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This is a question for the future when I can get a tank big enough to hold an oscar comfortably. First off, what size tank is needed to house one of these? Secondly, can they live with plecos, and, if so, what species are recommended? Basically, what kinds of other fish to people keep with their oscars?

I think that a 55gal. tank is a minimum with Oscars & if you're going to keep a Pleco aswell, you must get a 75gal. tank.


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Do they like to be solitary or can you keep a pair? I'm not very familiar with the species; we had one when I was a kid, and I really liked him, but I wanted to make sure I got as much information as possible about them before I got one. I know that they can't be kept with plants, right? Do they prefer sand or gravel? I've also read that they will eat anything that fits into their mouth so all small fish are out, right?
Thanks for the reply!

Here i found you a link with all the information needed about Oscars:-

http://www.oscarfish.com/

Hope it's usefull for you.


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Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
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55 gallon is a bare minimum, but not recommended too much. 75 gallons is a much better size because of the added width which would allow a fully-grown Oscar to turn around much better.

Yes, they can be kept with plecs. Most people recommend commons. This is because commons commonly don't get to their adult size in the hobby, which is a shame. If you take the adult size of the plec into consideration you will need a larger tank indeed as plecs get a bit larger than Oscars.

Oscars are not really commonly kept with too many fish other than other cichlids that can take care of themselves. Oscars are omnivorous and will take down small fish and tear apart, if they can catch them that is. On the other hand, if you get a number of other large fish you will need an even larger tank than 75 gallons. However, Oscars are also often kept with another Oscar. Because Oscars are territorial, caution must be excercised when attempting this.

Oscars do not care too much if they have sand or gravel. Just keep in mind that Oscars are messy as heck, and sand gets sucked up by the siphon. As much as you're going to be cleaning I'd go with gravel just to prevent sucking up the substrate too much.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Oscarfish.com ....quite a good site never knew it existed! hehe

What other fish sites are there? and who is fishprofiles.com biggest opposition??

Last edited by Lindy at 20-Jun-2005 22:39

Thanks for the great info!! My goal is to get a 125 sometime in the not-so-far-off future. I'm just trying to decide if an oscar is what I want to put in there or if I should complete ditch it for something else...oh well, I've got plenty of time and now lots of great info!! Thanks again!
Jen

i've got 1 oscar 1 comon plec and 1 blue lobster in a tank togeather ppl say that crayfish and oscars dont mix coz the oscar prays on crayfish (and everything else to be honest!) but with enought hiding places and a big enough tank your oscar will live with a few fish u wouldn't belive it could my brothers oscar lives with a comon plec a blue lobster a RTBS and 5 tigar barbs yes tigar barbs!!!! he has a huge tank and the barbs swim around happily they do sometimes have a close shave but never the less 8 months down the line only one has been lost coz he swam into the lobsters cave and never returned!!!

People sometimes frown upon fish eating other fish in aquriums but thats nature and i think it is nice to try to capture nature fully in ur tank if the odd fish is unlucky it is part of lifes cycle and it makes it all the more close to the wild.

How ever it wouldnt be unfair to put any smaller fish in with your oscar in that tank that u have at present coz he will most definatly eat them.

oscars are prity lasy 9 times out of 10 if they have to work really really hard for somthing thay tend to give up

just use some common sence a 1/2" neon tetra with a 10" oscar aint all that good an idea

Last edited by johnsfish1984 at 22-Jun-2005 19:25

A 75 gallon is a good size for an oscar and a pleco.. there should be a couple of good size hiding spots for the pleco..So he has a retreat incase the oscar gets curious..] but other than that .. you should be able to mantain this tank comfortably.... have fun.

Jack dempsy, convict pair, and plecostamus(the pleco)is perfect
-NewBreeder16

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You can call me Newb too, since I'm not nere new any more.