FishProfiles.com Message Forums

do firemouths grow fast??? and could u put one with an oscar? i already have the oscar in 75 his about 7inches

Firemouths like most other cichlids can grow relatively quickly. The problem is your oscar at 7 inches is already larger than the potential size of a firemouth at 6 inches,and will eventually grow to over twice the size of the firemouth. So, I really just don't think it would be a good idea.

A firemouth with an oscar is a workable combination. Just make certain that the firemouth is too large to make a meal for the oscar.

Actually firemouths are some of the slower growing central americans. Yes an oscar and firemouth would work but be very careful. there is not a lot of space for a 6in firemouth to escape from a 12in oscar in a 75g

Like the others said, the Oscar is going to be much larger and might decide the firemouth is a tasty snack some night, so if you get firemouth(s), I would suggest
1) Get them big enough to not be considered a meal, and
2) Maybe have an open area for the Oscar to swim in and in one corner have some caves for the firemouth to escape too if he needs.

an oscar and firemouth would most likely work together if you started out with 2 very young fish and grew them up together. starting with a 7" oscar is a really bad idea. for one thing, as others have mentioned it may be difficult to find a firemouth that won't get eaten. However, another thing is that your oscar at 7" has reached and passed maturity. You may find it very difficult, if not impossible to find another cichlid tankmate that he'll accept living with. It's very hard to add new cichlids to a tank with an already mature cichlid.

Personally, I'd leave the oscar alone.