Adding An Oscar To This Set-Up

[Hunterprey]

I never had an Oscar before but I've read quite a bit about them, they seem very interesting fish. Thought I ask people with experience keeping them.

I have a 500 litre tank 72"X18"22" Tank inhabitants are Silver Tiger Datnoid, Black Diamond Cichlid (Polleni), Blood Parrot, RTBS, Clown Barbs, 3 Polypterus Bichirs(Albino Senegal, Palmas PoLLi,Delhezi), BN pleco, BGK. What are the chances of an Oscar getting on fine with my current fish. I know Oscars grow rather quick so I'll wait til my current fish are in good size. And I have a friend that owns a 210 gallon tank and several others that will be able to take some fish just in case...I might give him my BN Pleco or give to LFS

Which of my current fish will be at risk even full grown? Do Oscars have big appetite? I know they are very messy fish Im running an FX5 N Rena XP3, planning to get another FX5 eventually. I know they are quite clumsy fish, so pointy objects in the tank is a no no. I have a picture of a piece of wood in my tank, do I have to remove this? picture below. The tip arent sharp/pointy.

If I cant add an Oscar, what medium sized Cichlid can I add in the tank? Preferably grows 7-10 inches and Docile. ThnKs

 

[minnnt]

Oscars are extremely messy so 2 fx5's would be great. Don't know too much about the other fish you keep so can't comment for that part, but the BP, BN and RTBS shouldn't pose any threat. Oscars will grow at roughly an inch a month and will always seem hungry. I have found that the hardest thing is to refrain from feeding them all the time you see them waggling at you at the front of the tank. Mine's about 3" now and is very characterful. Currently in with a couple of Sevs and a pair of Jade Eyeds and is by no means the boss. The female Jade Eyed gets that honour... for the time being.

 

[micko]

Not really sure how he would get on with those fish as I've only kept mine with severum. I'm not sure if that size tank would be big enough with some of those fish you listed. I know the BGK and the birchirs grow large.

 

[Hunterprey]

@Minnt The Boss right now in the tank is the BP next would be the Datnoid, followed by Black Diamond Cichlid. Theyre still small right now BP and Dat about 4 1/2 - 5 inches Palmas about 7 inches. I might giveaway the BN evntually dont wanna risk getting eaten n choking the other fish. Im afraid more of Oscar making a meal of the RTBS and some of the Polys. Thnx btw

@Micko I got the smallest species of Dat, growing about 12inches, the 2 Polys grows to about 10-12 inches the Albino grows smaller, around 8 inches. Im only worried about the BGK 5 inches ATM, will grow around 18 inches but it will take years and I might just give him to my LFS or a friend. Or maybe upgrade to a 180 gallon. Black Diamond depending if male 11" female 6" cant determine the gender yet. Thanks

 

[micko]

Still sounds like it would be pretty cramped in there IMO. I would get the upgrade before adding anymore. Are you planning on running both tanks at the same time?

 

[Hunterprey]

Still sounds like it would be pretty cramped in there IMO. I would get the upgrade before adding anymore. Are you planning on running both tanks at the same time?

Really? I know they're only half full grown right now and the 1 inch per gallon doesnt apply to bigger fish. It looks quite empty in my 6 foot tank and my Poly's are quite active too and there seems to be still quite a bit of space to fill. I just got the BGK not too long ago, I might just give it back it that helps. I have no territorial issues too ATM

The one I was asking before for suggestions on a diff thread didnt think I was cramped, but I like hearing others opinion too. Plus Im not sure yet about getting the Oscar yet, since theyre quite messy. I was hoping my filtration will cope with it, and add extra water changes. Thanks Micko.

 

[micko]

It should look half empty as your fish aren't fully grown. Add more fish into a tank with fish that grow large and that are only half grown will cause major issues. I'm sure you know this already. As Minnnt said, oscars grow an inch per month on average, they can be grumpy too, mine decided to wreck my tank two days ago and has stopped eating because I rearranged his tank. All stats were perfect, temp was fine too. They do have brilliant personalities though apart from being moody the odd time.

 

[micko]

Oh, I forgot to add, he ate tonight for the first time in two days.

 

[minnnt]

Yeah oscars are exactly that, mardy and grumpy. They're not actually over aggressive compared to something like a red devil or jag/wolf.

 

[Hunterprey]

@ Micko
Ya they sound like they have brilliant personalities, glad your Oscar started eating already. My fish are pretty docile, no serious aggression at the moment anyway. I might just look for a Flyer Cichlid or HRP.

@ Minnnt
Yeah I heard they not really aggressive for their size. I've seen some people mix all of my fish with an Oscar and get on fine. Although Im not sure how they get along long term. I also heard Oscar living peacefully with BP n some quite unsuccessful. I guess its a hit and miss. I hope my filtration and weekly water change is enough in case I get an Oscar.

 

[mattlee]

my oscar Keith killed a 9 inch GT within 2 days in a 6.5ft tank they had to themselves so to say they arent aggressive is a bit hit and miss.

he use to be in the same tank with several large fish and there was nothing too serious happening between them. after selling the other fish he sulked for almost 4 weeks, hardly eating, lying on the sand... i thought he was a gonner even though the water was perfect so i added the XL GT and it was beaten to death within a few days. he now lives with a group of barbs and 2 rainbow cichlids and he is fine with them but anything over 4-5 inches and he doesnt like them....

its been a pain to stock around him but what i have works and looks great.

 

[Hunterprey]

Thanks for sharing your experience with your oscar Matt. I guess its something I have to try and find out, I have some spare tanks just in case. As long as i know that it could work

I love my Datnoid, Blood Parrot and Black Diamond Cichlid, they are my big mid swimmers. I might just even look for a smaller Cichlid like Flyer Cichlid, HRP, Rainbow Cichlid or a Severum. I just want to add another Cichlid thats big enough and not end up as a snack for my Polys. Im fairly new to Cichlids but I read quite a bit about them. Im starting to really like them. My Cichlids right now are quite docile and would love to add another docile Cichlid that will live peacefully with my current fish. I have Clown Barbs in my tank as well, and they are very nice, tight schooling fish.

 

[minnnt]

Hrp are excellent fish, but you would nee to get a male as the females are tiny.

And matt, keith is 1 of the biggest oscars there is on this forum, if not the biggest. And it is his tank so adding anything of a decent size will be tricky! I reckon you should add a buttie or a wolf! I bet he accepts them. Lol.

 

[ChilliPepper]

I'm not sure about the BP or the Black Diamond as never kept them, but as long as they are tough but not argumentative fish then I think it would work out OK.

As with all cichlids, Oscars vary a lot in personality. I'd advise to get one as young as possible to grow them up with different fish so they don't become impossible to add other fish in with.

My Oscar is pushing 12", and has been kept with a load of different fish and the only fish he didn't like was a large tinfoil barb, and that's because the thing was incredibly scatty. He is a grumpy get, but that's the nature of them. He has a lovely character though, and gets on with everybody just fine.... However I should add that I bought him a 6x2x2 and he hated it he's now in a 4x2x2, but we are reducing the number of tanks we have, so he will have to go back in the 6x2x2. So fish aren't always happy in a bigger tank, but with Oscars the minimum would be a 4x2x2. I filter my tanks with FX5's, 2 on my 6ft, one on the 4x2x2 but that only has my Oscar, a baby Texas and two polys in. My 6x2x2 is pretty well stocked so I may even add the 3rd FX5 onto there once the 4x2x2 is broken down.

In short - try it and see, that's the best you can do. You can spend hours researching fish, but they always surprise you. As long as you have another tank for him to go into if things don't work out, then I'd say go for it.

 

[Davo86]

think this was your original thread?

A severum or Chocolate still gets my vote