Oscar Fish tank size
- Thread starter #Crabs
- Start date
Considering they grow to ~10 inches, NO, 40g isn't enough for long...& hopefully you're thinking long term...we should always plan to accommodate our pets for their lifetime...& some should live many years with proper care & housing. Think some more!
I think you'll find recommendations are all over the place on this. You can keep a single oscar with no other bio load in a 55gal in terms of maintaining healthy water parameters, but you have to consider the 12" width of a 48"x12" 55gal tank. An average sized adult oscar will rub glass just turning around.
This is why most feel a 48"x18" 75 or 90gal tank is better. I keep an oscar and a green severum together in a 75. They've been together since 2013. I feed quality foods lightly and can easily maintain <20ppm nitrates with one weekly fin-level water change (~80%). Basically no decor in the tank.
It's not really enough tank, but what IS enough tank really... I've seen oscars in 6ft tanks and they spend their time in a small section of it because of tank mate's territories, etc..
This is why most feel a 48"x18" 75 or 90gal tank is better. I keep an oscar and a green severum together in a 75. They've been together since 2013. I feed quality foods lightly and can easily maintain <20ppm nitrates with one weekly fin-level water change (~80%). Basically no decor in the tank.
It's not really enough tank, but what IS enough tank really... I've seen oscars in 6ft tanks and they spend their time in a small section of it because of tank mate's territories, etc..
But just as some fish will occupy a small space because of other's more aggressive tendencies or the only space you give them, doesn't mean it''s best, as you know. Using that theory, bettas' would thrive in 8 ounce cups. Giving them a large tank and then putting in tank mates that limit them isn't a rationale. You can't define appropriate size based on what the owners did for a poor mix. Many larger fish can handle a tank of appropriate size. The issue usually happens when the owner wants the tank to be busy or fuller looking. Few oscars exceed 10" in length in home tanks. We often want to state what is right by one or two exceptions. I'm sure a 20 ft tank would be worthless with some other tank mates. You can't recommend for every potential tank mate situation nor the owner's maintenance routine, let alone food choices.