150gal oscar tank?

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Sploke

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Oct 20, 2005
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I'm building a pond for my turtles and I might try to keep them out there year round. In that case, the 150 I was going to use for them in the winter is free. I've never had oscars before but I think they're really awesome fish, I had a friend with a big one. How many could I get into a 150gal? I'm thinking probably 3-4, I'm going to have a big wet/dry system set up underneath it, with obviously lots of mech filtration inside.
 

DeputyChiefJR

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Jan 18, 2006
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Sploke, when you decide to get on let me know, I saw some juvies that were absolutely gorgeous yesterday and they're not too expensive...They were at the Puppy Center inWest Hartford....Some of the nicest markings I've ever seen on Oscar and long, beautiful fins....
 

Zeromason577

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Apr 10, 2006
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Well, I have never kept oscars, but I do know a few friends who have had them in a 180. they only had 2, the most I would think would be 3.

Im no expert, but I beleave they can get to 12 inches or more.
 

tricksterpup

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A buddy of mine had 6 in a 150 and when I got my 55, I was given 2 10 inch adults. I passed them on to him and they were all fine. Mine were constantly fighting due to being cramped. So he placed them in his tank and they schooled with the other fish. It was really neat. So I am sure you can add a few more than 3 in a tank that size. A 150 is a deep and huge tank but then again, a properly setup turtle tank would be neat as well. :D
 

reptileguy2727

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Jan 15, 2006
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how many really depends on how often you want to be doing water changes, the more of them in there the more often you will need to do water changes. i wouldnt put more than 5 in there. even then it is up to them to tolerate eachother, which doesnt always happen. do you have the filtration yet? if not take a look into the Fluval FX5. oscars get to about a foot, and if any pair off the others need to be removed or they will be killed. are you wanting just oscars, not any other big cichlids?
 

Sploke

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I dunno, I've had a few other types of cichlids and I wanted to try oscars since you always hear how they're so personable and everything. I've seen the FX5, but I could make about 5 homemade filters for the price of one of those. Nice rog, just too dang expensive.
 

DeputyChiefJR

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I like the Magnum 350
 

Sploke

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If I got, say 4 oscars in there, what else could I put in there? I'm afraid anything I use as dither fish will be eaten. I might look at some sort of pleco..are there any schooling fish that are quick enough to stay away from oscars? Danios maybe?
 

fiske

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Apr 1, 2006
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If you only kept an oscar or two you could add a school of 5 to 10 inch fish, maybe a dozen silver dollars or six tinfoil barbs. Some australian rainbow species might work but it would be iffy. If it was me, I would cycle the tank with 4-5 tinfoils, slowly add 8-12 silver dollars, and start looking for one oscar a year later.
 

Sploke

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I'm thinking now that I might try moving my pair of gold severums into that tank...Would they get along with a single oscar and maybe some tinfoil barbs or something?
 
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