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what is the minamum size tank you can have for one oscar?? something smaller then a 55 gallon bc i don't have room for that..........?

Unfortunately...nope.

Oscars can get HUGE and def. need at least a 55, but would prolly do better off in more.

Keep in mind they're very messy, and grow pretty fast. They can eat anything smaller than their mouth (this means tetras beware...) And they're hard to get rid of when they hit a decent size...

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

And they're hard to get rid of when they hit a decent size...

I seen full grown ones sell for nearly the same price as small juveniles.

I just wanted to respond to the last reply about seeing oscars sell for the same price as juveniles. I say, Where do YOU live? Here I see Juveniles go from anywhere between 4.99 and 14.99, and I have seen large adults 8-10 inches sell anywhere between 39.99-69.99
But I agree with everyone, an adult oscar needs a tank at least 55 gallons. You cannot get away with less, it just wont work.
You could look at some smaller personable cichlids though that will suit your smaller tank.


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personally I think 75 should be minimum for an adult. I like to make sure my fish have plenty of room to turn around. A full grown oscar in a 55 gallon would have trouble turning since the tank's only 13" wide.

BBBBBUUUUTTT if you get a 40 gallon breeder one oscar would have plenty of room to turn around bc thats 18' in width

Personally I wouldn't put an oscar in anything less than a 75 gallon. It's just easier to keep clean and maintain good water quality. Water quality is extreamly important with oscars. Poor water quality makes them more e to diseases (as does a poor diet). If you can't afford or don't have room for a large enough tank for an oscar, pass on the purchase until you can provide the proper home for one.


Last edited by filoviridae at 13-Feb-2005 20:55

BBBBBUUUUTTT if you get a 40 gallon breeder one oscar would have plenty of room to turn around bc thats 18' in width

that means the tank is only 36" long. at full grown size (14-16" an adult oscar would have plenty of turning room, but length-wise the tank wouldn't be much more than twice the fish's body length which is still not good.

I still recommend no less than 75 gallons, or another tank that is 48" long by 18" wide. I, personally, wouldn't use anything smaller than a 125 for oscars though...but again that's just me.

Bigger is bettera Yeah, i'd agree that a 65-70G is a minimum, and width is VERY important (18" minimum) so your big buddy can turn around. Now, who says you don't have the space? One sledgehammer and a few spare minutes on the weekend, you'll have all the floorspace you need It will be important with a smaller tank to maintain water quality by having a filter much larger than the tank and doing regular water changes. Don't forget where these guys live natively and just how much flowing water (=water changes) they get to grow up big and stong in the wild.

Just to put my 2c in on the whole large oscar price thing, i saw an albino red in my LFS today, 12" for $45. Very good health, and the best colouring of an albino i've seen. Thats about $30US. A juvi sells for between $10 and $20, depending on how many are available at the time you're looking to buy. I bought an 8" Brasiliensis from the same LFS for $25 last Sunday, who i promptly named Bazz. He's got a mutant mouth, but otherwise a very heathy beautiful fish, and the staff at the LFS all grimiced at him and said "He's deformed..." I just had to give him a good home after that!

Now, as soon as i figure out where the 6ft Malawai tank is going... i'll be getting some more Moorii and and and...