Getting new tank

[yvez9]

I finally convinced my girlfriend! We're getting an oscar.

I've started to shop around for tanks but we won't buy it until the end of the summer since we are moving in 2 months and we need to save up for it

I was thinking a 77 gallon tank would be suitable for an oscar and a few other fish.

We definately want a common pleco and another cichlid. We're leaning towards a convict but i would prefer a severum!

Is sand good for oscars or would gravel be better? The only decoratiosn that will be in there is pices of slate and bogwood

 

[moneywastedonfish]

cool, good luck!
Your oscar should be happy in that tank, but it would probably be happier in a 90gal.
I've kept cons with my oscar when i first bought it. The cons(2 females) were cool for a while but when they got about 2'' they started picking at the oscar leaving fairly large wounds in the side, it took me a long time to work out what had caused these marks and they got fairly large. Just a word of warning about cons.

Apparently sand is good for o's just don't use builders sand. I've always used gravel though. You could try some giant val (big tape grass) for some greenery.

Oscars are awesome, enjoy!!!

 

[yvez9]

thanks for the advice
i'll shop around for a 90 gallon as well as a 75, but from what i've seen so far, there is a huge price difference for some reason...

I'll rethink the convict thing, although with cichlids, its impossible to know how they will react towards other fish...

 

[sevs]

A 75g is the bare minimum for an oscar so the bigger you can buy the better. When choosing tank mates be sure that you get something that can hold its own against the oscar but won't beat the crap out of the oscar either. Just remember that most cichlids are extremely terrirorial and the oscar would probally claim most of the tank as it's own. Also besure to provide numerous hiding spots for the oscar's tankmates especially a fish such as a pleco which can't really defend itself.

 

[freddyk]

Consider getting a non-cichlid tankmate for your Oscar, like a small shoal of silver dollars. They tend to be ignored, and help fill up the tank. Even if the second cichlid works there's always heightened stress in the tank, especially for the weaker fish.