Oscar in 75 gal. tankmate?

[Shogun_FC]

So I just picked this up this afternoon. http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/for/2125193173.html

75 gallon tank, Black Oak Stand w/Matching Canopy, Lids, Lights, Heater, Fluval 404 external canister filter, various artificial plants and driftwood.

Just gotta pick up some substance for the bottom, perhaps a HOB filter to help the 404 and cycle it.


Anyways My question is, What kind of tankmate(s) should I get to go with an Oscar. I have experience with Oscars, as I kept one for over 5 years before moving into my old place. I kept him alone in a 55 gal most of the time. He did have a small largemouth bass buddy for a few months (I caught it in a cast net while netting shad for catfish bait.) I turned it lose after a few months, Those were my intentions from the start.

I love the personality of Oscars and find they become much more personal when kept alone or with a couple hardy bottom dwelling tankmates. That's pretty much what I'm looking for. Some type of bottom dweller, preferably something not on par with an Oscars messiness.

Though I'm not entirely shut off to the idea of another type of Cichlid, I do like to give my larger fish some space though, so It'd have to be a smaller type than Oscars.

Any advice/opinions would be much appreciated.

 

[Shogun_FC]

/bump

Anyone? lol'

 

[Saraswati828]

I am having the same dilemma currently. My Oscar is a good 11" long and he is getting a 90gallon upgrade next month. I despise the idea of him being in there by himself. I would love to see him with a small school of 7-8" fish or one larger guy. When I bought him he was the bullied one and it just broke my heart.

He is only aggressive if you are wearing red :huh: If I stick my hand in there he will let me pet him but I can tell it stresses him out so I don't do it much.

ANYWAY- I have done some web research and the general consensus is
Clown Loach - 12" (should be kept in groups of at least four)
Silver Dollars - 6" (also like being in groups)
Severum - 12" (excellent tank mates for Oscars )
Jade Eyed Cichlid - 6" (excellent tank mates for Oscars)
Chocolate Cichlid - 12"
Satanoperca jurupari (Earth-Eater) - 10" (very placid & like being in groups)
Blue Acara - 8" (get more aggressive the older they get)
http://www.oscarfishlover.com/oscar-fish-tankmates

As well as other types of larger Cichlids and Convicts as well as Jack Dempseys and common pleco although I have seen more aggressive
Oscars eat the eyes off a Pleco.... So really it is just up to knowing your fish :huh: If you go with the larger fish option you can end up having your O terrorized or they might end up eating the other fish.... Just fish specific.
Also with a 75/90 you have to remember all the fishies need territory and Oscars won't allow much in the way of decorations lol I'm thinking one or two larger pieces of drift wood

Catfish are also recommended but spines on a lot of them scare me at the thought of my boy getting hurt.

 

[Shogun_FC]

I am having the same dilemma currently. My Oscar is a good 11" long and he is getting a 90gallon upgrade next month. I despise the idea of him being in there by himself. I would love to see him with a small school of 7-8" fish or one larger guy. When I bought him he was the bullied one and it just broke my heart.

He is only aggressive if you are wearing red :huh: If I stick my hand in there he will let me pet him but I can tell it stresses him out so I don't do it much.

ANYWAY- I have done some web research and the general consensus is
Clown Loach - 12" (should be kept in groups of at least four)
Silver Dollars - 6" (also like being in groups)
Severum - 12" (excellent tank mates for Oscars )
Jade Eyed Cichlid - 6" (excellent tank mates for Oscars)
Chocolate Cichlid - 12"
Satanoperca jurupari (Earth-Eater) - 10" (very placid & like being in groups)
Blue Acara - 8" (get more aggressive the older they get)
http://www.oscarfishlover.com/oscar-fish-tankmates

As well as other types of larger Cichlids and Convicts as well as Jack Dempseys and common pleco although I have seen more aggressive
Oscars eat the eyes off a Pleco.... So really it is just up to knowing your fish :huh: If you go with the larger fish option you can end up having your O terrorized or they might end up eating the other fish.... Just fish specific.
Also with a 75/90 you have to remember all the fishies need territory and Oscars won't allow much in the way of decorations lol I'm thinking one or two larger pieces of drift wood

Catfish are also recommended but spines on a lot of them scare me at the thought of my boy getting hurt.

Thanks for the ideas, never thought about Silva Dollars as an option. Those were some of the first fish I kept back when I was a teenager. I really like JD's and have put a lot of thought into pairing one with an Oscar. I know Oscars grow much faster than JD's and their relationship can be sour from the start, or turn that way overnight.

Still got a couple weeks to go before I make any decisions though. If I did go the JD route, I'd have no problems designating a tank for one if they didn't get along, as I just think there amazing looking fish.

 

[msjinkzd]

I would consider a polypterus (something like a delhezi; or an upper jaw species) as long as the lids are quite tight fitting. They are sturdy and non-agressive but very interesting fish.

I wouldn't do a school of silver dollars (they are schooling fish) in with an oscar in a 75g. When that oscar gets full-sized, you will be surprised how much space in the 75g it takes up and it doesn't take long for it to get there! I can honestly say, if you want to have multiple species in the tank, I would really recommend going larger if possible. If you are sticking with the 75g for its life, then add something like a polypterus or maybe a pleco. You don't have the oscar yet? It seems to work out best to add new tankmates when you are adding the juvenile oscar rather tahn tryign to find somethign that fits later.

 

[Saraswati828]

I would consider a polypterus (something like a delhezi; or an upper jaw species) as long as the lids are quite tight fitting. They are sturdy and non-agressive but very interesting fish.

I wouldn't do a school of silver dollars (they are schooling fish) in with an oscar in a 75g. When that oscar gets full-sized, you will be surprised how much space in the 75g it takes up and it doesn't take long for it to get there! I can honestly say, if you want to have multiple species in the tank, I would really recommend going larger if possible. If you are sticking with the 75g for its life, then add something like a polypterus or maybe a pleco. You don't have the oscar yet? It seems to work out best to add new tankmates when you are adding the juvenile oscar rather tahn tryign to find somethign that fits later.

Not to hi-jack your thread here but....
How bout 6 silver dollars in a 90? you think that would work? I'll have ample filtration for it

 

[Shogun_FC]

I would consider a polypterus (something like a delhezi; or an upper jaw species) as long as the lids are quite tight fitting. They are sturdy and non-agressive but very interesting fish.

I wouldn't do a school of silver dollars (they are schooling fish) in with an oscar in a 75g. When that oscar gets full-sized, you will be surprised how much space in the 75g it takes up and it doesn't take long for it to get there! I can honestly say, if you want to have multiple species in the tank, I would really recommend going larger if possible. If you are sticking with the 75g for its life, then add something like a polypterus or maybe a pleco. You don't have the oscar yet? It seems to work out best to add new tankmates when you are adding the juvenile oscar rather tahn tryign to find somethign that fits later.

The Polypterus delhezi sure is an interesting fish, to be honest I've never seen one until now. Almost looks like a type of snakehead. That would be a fish I'd consider if I could find one, very cool. I'll need to do more research on them though.

No I do not have the Oscar yet, but for sure getting one.

 

[msjinkzd]

If you upgraded to a 90g, you could fit the silver dollars. I only have a single adult oscar in a 75g and he takes up all the space, lol. Its easy when they are little to want to put a lot of fish in with them, but when they get to size, I would keep more mid-water dwelling species in with them without a bakc up plan.

Delhezis are gorgeous. Really neat fish with beautiful patternign and interesting behaviors. They are also "sturdy" enough to not have many issues with cichlids, especially one as relatively passive as an Oscar (in comparison to so many more aggressive cichlids of comparable size).

 

[Shogun_FC]

If you upgraded to a 90g, you could fit the silver dollars. I only have a single adult oscar in a 75g and he takes up all the space, lol. Its easy when they are little to want to put a lot of fish in with them, but when they get to size, I would keep more mid-water dwelling species in with them without a bakc up plan.

Delhezis are gorgeous. Really neat fish with beautiful patternign and interesting behaviors. They are also "sturdy" enough to not have many issues with cichlids, especially one as relatively passive as an Oscar (in comparison to so many more aggressive cichlids of comparable size).

Are this fish a common species? Because like I said, I've never seen one. (It's not until You look for things, that You notice them.) Like, would a place like petsmart ever carry these fish?

There is a place about an hour away called Aquatics & Exotics, which I'm sure would have them (They have everything, including black tip reef sharks in a 17,000 gal, lol) but there prices are pretty dramatic on most fish.

 

[msjinkzd]

Their common name is the armored or banded bichir. They are not what I would a common fish, but are often found in LFS.