Suitable Tank Mates For Oscar

[ripil]

very true they are a bit fast. (love to see if my male swordtail would beat one in a race) probably disturb the oscars dosey time lol 125g tank would be big enough though wouldn't it? thats around 560 litres. depends on the size of the tank a bit.

 

[micko]

Bala's, as they need to be in groups of 6+ are a bad choice. They can grow to 14+ inches.
I think we're getting way ahead of ourselves here. If the oscars are in a 55G now it won't be long until they'll need a larger tank. Average growth of an oscar is 1 inch per month. 125G will even be too small for them alone IMHO and if you really haven't got the room for a larger tank I'd rethink my plans on adding extra fish to a tank that will already be overstocked.
Please bear in mind that whilst I believe you have the best of intentions in upgrading to a 125G life can sometimes get in the way and fish become stunted, internal organs keep growing and they're prone to diseases.
If you had a larger tank now, bigger than the 125 your talking about severum would be a great fish, everyone knows I love them but as for other posters saying to get them at the same size or age is wrong. Oscars grow quicker than severum. A larger severum, a few inch bigger than the oscar would be better. The oscar will still outgrow the severum in a short space of time.

I'm disappointed in your obvious lack of research dbanner, you had purchased two oscars without knowing their diet or water requirements as you asked this near the start of the thread.

I do hope you get a larger tank for them ASAP as you will need it quicker than you think.

By the way, any pictures of your oscars and current set up? You know we all love pictures on here.

 

[ripil]

yeah be nice to see some pics mate. i've been told bala sharks are fine on their own. you would need a massive tank for all of them. bit pointless it being an aquarium fish at all really. sorry for the wrong info their. i've been told by more than two ppl that bala sharks are ok on their own. (or i wouldn't of posted it) and looked silly. lol

 

[micko]

That's the problem ripil, wrong information gets passed down the line and mistakes happen, that's why there is always a load of them in any LFS I've been in, because people believe they can keep them alone and in small tanks.
We've all done it, you don't look silly at all. When I forst got into fishkeeping I was told one clown loach would be fine on its own, along with the stocking I already had which was 3 angels, two silver dollars, two gouramis, a pakistani loach, a male betta, two red tailed black sharks and two albino rainbow sharks in a 70ltr tank.
I had to learn the hard way to research.

 

[snake007]

Oh yeah, The organs outgrowing the body thing is a myth, so I was told.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Tis why i stressed that an upgrade would be needed in the future...

 

[dbanner]

Will get a pic on soon if possible love watching them. When ever I come on here I use my phone so it's awkward to upload. I know how much cheaper 2nd hand tanks are compared to new but there is hardly anywhere to get 2nd hand by me and i don't drive at the moment so looks like new is the only option.

 

[ultimatebob]

first of all with cichlids its a chance your taking. 2nd, every cichlid doesn't also require a certain amount of gallons to be comfortable, like other fish, but also a certain amount of area in the tank(usually the tank floor or substrate). large cichlids usually require a lot square footage as far as territory. i know its not really cool when you have only 1 big fish and nothing else in the tank. but sometimes thats what a fishkeeper is faced with. do you you take a chance(which could or could not work) or do you give them their requirements. sorry for saying it straight out, but i thought i would save you some time, money, and loss. but if you indeed have a true pair of oscars, thats something good and awesome which you can definately accomadate in that size tank. its like that saying= 2 is company and 3 is a crowd. watch your fish closely, and you will see what is needed in your tank. no matter what, i hope it works out well 4 u. would love to see some pics of those big, beauiful oscars.

 

[nanoMama86]

I have a 100 gallon "breeder" that's almost 2 foot deep, 2and a half foot wide from the side, and five foot long. I n it I keep:


Fury: red fire oscar
Ein&Stein: my psycho clowns seriously, they have killed EVERY other clown I've intro'ed
Bully: my softie of a JD
No-Name: my VERY skittish GT
Mo&Curly: the most gregarious bala's I have ever seen
Moose&Minnie: 2 plain old plecs, moose who is stunted after living ten years in a 15 gallon tank.

 

[dbanner]

Thanks for that ultimatebob, I will get pics when they are a bit bigger. Not really a lot to take a pic of atm

Nanomama Didn realise you could fit so many fish in a 100 gal. Is it not overstocked?

 

[lloyd]

first of all with cichlids its a chance your taking. 2nd, every cichlid doesn't also require a certain amount of gallons to be comfortable, like other fish, but also a certain amount of area in the tank(usually the tank floor or substrate). large cichlids usually require a lot square footage as far as territory. i know its not really cool when you have only 1 big fish and nothing else in the tank. but sometimes thats what a fishkeeper is faced with. do you you take a chance(which could or could not work) or do you give them their requirements. sorry for saying it straight out, but i thought i would save you some time, money, and loss. but if you indeed have a true pair of oscars, thats something good and awesome which you can definately accomadate in that size tank. its like that saying= 2 is company and 3 is a crowd. watch your fish closely, and you will see what is needed in your tank. no matter what, i hope it works out well 4 u. would love to see some pics of those big, beauiful oscars.

+1,2 and 3. very good advice imo

 

[dbanner]

I decided to rehome my albino Oscar and keep the tiger. He now lives with a small firemouth and a Senegal birchir (around 6 inches). There is no aggression at all and no fish are ever fighting for food. Can't remember the last time my tank was this peaceful I didn't actually realise an Oscar could be kept with a birchir until i found out a family member of mine has kept the exact same 2 fish (since very young) for around 4 years in the same tank (75 gal) with no problems at all I went to see for my myself and both fish are a decent size. I love big oscars. Mine is growing nicely already...

 

[Keeper Of Cichlids]

Good choice!
I got a 6inch albino senegal bichir with my oscar!

 

[dbanner]

Thanks ah right. I take it yours get in well as well then? How big is your Oscar and What size tank are they in?

 

[josh_g]

I used to have a green sev in with my oscars and they used to battle ferociously. I think sevs are pretty territorial when they get larger. Some smaller cichlids would look nice Blue Acaras, Firemouths a few decent sized keyholes perhaps.