alright, i am planning on getting a rather large tank, probbably more than 100, and i really want an oscor. what would make good tank mates with it, or should i get a 70 for a pair of oscors, and somehting else for other fish?
Tank mates For Oscors
- Thread starter Dan the Moose
- Start date
First you need to decide what your gonna do/get.
Two O's will need a minimum 75gal, much prefer/recommend a 100gal+ for two O's.
Figure 50gal per O, then start figuring what a particular tankmate would need for water volume, e.g. a Sev would need 30-50gals to allow for dilution of waste (NO3) between PWC's (partial water changes).
2 O's & a Sev = 125-150gal.
Remember, no gaurantee that two O's will get along...
Tankmate(s)...
No mated pairs of cichlids, I suggest single males as they make the better display fish usually.
This list is far from complete but are some of more common species kept with Oscars.
There are no guarantees as to compatibility, this will depend on individual temperament, personality and various other factors.
When mixing cichlids with cichlids or other species, a tank of 'more' than adequate size with a light-moderate stocking level will make things much easier for your fish and you.
Convicts
Severums
Firemouths
Jack Dempsey
Green Terror
Medium-large schooling fish in small shoals, 3+ fishh.
Silver Dollars
Giant Danios
Leporinus (will need a huge tank for adults)
Balas (will need a huge tank for adults)
Tinfoil Barbs (will need a huge tank for adults)
Large Gouramies (can usually hold their own as adults)
Various small-medium sized Cats
Pictus Pim (best in a small shoal, (2-5))
Synodontis (various)
Lace
Jaguar
Various small-medium sized Plecos
Common
Sailfin
Snowking
Goldnugget
Royals
Bulldog/Rubberlip
Bristlenose/Medusa
Two O's will need a minimum 75gal, much prefer/recommend a 100gal+ for two O's.
Figure 50gal per O, then start figuring what a particular tankmate would need for water volume, e.g. a Sev would need 30-50gals to allow for dilution of waste (NO3) between PWC's (partial water changes).
2 O's & a Sev = 125-150gal.
Remember, no gaurantee that two O's will get along...
Tankmate(s)...
No mated pairs of cichlids, I suggest single males as they make the better display fish usually.
This list is far from complete but are some of more common species kept with Oscars.
There are no guarantees as to compatibility, this will depend on individual temperament, personality and various other factors.
When mixing cichlids with cichlids or other species, a tank of 'more' than adequate size with a light-moderate stocking level will make things much easier for your fish and you.
Convicts
Severums
Firemouths
Jack Dempsey
Green Terror
Medium-large schooling fish in small shoals, 3+ fishh.
Silver Dollars
Giant Danios
Leporinus (will need a huge tank for adults)
Balas (will need a huge tank for adults)
Tinfoil Barbs (will need a huge tank for adults)
Large Gouramies (can usually hold their own as adults)
Various small-medium sized Cats
Pictus Pim (best in a small shoal, (2-5))
Synodontis (various)
Lace
Jaguar
Various small-medium sized Plecos
Common
Sailfin
Snowking
Goldnugget
Royals
Bulldog/Rubberlip
Bristlenose/Medusa
thanks for the info, is there any way to find out if the o's will be compatible?? or even mate? any thing that you can do that might make it easier, or is it just luck. and if so, when would you be able to see the agression starting?
Its usually luck of the draw if the Oscars are compatible or not.
As far as mating goes,its almost impossible to sex Oscars without
disection, so thats usually hit and miss as well.
Aggression usually starts developing with lip locking disputes.(at least in my experience)
HTH
Eric
As far as mating goes,its almost impossible to sex Oscars without
disection, so thats usually hit and miss as well.
Aggression usually starts developing with lip locking disputes.(at least in my experience)
HTH
Eric
Compatibility...
The best way to achieve a pair for mating is to raise 5-6+ juveniles together, odds are you'll have some males/females and you'll have a pair form.
Random pairings from introduction of known M/F's is happenstance, there is no guarantee they'll find each other compatible as mates or even get along as tankmates.
Sexing O's
Sorry there is no way to tell for 'certain' until you see a pair successfully breed.
There is no external sexual dimorphism.
Fin or fish body shape/size, coloring/markings, aggression and whatever else people tell you are ways to sex O's are total crud!
Venting is a method used by some but is considered by others to be unreliable, very experienced keepers/breeders may have better chance at successfully venting.
Venting, the examination of the OO & Oo shape of a fishes vents, you need alot of practice and it helps to have fish already positively sexed, of relatively the same age and size to compare to... Even then...
Venting O's and it's reliability is highly controversial.
The only sure way is to see two O's successfully breed, and at that time you can take note of the shape of the vents as they are displayed, when mating the genitals protrude from the fish.
The females genitalia is more rounded and the males more pointed.
Sometimes the 'supposed act of breeding' can be confusing since two females can put on quite a show together complete with eggs.
Read this article, http://www.oscarfish.com/cms_view_article.php?aid=4
Pics of male/female Oscar's vents, it just looks easy...
Image courtesy of T_Chelle16.
Breeding/PairingChile said:
The best way to achieve a pair for mating is to raise 5-6+ juveniles together, odds are you'll have some males/females and you'll have a pair form.
Random pairings from introduction of known M/F's is happenstance, there is no guarantee they'll find each other compatible as mates or even get along as tankmates.
Sexing O's
Sorry there is no way to tell for 'certain' until you see a pair successfully breed.
There is no external sexual dimorphism.
Fin or fish body shape/size, coloring/markings, aggression and whatever else people tell you are ways to sex O's are total crud!
Venting is a method used by some but is considered by others to be unreliable, very experienced keepers/breeders may have better chance at successfully venting.
Venting, the examination of the OO & Oo shape of a fishes vents, you need alot of practice and it helps to have fish already positively sexed, of relatively the same age and size to compare to... Even then...
Venting O's and it's reliability is highly controversial.
The only sure way is to see two O's successfully breed, and at that time you can take note of the shape of the vents as they are displayed, when mating the genitals protrude from the fish.
The females genitalia is more rounded and the males more pointed.
Sometimes the 'supposed act of breeding' can be confusing since two females can put on quite a show together complete with eggs.
Read this article, http://www.oscarfish.com/cms_view_article.php?aid=4
Pics of male/female Oscar's vents, it just looks easy...
Image courtesy of T_Chelle16.