words of an employee at my local MA - "Dont ruin your tank with these vermins!"

It's a real shame about Convicts - they are awesome little fish, but their attitude to others lets them down I had a Con briefly and he had nothing to do with my O, but he was tiny at that point, so who knows what he'd have done in the future. I wouldn't advise it.

 

[GShorty1981]

Convicts go well with oscar, they are not vermin, my adult female pink convict is with Severums and is a peaceful fish.

All cichlids are nasty when breeding.

 

[matt_storey]

Convicts go well with oscar, they are not vermin, my adult female pink convict is with Severums and is a peaceful fish.

All cichlids are nasty when breeding.

its all luck i guess, different fish have different personalities... im just going by what an expert told me

 

[ChilliPepper]

Convicts go well with oscar, they are not vermin, my adult female pink convict is with Severums and is a peaceful fish.

All cichlids are nasty when breeding.

its all luck i guess, different fish have different personalities... im just going by what an expert told me

I wouldn't trust MA. I rang them up to check if they had any Vieja Synspila in stock, as they were showing as having one on tropical fish finder. A girl answered and cheerfully told me that they had just sold the last one, but could get more in if I wanted to order. We decided to drive up there anyway. Lo and behold - about 20 Vieja Synspila

 

[acreteos]

MA also have a habit of telling you anything you want to buy needs a larger tank then you have, I'ts common knowledge to just tell them youre setting up a new tank every time they ask lol.

As for O's they love lots of wood and rocks like any cichlid, which will also help to distribute aggression by creating territorys, but as they get bigger they tend to scratch and bump into the decorations so it's better to give them more swimming room when they get larger, like this