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What is the perfect ph and water temp for oscars?
I currently have 8 oscars in a 4 foot tank, 2 of which are around 6 - 8", and 6 of which are around 2".
They are all currently happy in their tank living together, but I have been looking for the perfect ph level and water temps.

Your tank is not big enough for those fish, as they will all grow to over a foot long. Eight oscars in a tank like that is just asking for trouble, because the fish may stunt. Also, oscars produce tons of waste, so your ammonia levels are probably pretty high. I will seriously recommend that you start working on finding new homes for most of them.

With that having been said, a neutral pH and a temperature of about 75 degrees F is just fine. Oscars are hardy, and don't really care what kind of environment they're in, as long as it is stable.

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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."

8 is too much...I say just have the two big one is enough...

ph - 7
temp - 76-80F, they like slightly warmer temp

I did not ask if there was too many fish in the tank, or if the tank was big enough for these fish

Thanks for the ph and temp info.
I have only just moved the 6 smaller oscars into the 4 foot tank, as their 2 foot tank was too small for them, and I am waiting for my 6 foot tank be made.

Last edited by snoopy at 09-Nov-2004 15:44

We did not say that you were overstocked to insult or belittle you, just to make sure that you were aware. Many novice fishkeepers greatly overstock their tanks, and we were just trying to prevent that. I'm sorry if Week End and I sounded harsh, but we had no way of knowing whether or not you knew how big your fish would get. I'm happy to know that you have a bigger tank coming for your oscars.

Just setting things straight.

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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."

thanks, I just get a little sick and tired of people telling me the same thing over and over, even after I have explained what I am doing with them, after the 6 foot tank has arrived, I will be purchasing yet another 4 foot tank, as I am trying to get a breeding pair out of the small oscars.
At the moment, I am looking at purchasing the 6 footer (when its ready), and 3 more 4 foot tanks, I do know how large the fish I have get, and I do so much want them to be happy in their tanks, theres nothing worse than having a great looking fish being unhappy due to their living condiditions.

I know that a lot of people overstock their tanks, I have learnt that one the hard way, but luckily it was only with small cheap fish, otherwise it would have turned me off fishkeeping, I have been keeping fish on and off for well over 15 years, and I think I know what I am doing.

With the Ph levels, I have been keeping them at between 7.0 and 7.2, as with the temp, I have been keeping that at around 25 - 27 degrees celcius.

As I am not farmiliar with farenheit, is this temp good, or too low?

1 other thing, I check my ammonia levels at least once a week, and the result of ammonia is always nil.

Last edited by snoopy at 09-Nov-2004 20:52

My thermometer indicates:
26C=78F
27C=80F
28C=82F (this ones easy to remember - transpose numbers)

so I have the temp too high then?

no, 27 degrees C is a good number for them

thanks week end

Temp conversions;

http://www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/convert.asp?type=temperature

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There is always a bigger fish...

Actually, until you are ready to breed them, 25C-26C is a much better temp. 27C is the area of the high range temp that these fish come from, with 25-26 being the average temp. Higher ranges should be kept for breeding and growing out fish, as these higher ranges cause an increase in fish care. Due to the increase in body metabolism, thus the need to increased feedings, increased aireation (lower temps hold more oxygen, higher temps hold less), increased water changes (increased body metabolism causes more waste), ect.

I suggest you not keep them over 27 until ready for breeding them.

HTH.....

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There is always a bigger fish...