View Full Version : COMPATIBLE: green terror, jack dempsey, and an oscar?
Exit:outoforder
07-21-2003, 5:31 PM
do you think a green terror, jack dempsey, and an oscar can live together ok? (all will start out the same size, about a 40-55 gal tank, plenty of hiding places, etc)
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Hebdizzle
07-21-2003, 5:37 PM
in a 55 i think they would be okay
not a 40 though
friend of oscar
07-21-2003, 5:50 PM
They would be alright for awhile but eventually you'll have to get a larger tank.
DarthV
07-21-2003, 6:54 PM
You should be ok for a while, but those 3 fish will need a 90 or 100gal tank eventually. I'd watch out to see if you get a green terror with an attitude problem...I think one of the forum people had a 3" GT kill a 3" oscar.
Exit:outoforder
07-21-2003, 7:53 PM
i guess i'll cross out the green terror. any of these also ok or compatible with a jack dempsey and oscar: black belt, firemouth, texas, or pike?
ScottoMacD
07-21-2003, 8:00 PM
I would have to say no.
The 40 will just be too small for the three of them.
Size wise you are looking at eventually
Oscar 8 inches
Gt 7-8 inches
JD 7-8 inches
That's allot of fish with BIG attitudes in such a cramped area.
You would need Minimum 100 gallons for those big boys.
One important thing to keep in mind is that fish ...like us have personalities. You can get some really dosal fish and you can get some real nasty buggers. All three will eventually become very territorial, If by chance you get unlucky and get two nasty and one nice fish that poor nice fish is in deep trouble. After that the two nasties will go at it until there is only one.
Now granted some controlled overcrowding can work but not in a tank that small. Unless you want to go with A female JD and a female GT. (their size and aggression levels are much smaller) Throw in some targets and you'll be cooking.
They would work for some time in your 40. You will eventually find that you might have to get a bigger tank later on in the future.
DarthV
07-21-2003, 8:08 PM
For the most part, a GT won't be overly aggressive... the only fish out of the 3 that could live for life in a 40gal tank would be the dempsey. Just the oscar alone will reach up to or over 14" long...so a 72/75 gal tank just for it would be the way to go.
For the most part, pikes will get too large for a 40gal, same with a texas or black belt..and all 3 would be more aggressive than a green terror (not sure on the pike for aggro behavior).
Going with female fish might be an idea, but it is pretty much impossible to sex an oscar unless you vent it. The dempsey and GT will show some some signs of sex, but not until they are 3-4" long or larger.
Fourteen inches on the oscar. 8 inches Scotto? I also think controlled overcrowding is a bad idea with CA/SA if you don't know what you are doing. Control is the first word. I am guessing from this thread the poster is not to familiar, and thats okay, we are all here to learn.
I agree with Darth, the only fish that will fit in that tank for its life is a dempsey. I also agree on the 90. I keep two oscars, a blackbelt and a JD in a 90 and its okay. One of the oscars has started getting spooked lately and running into the walls and heater. They are outgrowing the tank. A 55 will be wayyyyyyy to small for all of those fish.
Pikes are nasty. I only have a dwarf and he is new in the tank and bosses around a severum five times his size. They also get to be up to 18-20 inches depending on the species.
If you want these fish to reach adulthood go with just the JD and some dithers in a 40. I think the GT will grow to fast and harass it, although they could live together if of equal size. Skip the pike texas blackbelt idea unless you plan on getting a tank around 100 gal.
Just noticed your firemouth idea, I have to say thats the best one. JD and firemouth would be great in a 55. Some nice dithers, a cool catfish and pleco. That would be a nice tank.
ScottoMacD
07-22-2003, 8:58 AM
Originally posted by scott
Fourteen inches on the oscar. 8 inches Scotto?
Pikes are nasty.
Oscars usually slow down once they reach 8 inches. I worded it badly. Once the oscar reached the 8 he would have a while before the fish started to get bigger. Sorry for the miscommunication. I tend to think allot faster than I type.
As for the pikes. Most dwarf pikes could work. But the selection with have to be done carefully. Or it could get messy. Some/ most Pike do have a nasty dispossition
The firemouth is a bad idea IMO. Been there tried that. The JD if it is a male will out grow the firemouth quite quickly and then will see the Firemouth as a threat to his territory in such a small tank. The firemouth will get the snot beaten out of it. The really aren't that tough.
Again I say wait until the fish are sexable and go with females. (at least the JD) A large male firemouth and a female JD will get along in a smaller tank.
I have done something similar with my 55 gallon. I have a big nasty killer male JD (7.5 inches) housed with a 9.5 inch female synspilum. They get along fine but the bigger female is the boss.
I tried the firemouth in this tank with my bad boy (he was still only a 3.5 inch juvy and firemouth was a full grown male) and he ended up making lunch out of the firemouth (twice) then a texas then a large albino pleco then a whole whack of targets. I gave up until I spoted the sysnspilum. Since then it has been great.
AikidoGuy
07-22-2003, 10:54 AM
I grow out all of my fish in a 55gall together before they go into the big tanks. Most of my fish I get from Jeff Rapps at about 1" and I'll grow out 5 or 6 fish in a 55gal till they get to 3-4" then I'll serperate them and let them into the big tanks. Those 3 fish you mentioned will be fine together growing out in a 55. I'd recomemend a 6' 150gal as a permanent residence for them.
I'm glad you have the experience with the firemouth Scotto because I would hate to make a bad recommendation. Most of my knowledge of them come from books. As for the pikes my dwarf holds his own with a severum but I'd be nervous with a more agressive fish.
On the oscar thing mine has almost hit the foot mark. He has not slowed down at all. I got him right around thanksgiving, he was in the tank of small oscars at petsmart. I am expecting him to slow down soon though. IME they do not slow down at 8 inches. Of course in a 55 mybe they would because it is narrower than a 90. Just my experience.
What size was that oscar when you first bought him scott? Thats awesome how fast it grew. I mean I know they grow fast but geez, my oscar was in poor condition too though. I got him in october and he only made it to about 6" and kicked the bucket :(. Im going to try again with an Albino when I get a 90g, just this time not let my feelings get in the way and actually take home one I want and not one that im afraid will never find a home.
He was about three or four inches, somewhere around there, I never really measured. If you go into a petsmart and see the tank of oscars, they are all about the same size. I picked the biggest one in the tank of small fish.
ahhh I see, well that could make the difference, I got my oscar at about an 1-2"