Oscars (Thinking about new tank)

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LGooley

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Hi,
I am thinking about setting up a new tank with Oscars. I have read a book about Oscars. I can't decide if I would like to make an attempt at getting a mated pair or if I would like to have just one. It sounds like if you have just one they can be a lot of fun and have a lot of personality. I am also not sure how big of a tank to get for just one or for more. Any suggestions? Also how quickly do they grow. My LFS usually carries them in multiple sizes from 3 inches up to 6 inches.
Thanks
 
If you have a large enough tank... then you can try putting two oscars in there. However, there will always be a chance that one oscar may beat up the other. Personally, I would go with just one, seeing how I'm an overly careful kind of person.

Before you dive into the world of raising oscars, there are a few things to remember. Oscars can grow quite large (around the range of about 12inches or more), and being carnivorous, can be quite messy. A large tank is a must. 55 gallons is sometimes considered the smallest tank a single oscar can live in. If you want two of them, you should look into a tank thats 90+ gallons. Since they can be messy, top notch filtration is a must... over filtration will benefit this kind of fish.

Personally, I don't like fish like displays whose main attraction is one single large fish... I like having schools of fish. However, to each his/her own.

HTH
-Richer
 
When you have two oscars together it can go either way, dont you think? I have kept pairs and singles, I prefer pairs for the same reason that Richer indicated. Another thing he said, about the messiness factor, is also quite important. If you want to have a pretty tank with a bunch of plants and decorations, it might not work because they tend to "examine" everything quite thoroughly. Gooley, everyone will tell you pretty much the same thing in this regard, that is, the bigger the tank the better. People cram oscars oftentimes, and it usually ends up in high agression and dead fish. To be safe just set 55 as your minimum and then however much you can go over that, go for it. 2 in a 55 is probably going to be overstocked, if not from the inches then from the bioload and territoriality. The smallest Ive kept a pair in is a 75, which worked rather well, but other than that I have tried to do 100 gallons for more than one of them. Have you been pricing tanks yet or is the price not a big issue?
 
Agreed with the previous posts, I prefer pairs, and have never had to deal with the agression issue, and have never lucked into a mating pair (pretty rare with two fish) I have kept pairs in 55g's, and would not reccomend this to anyone nor would I ever do this again. 75 minimum, but f you buy a stand for a 75 you might as well spend a few extra bucks and get a 90, or if you are 7'4" tall get a 110g. same footprint. The major downside on a 55 is that it is only 12.5 inches deep, and these fish will want to turn around once in while. I became an overfiltration nut while keeping Oscars, plan on doubling or tripling your normal filtration unless you want to vaccum and do water changes all of the time.
And just so you don't get scared by the warnings, IMHO Oscars are the most awesome aquarium fish there is. I will probably never go without an Oscar tank as long As I'm in this hobby. Just some things you need to know before you start.
 
Hi,
Thanks for all the input. I got a great deal on a 55 gal setup today at a LFS. The box was torn so they had it marked down. I am leaning towards 1 oscar. I have heard that you can train them to do tricks and that they have quite a personality.

Should the tank be cycled with other fish first? I have a 72 gal tank already. I could use a couple from that tank. I have some hardy cyclers in that tank (Platies, Zebra Danios, Lemon Tetras).

Thanks again. h
 
Should the tank be cycled with other fish first? I have a 72 gal tank already. I could use a couple from that tank. I have some hardy cyclers in that tank (Platies, Zebra Danios, Lemon Tetras).
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I am doing my first fishless cycle right now, and really think it is a good idea, I also think it is going faster than my fishy cycle's used to. however you have it even better, use filter media from you other tank to seed the new one, and then use ammonia from wal-mart to build it up. shouldn't take long and the more media the faster it will work. If you have time, just hang you new filter on the estabilished tank and let the bacteria grow in it then tranfer filter and all contents over to the new one. Read the sticky on cycling, and you'll get more info on all of these. but if you have a running tank you can virtually instant cycle a new one. cuts down on time, and is of course easier on the fish.
I have heard that you can train them to do tricks and that they have quite a personality.
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This is true, and they are alot of fun. Just don't teach them to ring a bell when they want food, or you'll soon learn they want food very often.
 
so mean I would teach them to ring a bell to get a treat and feed them often they get huge hehe
 
tricks like sicking the mail man when he brings bills:p
 
I've unfortunatey taught more than one to jump out of my tank after me (not purposefully of course) but I've never thought about sending them after the mailman. My Aussie sheperd might get territorrial.
 
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