Tiger Oscar

[Emissary of Pain]

Hey Minxfishy,


You actually gave me an idea ... Sevs as an oscar tank mate ... 1x Tiger Oscar, 1x Marble Highfin pleco (30cm, 11.8in)and armoured, 1x Gold Sev

That should be ok in my 63gal until I can move and get my 180gal ... I mean only the pleco will ahve reached full size ...

 

[ChilliPepper]

Personally, I wouldn't add any more fish with him until you've got the larger tank. He does sound a very territorial and aggressive fish.

I'm lucky that I have a fairly docile (for now...) Oscar that has got along with anything I've tried with him. He's in with a GT, who bosses him around, a Green Sev who he mostly ignores and a Birchir. There are no guarantees he will get on with future fish I add, but they are all in a large tank, so this will help.

I think most problems with cichlids arise if they are in too small a tank - though some personalities dictate no matter how large a tank, they won't get on. In my experience, Oscars aren't aggressive, just big and greedy. If they have insufficient space to turn then they will start getting angry if other fish are in their way, which is natural. I've only had mine since January, but he's 5" already, and would not have been OK in my old 50G for much longer, so a 63G isn't going to be sufficient for your Oscar's size at all.

 

[minxfishy]

No, dont try to add a severum in the 63g, indeed once you get a 180g, then you can try a severum (although you will need to ensure that it is at a decent size) as any other fish you try to add would need to be. Honestly dont try anything in the 63g, the Oscar will kill it.

When you do get a 180g tank, add the fish you want to try with the Oscar 1st, allow them to settle and establish themselves, then add Bob, that way he isnt already king of the tank and will need to establish himself with the others already there.

Yes Oscars and Severums normally make fairly good tankmates, in my case, my largest Oscar (Tigger) is a big softie, very placid and my Severum (Harry) is a big bully.

 

[Emissary of Pain]

Hey minxfishy ...

Sorry ... laps in concentration ... ... I meant 2 say that the sevs will be in the other 63g (63g should be enough to raise 2 sevs) with the other cichlids until I can mix them in the 180g ...



Hey Chillipepper,

My 63g at the moment is large enough for how big he is now, he is always doing figure 8's across the tank or swimming like normal (he has lazy moments as well ... moody little buggers ... lol). He has enough turning space etc. But I am looking for a bigger tank for now and once I move I am not going smaller than 180g ...

In all honesty ... I think he is just aggressive as hell ... lmfao



Once again thanks ...

Richard

 

[minxfishy]

Hi Richard, again for a single severum, Heros Efasciatus, you need a 75g tank, they can reach 12" and are very full bodied. For smaller species of Heros, like Rotkeils, who only max out at 8", yes 63g is big enough for one. Severums are slower growing then Oscars, 0.5" max a month and even slower once they reach 7" to full size. So you could raise two small severums in the 63g til approx 5-6" then add them to 180g, only problem being that way, if the Bob is already in the 180g, he will have already claimed the whole tank and you will have the problem of adding them.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Hi Richard.... Only received Minx's pm now.... I sometimes log in and then attend meetings without logging out... (so it may seem that I was online)......

Whereabouts in SA are you... I know there is a guy currently on BOB... (bid or buy) who has a number of standard sized tanks and I'm impressed with his prices... (from Jo'burg).... He also makes customized tanks if you give him your required dimensions he will build the tank for you....

Just go to Bidorbuy.... Garden & Pets...... fish... You'll find him there.

Anyhows'... Baie welkom hier by ons. dit is 'n uitstekende forum hierdie en jy sal dit geniet.....

 

[Emissary of Pain]

Hey minxfishy,

LOL ... looks like my tank mate idea is not going to go very well ... Maybe I will trade my 3ft and 4ft for a 75gal to keep BOB in until I can get the sevs or other tank mates into the 180gal ...

 

[Emissary of Pain]

Hey Ludwig,

Np for not actually being here ... I am a patient person especially when ppl are giving free advice.


I will look at bidorbuy a bit later on thanks for that !!!

I am in Germiston (Jo'burg) which isnt great for decent takes and other fish enthusiasts but I am having fun ...



Hey minxfishy,

When I looked up sevs I saw they grew slowly that is why I thought that they would be ok in a 63g cause they wouldnt hit fully grown before I got the 180g ... but I like the idea of 1 a bit beta now that I know how big they get (site I was on only said they get large not very specific).


Once again ... Thank you all !!

Richard

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Hey Ludwig,


I am in Germiston (Jo'burg) which isnt great for decent takes and other fish enthusiasts but I am having fun ...

Actually ... That is great, as he also states that he delivers FOC in the Jo'burg Pretoria area... I know his standard 2ft tanks are only R55... Really worth a try.

 

[Emissary of Pain]

Hey all,

Just for a bit of show and tell (mainly because of minxfishy's avatar) I decided to take a pic of BOB after putting him into a 3ft tank while I clean his (he was alone and wasnt in there to long)


Maybe not the best pic, I should have cleaned the 3ft 1st ... hahahaha

(bad quality pic due to using cellphone, my excuse and I am sticking to it)


Good or bad specimen ??


Have a great day and thanks for all the advice ...


Richard

 

[minxfishy]

Awww, now how could that picture of innocence be responsible for so much trouble

He's gorgeous, looks like my Tigger

 

[Ludwig Venter]

That's what they look like when they're cheerful Richard.... But .... those plants in there are not going to last long

 

[Emissary of Pain]

Hey minxfishy, Ludwig...

LOL !!! ... picture of innocence he is and beautiful in my opinion but he has the name : BOB, The Destroyer for a reason ... hahahahahaha


He ripped up 2 of those plants in the time I was cleaning his 63g tank and put them where he wanted them, and tried moving a tube covered in gravel that I made as a shelter. I have not seen many fish with personalities like oscars that is why I have kept him even after destroying many fish and thermometers ...



Regards,
Richard

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Hey minxfishy, Ludwig...

LOL !!! ... picture of innocence he is and beautiful in my opinion but he has the name : BOB, The Destroyer for a reason ... hahahahahaha


He ripped up 2 of those plants in the time I was cleaning his 63g tank and put them where he wanted them, and tried moving a tube covered in gravel that I made as a shelter. I have not seen many fish with personalities like oscars that is why I have kept him even after destroying many fish and thermometers ...



Regards,
Richard

Very intelligent fish they are... (as far as fish goes) definite signs of communication with the owner... They are pets... not your common everyday fish. Bonding does take place.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Aww... Butter wouldn't melt, would it? I love Oscars, mine looks very similar to yours