just wondered do oscars like need want some sort of current/bubbles in the tank??

I wouldn't say they need them, they might enjoy swimming in the current though, each fish to its own. You would really only NEED additional circulation if the surface of the water isn't getting agitated, therefore not exchanging oxygen as efficiently as it could.

right,ok ill put the pump on then but on a minimumn setting so they wont get disturbed wherever they go, thanks for that, didnt manage to get the fillter today as my lazy LFS is shut, but i did find a tetratec ex1200 for about £60 online so what do you think of 2 of those?? and also i have put my convicts in the tank with them, they are young but not dinner size, and i have put some half clay pots in there for them to hide( convicts) buried down so the oscars cant get their mouths in, what do you think???


shelagh xx


hoping to add a little video to the thread tommorow, cant do it today as i added some more sand,and its not as clear as i was hoping, tho i have done another 50% wc and will leave it to settle now,have also added a polishing thingy to one of the filters ( fluval 4 plus x 2)


shelagh xxxx

I think 2 tetratec's should be fine, might be worth having a shop around for other deals/filters. People often recommend Ehiem as they are a high quality time tested brand with a good reputation, but they also come with a fair price tag. If I had to buy a new filter I would probably choose a tetratec EX1200 due to its good price, but only time will tell if its reliablitly can be as good as ehiems (after saying that I think I'm right in saying they have been getting positive reviews in the hardware section, might be worth a quick search or too in there).

With the convicts I can't say for sure, oscars arn't the most skilled hunters but if it fits in their mouth they will give it a good go. Are the con's a permament thing or just for a while?

EDIT: Looking forward to the video.

This post has been edited by shroob: May 4 2008, 06:38 PM

right you are, ill have a look about then, re: the convicts, i dont think im going to keep them to be honest,i did originally fancy having a go at breeding them, but not had a very positive feedback on shifting them later ( the fry) so ill have a word at the lfs and see if he will take them as i never see any in there,so someone may want them

shelaghxx

Hi shelagh

I think that Oscars are the best fish ever as you can see from my username. Unfortunately you definitely won’t get away with 2 in that tank for long. 55USG is the generally accepted minimum for a single Oscar with no Tankmates.

I have only skimmed the posts so far but if no one has aid you need to be looking at 15X turnover for you filtration and even then you will need to gravel vac every few days as O's make more mess than any fish I have ever kept. I agree with shroob, unless your O's are both females and maybe even if they are you could be in for trouble especially in a small tank.

O's need LOTS of care and attention but are well worth it.

I was a member at 'Oscarfish.com' when I Kept my Oscar and they are a great bunch, incredibly knowledgeable but prepared to take some stick at first if you tell them you have 2 in a 55.

I don’t pretend to be any kind of expert but please PM me if you need any help as I am mainly in the ‘Nano Marine’ forum at the moment.

Cheers.

OscarWilde

some more pics

JAMBO
BUDDIE


EDIT** THAT ISNT QUITE A FULL TANK SHOT, I HAVE LOST THE HOLDER FOR ONE OF THE FILTERS SO ITS A FEW INCHES IN FLOATING( just thort i would clarify that as it makes the tank look smaller omo)

hi oscar wilde..
thanks very much for your reply,yes i thought i maybe in for an upgrade, that was my silly fault,misuderstanding the dimensions on the recomeneded tank size, i went with size rather than footprint,as you can see in the photo they are not going to be residents in this tank for vey long,and theres a guy not far from me that custom makes tanks,so i will go and see him soon see what he can come up with,tho this is the largest tank i have owned ( volume wise) so far,but i definately want to do the best i can with them, so what they want goes!
at the moment i have been doing daily water changes and vacs, only takes half an hour ,and its thevery least i can do, yeah i got that about the filtration, hence the WC`s,i am on the way to getting it sorted( damn bank hols)
as for the tank mates, as i have said,i dont think i will be keeping the convicts,tho i havent seen any signs of trouble yet! maybe they will hold back till i re-home them (( thats wishfull thinking))

any ways thanks ever so much for your guidance, i will indded give you a shout should i run into any probs,and if theres anything i havent covered just ask me................OH is it normal for them to sift the sand/food through there gills???..they eat and it all comes out of the gills, making a mess ( which they eat up) but i have tried a variety of foods and they seem to do it with everything,so i assume its the norm.what do you think??

my top priority is keeping them happy and healty so all advice very gratefully recieved ( which incidently they look, very much of both this morning )

This post has been edited by shelaghfishface: May 6 2008, 09:05 PM

Stuff comming out of their gills is pretty normal, they are messy eaters. I'm just surprised the oscars let it hit the floor before its in their mouths.

any faults in the current set up, please dont hes to tell me apart from the obvious that is

This post has been edited by shelaghfishface: May 5 2008, 07:05 AM

Yes Shelagh. You would never catch me not researching and buying things on impulse (cowers in the corner)...I still think they are the most amazing fish!

Emma

yeah right emma lol

thanks they are really showing off this morning,having a wail of a time infact,they give me butterflies in my tummy, i have a job taking my eyes off them!


oh and i did reasearch them, but i did in all honesty probably spend way too much time looking at the pictures, c`mon who wouldnt ??

This post has been edited by shelaghfishface: May 5 2008, 07:04 AM

Oh, I know you researched them, but as has been said, you may need a bigger tank later

Emma x

Amazing Looking O's.
They have such personalites and really can give you the dirtiest of looks.

oscars are very messy eaters,,,,they love feeder shrimp that you can buy from local fish shops.....
You can survive<they can survive on a very good qaulity cichlid food,,,,i feed my hilraki cichlid food

you will come to love them and will find yourself oneday upgrading suddenly

Enjoy them just make sure filterations very good<keep on top of waterchanges so as not to get HITH
Prawns as a food should help bring out the red pigmentaion within there colour

is that fresh or frozen?? and how often would i feed it?

i followed ur lead nelly and made them their own banner

i was looking at some of your other posts nelly, wow you have very impressive fish

shelaghxxxx

thanks I love my fish but if you see in the sell section iam selling brutis
i really do not want to but hes scaring the oscars into full time hiding<has not attacked them yet but its not the way for my fishes to survive and as iam not upgrading yet as cant sell my flat i have to face up to it and sell brutis on

yes i buy frozen prawns and thaw them out then feed them but fresh will work, a treat 2-3times a week,,,,

also desheeled peas once or twice aweek will help with constipation!!!!!!!!!!

awwww

well the new owner will be getting a beautiful fish, thats sad, but im sure you know your doing the right thing

shelagh xxxxxxxxxxxx

well we have finally come up with names

JAMBO-the darker one
BUDDIE-the paler one-bottom of the pic


they really suit them !



nelly i forgot to ask, if they have been together for over a year( i think i saw), why would brutus start getting bad/natural towards them now??- is that what you would expect to happen? and what about Oscar,will he miss him do u think??

This post has been edited by shelaghfishface: May 5 2008, 09:42 PM