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I'm addicted to cichlids. I've read so much about oscar's personlaities, that I'm thinking I may want one, or another "wet pet" type.

The largest tank I could have is a 55g (I already ahve two of those, but none with Oscar suitable tankmates). So what do you think would work? Would I be better with a JD or green terror in that size tank? I understand all of them make a sizable amount of waste.

Yes, many oscar keepers will tell you about their charming personality...

But a 55 is a bare minimum for an Oscar, those things get huge and just don't stop growing, or so it seems.

And it's hard to find a new home for them at the LFS once they DO get to be too big, it's not one of those fish that LFS' like receiving full grown. As an LFS employee, I know, we HATE recieving full grown Oscars. It's so hard to find a tank to put them in, as they'll eat anything smaller than their mouth.

They poop like crazy and lead to high ammonia levels...I'd go with a smaller cichlid until you can have a bigger tank.


[hr width='40%'][font color="#000080"]"I know that you are something special, To you I'd be always faithful
I want to be what you always needed, Then I hope you'll see the heart in me"[/font]


-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Alright. I was wondering if it could do 55g, I always hear "75g". My aquarium keepers magazine said 40g and I was like "WHAT??" But anyway...

What else could work with that kind of personality? I won't really bother with a new tank if I can't get anything like that

i think you can get away with 1 Oscar in a 55 gallon tank and NOTHING ELSE. the only down side to having just one fish in this case is that it will be extremely boring and you'd have to change the water quite often to keep the Oscar happy.

If you were looking for cichlids specifically, i'd go for a pair of electric blue jack dempseys. they're BEAUTIFUL and don't grow as large as Oscar. Although Jack Dempseys can be trained to take food from your hand, it'll take a lot more work.

just my 2 cents.

That's a possibility, my LFS has them sometimes and they are gorgeous, but so EXPENSIVE!! So perhaps I'd vouch for a regular one instead

Beta's right those JD are pretty, I have two myself.

Mine are currently housed with my oscars. The oscars are about 6 inches and the JDs are about 4 inches.

I have them in a 55 right now but am going to have to upgrade very soon.

If you get them as a juvinelle I have found that the JD grows very quick just like the oscars will. The oscars do give chase to the JDs often but they are able to hold their own. JDs are also very messy just like oscars.

If you wanted to have a 55 gal JD tank and let them stay in that their entire life, I would suggest starting with about 6 JDs (small), plenty of hiding places and let them pair off.

After about a month you'll have a couple(pair) that really stand out ie. personality, size, temperment, color ect.

Select those two for life and take the other four back to the lfs.

Just my 3 cents



Also, sometimes if you go to a chain lfs like petsmart, petco, they'll have some Elec Blue JDs mixed in and you'll be able to see the difference but they will all be the same price. I only gave $5.99 for each of mine

Last edited by FISH MAISTRE at 15-Feb-2005 19:48

I can't see how you will have a happy Oscar in you 55G unless you have an 18" wide tank. He's going to grow up to be a 12"+ fish... so he'll need room to turn.

It seems to me that what is often forgoten about Oscars is their size and care requirements. They seem really cheap in your LFS as juvi's, but they eat heaps, they require lots of attention water wise, and they grow so damn big and greedy you can't keep many other fish with them. This sends your relatively common $10 Oscar to about a $200 fish in upkeep, but you'd never be able to sell even a full grown for more than $50 (AUD).

Think seriously about your desire to have one. I have two, and don't for a second regret having either of them no matter what starnges looks i seem to get from other fish keepers.

Jester to LFS: "Yep, they are messy. Yep, they are common. Yep, they require more money than a lot of other fish and they are still common. Nope, they really do have character, and if you met my boys, you'd drop the weird look and go buy an Oscar!!"

jester: I know!! Don't worry, I was asking first. So oscars are a no-go. Looking at my 55gs from the side, I realize how skinny they are now... hmmmm :| Darn.

I thought JDs got about oscar size... how come they'll do okay and an oscar won't? Or do JDs get smaller? I'm completely newbish when it comes to CA/SA cichlids...

Last edited by smantzer at 16-Feb-2005 10:50

Oscars grow to be about 14 to 16 inches, whereas a Jack Dempsey only gets to be about 8 to 10 inches.

Severums would go well in a 55 and they come to the glass to check you out. They aren't as lively or wierd as an Oscar but they're pretty cool. The Golds are beautiful.

Have fun, Mike

I have bred jack dempseys over a 5 year period and with hands on experience are a lot more timid fish than the oscars.so if you go for these for your tank dont expect the same greeting has you would with oscars.for me i would go for blue acaras.there characters are great and compatable with other robusc cichlids.

I kept 2 oscars in a 60 gallon tank and they bred. They seemed comfortable. I love dempseys but if you want a fish with a dog-like personality the oscar is your fish.

I have 6 types of cichlids in my 200g and my pair of oscars are one I enjoy the most. The other cichlids might have all the pretty colors and fancy fins, but what inside that counts right??? Oscars have wonderful personality, usually more friendly towards their owners.If you have a pair you will enjoy two of them making out, and swimming together holding fins. I have kept them for almost 2 years now, they are 10" now, and it finally let me pet it for the first time, (a little rub on the head )
If you spend a time with an oscars, you can teach him some tricks too, not many cichlids can do that. I also have 2 jacks and guess what their favorite thing to do is? Lets go hide behind that driftwood! I prefer oscars over jacks 10 to 1, this is just my opinion, so don't freak out dempsey lovers.

Arrrgh, I want a 200G... no faaair... well. As nice as an oscar sounds, I don't see anything bigger than a 55g in my future, and I'd hate to see such a nice fish cramped.. so perhaps I'll just wait a while on this