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I currently have a 3" tiger oscar in a 60 gallon tank, and was wondering what would make an attractive tankmate. I was thinking of a pleco to maybe clean up the mess he makes when he eats, but was wondering if there was a slightly less monstrous alternative, as i inderstand that plecos can get quite large.

I agree, don't go with a pleco. Oscars produce huge amounts of waste, and plecs do as well. You don't want to over-tax your bioload.

As for tankmates, you are pretty limited. Oscars will eat any fish that fit in their mouths, and they may fight with other large fish, depending on personality. A school of larger barbs might be okay, and as long as they are around two inches or so, I wouldn't worry.

Keep in mind, you will eventually need to move the oscar to a bigger tank. 75 gallons would be fine for a fully grown oscar, though by then it will be difficult to find tankmates that won't be eaten.

By the way, welcome to the site!

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Tiger barbs arent that great with oscars. They work for a while until the oscar starts biting off the heads and tails.

I have kept them with large gouramis. If you want something to clean up the mess, try bristlenose plecos. Red blood parrots are good too.

i second the bristlenose pleco. i'd try to find the largest one possible and then you might even want to remove the oscar from the tank for a few hours to let the bristlenose get settled in. then you could re-introduce the oscar and hopefully by then the bristlenose will have found a nice hiding spot.

thanks for the advice, I had been thinking about the bristlenose because they dont get as large as common plecos, so Ill probably go with that.

Just a question, but has anyone ever kept a BN with an Oscar without a problem? I just can't see a 5 inch BN surviving with a full grown Oscar.

SJNJ, it really depends on the oscar. My old 14" oscar lived with 2" gouramis and convicts.

The BN is too small.

I have a common with my 12" oscar and he does a great job of cleanup. However, you do need good filtration and regular water changes. I just found that the only garbage eater of adaquate size was common pleco. I also raised mine together but the Oscar still takes a nip at the pleco now and then.

Regards,

Fins

how about a jd

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''All the clown fish and yellow tangs in the world cant save you now!''

Depending on the size of your tank, maybe green terrors, texas cichlids, jack dempseys... anything big and like-minded MAYBE a school of silver dollars?? But I'm not too sure... I also agree, don't do a pleco. I'm trying to find a home for my 6 inch plec right now, because it poops like CRAZY!! Oscars already make waste like mad, so you don't need two poo-machines