wow Petsmart...

[goalie35]

Today I went to Petsmart to look for a set-up for a 55 gal. aquarium that I'm looking to get for an oscar. I have read a lot in the forums about them and know that a 55 is the minimum for an oscar. I talked to two different people there about how many oscars would fit in that tank. They both said 3!?!?!?!? Im thinking that they should read up a lot more about them. I wouldnt even think of putting 3 in there or even 2! I have my heart set on one and only one fish in that tank. I went along with what they were saying not to be rude telling them different, but I know better from all of you smart people on here! Thanks for all your info about oscars so I dont make the mistake of buying them with the advice from the people at the local Petsmart.

Oh yea, I also got 2 dwarf puffers for my 10 gal. tank. Pretty sweet little fish.

[jgavlock]

I wouldn't get an Oscar unless I had 75g minimum.

[PPOHolbrook]

It is like that at alot of places. My biggest pet peeve along with what you are saying is the tags state smaller maximum sizes than the fish will likely grow. They state an Oscar grows to 8 inches etc.

Brian

[wataugachicken]

a 55 is only 12" wide, oscars get 14" long. . .

it can only be a temporary home.

[Star_Rider]

personally I wouldn't keep one in a 55. at least adults..you could keep a sub adult in a 55. once that fish gets to be 6,8 ,10" you may fing a much larger tank is needed. in the 100 gallon range.

[jm1212]

they go by their "inch gallon" rule that they try to sell to people that are unfirmiliar with the hobby.

a 55 gallon is to small for an oscar much less three. a 75 gallon is a minimum for an oscar BY ITSELF

[rmcder]

Unfortunately, most (average) people who get involved with fish either quit within a year or two or manage to kill their fish during that time. Obviously, based on that assumption, you probably COULD put three oscars in the 55, since the customer wouldn't be dealing with them, or the fish'd die before they got big enough to be a problem. :duh:

[fish_freak]

I have seen 16" healthey oscar's. A twelve inch wide tank will result in a humped back condition I forget what the technical name is for it. I would wait for a little while and save your money to get a 75 gallon.

[CoreyMac]

Correct them. They have to learn somehow. I correct the folks at petsmart all the time. The gal at Petco is pretty knowledgable. Her manager, on the other hand, has no clue. I had to tell her that her 12" oscar was too large for her 55G Tank.

[labowner]

I was talking to Petco yesterday just in general about a cichlid tank and sizes etc. The girl tells me I should get a 20 gal tank and put 4-5 in there as overcrowding is the best solution to keep them from getting territorial. She was talking about gold severum. Now I'm new to the idea of a cichlid tank but even I thought that sounded a bit goofy???

[Jayhawk]

I was told by one rocket scientist at my local PetSmart that cichlids should only ever be kept with other cichlids...they simply can't be kept with anything else!

When I told him I've been keeping fish 30 years and cichlids 25 of those and that it wasn't simply true, he told me I was wrong and his time working at that PetSmart (less than a year - the store is new) was more relevant.

Eric

[springpin]

ya gotta love the 16yr old fish experts @ petstores:duh:

[softturtle]

In a perfect world, no one would be asking for advice at petsmart or any petstore in the first place. Research first then go shopping. I hear about how bad the advice is all the time at these stores and if its that bad, why do all of us "experienced aquarists" go ask them questions?

If you don't know, some of this "bad advice", can be used as rough guide lines. Like the "cichlids can't be kept with anything other than cichlids" comment. Look at the petsmart stock- not many of their non-cichlids can be kept happily with their cichlids. We of course know that there are fish that can be kept with cichlids, but to a first timer, mixing cichlids with community fish is a disaster waiting to happen.

I do think that some of their labels at these big chain stores need to be changed or revamped (like pacus maxing out at 12" or something like that), but other than that they have a bunch of books you could buy/read so you don't have to listen to one persons opinion (like mine:) ).

[legendaryfrog]

I was told by one rocket scientist at my local PetSmart that cichlids should only ever be kept with other cichlids...they simply can't be kept with anything else!


ive heard worse..........

once at petmsart i "tested" one of the employess by asking how many pacus i could fit into a 20 gallon.

he said 3 maximum, but only if i added aquarium salt regularly to prevent disease.:eek:

[Jayhawk]

ive heard worse..........

once at petmsart i "tested" one of the employess by asking how many pacus i could fit into a 20 gallon.

he said 3 maximum, but only if i added aquarium salt regularly to prevent disease.:eek:

Well, if you use enough salt he might be right...:sim:

Eric

[Hound]

Well, if you use enough salt he might be right...:sim:

Eric

Heh, I guess once they are fully brined they shouldn't get any larger? What's with Petsmart pushing aquarium salts lately anyway? I'm hearing that advice way too often in their stores.

[jm1212]

Heh, I guess once they are fully brined they shouldn't get any larger? What's with Petsmart pushing aquarium salts lately anyway? I'm hearing that advice way too often in their stores.
last time i was there they were reccomending it for every single species.

[Jayhawk]

Maybe they bought stock in an aquarium salt company?

[Peanut_Power]

a 55 is only 12" wide, oscars get 14" long. . .

it can only be a temporary home.

It all depends on where you get your 55gal from. glasscages.com has some nice 55gal tanks that are a might bit wider. Main thing your gonna want is width for sure....acrylic would be the best bet if you did order from glasscages.com which i do recommend, have ordered some tanks from them and they are superb. You could do their 50gal long:
50 Gal. Long48 x 18 x 13 $110
Or do their 50 gal wide:
50 gal. wide36 x 24 x 13 $160

Both would be plenty large enough for a SINGLE oscar for life. Provided that water changes are done routinely and faithfully, as well as some great filtration.



Start saving up your money now bro, because your gonna love your oscar so much that you will want to get more, and that WILL require a larger tank. So you could save up now and get a 100gal...save you the trouble, or get two 55gals...haha...

[jm1212]

Maybe they bought stock in an aquarium salt company?
the only use its got is to throw and hit with a baseball bat after it get all hard and blocky.


back on topic

a 75 gallon is a minimum not only because of space requiremnts but because of water quality issues. a 75 gallon has much more volume than a 55 gallon, thus granting more stability. oscars are one of the messiest fish available next to common plecos, pacu, and goldfish.

[neonmadness]

whether a 55g is big enough for an o im not sure, since the people at oscarfish all say its fine(and they know their stuff), but a 75g is big enough for a pair and maybe a pleco or some silver dollars. Tho o's are messy and need at least a 50% water change per week or else you'll propably get hole in the head, a pair can easily thrive in a 75g.

[JulieC]

I used to work at a lfs in my area that is pretty good about only selling fish to folks that will take good care of them. They refuse to sell fish if they know that the fish is going to unhealthy conditions. While I worked there, I came to some conclusions...

Once someone tells a person that doesn't like to research any information (correct or incorrect), it seems to get stuck in their head and its hard to change their mind. It is tough to face customers day after day that argue with you because their friend told them something or they stand there and tell other customers in the store "Oh yeah, I've got an oscar in a 10 gallon and he's been happy for 3 years." Please! I used to spin around and tell them--in a tactful manner as it is a small city with local owners that hear about rude salespeople--exactly how happy their oscar with a giant hole in its head and a warped body really was. I would point out the rescues that would come in that we had for sale with warped fins and bodies and tell them the specs of the tanks that those fish came from. Some people listened, others just ignored me..."Oh that's too bad...now can I have one of these juvies for my 20 gallon?" NO!!!!!! And, luckily, my manager backed me. Not all employees of these places have that.

Stores are concerned with sales and profits because that keeps them in business. They're more likely to sell a 10 gallon set up than a 75 gallon set up to a customer that's concerned with cost. So when a customer goes to these places and wants a "cool fish" in a cheap set up, the money signs start flashing in their eyes and thoughts of the health of the animals goes out the window.