oscar and jack dempsey cichlid help

R

RachelRae

AC Members
May 15, 2009
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So I have an Oscar and a Jack Dempsey Cichlid. They were a gift to me for my graduation from college a year ago. My boyfriend and his sister set up the tank for me, and they have been living in it ever since. They are a year old now, both living in a 10 gallon tank. (Please do not get mad at me, I didn't know!)

I love my fishies dearly, and I want them to be happy. I learned today that they are probably miserable. Unfortunately, the fish live at my boyfriends house and there is not a ton of room for a large tank. I think I can get a 40 gallon in there, will that be large enough? Right now the fish are probably about 4 inches each, give or take.

I did not know they would grow to be about 10 inches long. I absolutley do not want to give them up, I want to keep them, so any advice to help me do that would be greatly appreciated. (And I am as amaterur as it gets, so please explain any aquaria jargon :)

Also, I fell in love with a Blood Parrot Cichlid today. Can the 3 live together in harmony? The Parrot is much smaller than my other 2, will they beat him up?
 
The oscar alone should have at least a 50 gallon. I'm not sure about the jack dempsey. I think that they stay alot smaller, but I've heard that they can get really mean, and need their space. I definately would not add anything else. I wouldn't keep an oscar in anything less than 150 gallon.
 
Ok a single Jack Dempsey could prob live ok in a 40gal alone an oscar actually needs a 75gal min seeing as they reach 14"+ the JD only gets bout 8". 3 blood parrots would be a bad idea there is no tank space for them. If you can get a 40 or 55gal and keep the JD the Oscar needs to go though.

Out of curiousity how often do you do water changes???
 
I wouldn't keep it alone in there, I just feel that a fish of that size needs the room to 'breathe'
 
Well, I know that you don't want to, but you might consider finding a friend or petshop that has the room for them.

You could get creative with someplace to put the tank (keep in mind that you need daily access.)

a 100 gallons isn't as big as it sounds. It could probably go behind the couch.
 
Oh I was gonna say you must be very dedicated and rich lol. Yeah its nice to have breathing room for your fish but if limited on space like she is then its best to give the O away to someone who could house it properly.
 
Hebily said:
a 100 gallons isn't as big as it sounds. It could probably go behind the couch.
Click to expand...

I saw a 110gal at my sisters LFS and that sucker looked HUGE but then it is 2 times the size of my current aquarium plus it was more tall then long. Perfect tank for Discus or Altum Angelfish.


A 125gal is 5ft long if im not mistaken and would fit nicely behind a couch.
 
so could the JD and oscar both go in a 50? or is that still too small? i LOVE my oscar hes a character and my JD is beautiful. but i guess if i have to give him away, i have to give him away. :( to be honest woth you we have been really bad with the water changing, we were having algae problems but we got help from the store and we have the light on less often, and today i am going to change some of the water because it is clouding slighlty again.
 
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