How Many In 75 Gal?

[Jaiden]

I just bought another 75 gal from someone and it came with two Oscars (almost 3" long right now) and a male Jack Dempsey (about 7") I don't know if these two are supposed to be able to live together, but they seem to without any issues.

I know these fish are going to grow a lot more, but could I fit a female Jack Dempsey in with them? Or would it cause aggression with the Male JD? And is there enough room for them full grown? Or could I fit another Oscar?

Just wondering, that's all. I like having the big fish lol I originally wanted Oscars, but hubby had to have his little fishies lol

 

[england]

well a 75 usgallon is a reccomended bare minimum for a single oscar

poss the oscars could grow to hate each other

 

[spAcE mOnkEy]

I would suggest keeping the tank as it is now, but add a few dither fish. Some sort of barbs or danios that are typically larger. I use rainbow fish in my tank. Maybe you could purchase a small school of giant danios. A pleco may work too, but I dont really think they are needed in a tank. Aggression may become an issue as they get older, but at this size you shouldn't have to worry about much. Just monitor the tank closely, and if you see problems, purchase a divider or make one out of egg crate until you can get rid of one of the fish. As long as the water is clean and the fish get a long, you should have a successful tank.

 

[Jaiden]

Well, I'll keep things the way they are for now I'm just glad I got some bigger fishies! The JD is really pretty, too. Very dark with vibrant spots...he'll look nicer once I get a light on the tank

 

[spAcE mOnkEy]

Forgot to say though, if your JD's breed they will probably be very aggressive towards any other fish in the tank. I'd recommend sticking with these large fish and if you see problems,get rid of the one causing trouble. If you like the one causing trouble, get rid of the others.

 

[shroob]

If it was my tank, I would rehome an oscar. I think that would be best in the long run, as a 75 isn't a massive amount of space for 2 oscars and a JD.

 

[Jaiden]

I was thinking about rehoming one of the Oscars, actually lol I think I'll wait until they're bigger. They seem fine now. And they just went through a stressful move and all that...might as well wait a bit lol

 

[ox5477]

Your going to put the fish through more stress by keeping them in a small tank with other aggressive fish then you would by rehoming them. The most responsible thing is to rehome atleast one o right now, if not both of them. If you want to try and pair up the JD (which there is a 99% chance that it won't work because the JD is full grown), then you need to get rid of the o's as they would be nothing but fodder for the super aggressive state both JD parents would enter with eggs or hatchlings.

But again, if you don't want to listen and do your own thing, I hope for the sake of the fish, that you come to your senses sooner rather than later and realize the tank as is won't work and you should do the right thing before problems start to occur.

 

[Jaiden]

It was just a question as to if I could add a female JD. I don't plan to now. And as things are, they get along wonderfully. The Oscars follow the JD around and they're always swimming together. I do realize it probably will become an issue when they're full grown...but at the moment, they're fine. The second I see issues, I will no doubt remove the offender.

But excuse me for being a little skeptical of tank mate do's and don'ts. I was also told my pink Convicts would eat and kill my Barbs and Tetras and nothing of the sorts ever happened. I did get rid of the Barbs and Tetras for their own safety, just in case...and now have a couple Green Severums in there with them with no issues, either.

 

[spAcE mOnkEy]

Your going to put the fish through more stress by keeping them in a small tank with other aggressive fish then you would by rehoming them. The most responsible thing is to rehome atleast one o right now, if not both of them. If you want to try and pair up the JD (which there is a 99% chance that it won't work because the JD is full grown), then you need to get rid of the o's as they would be nothing but fodder for the super aggressive state both JD parents would enter with eggs or hatchlings.

But again, if you don't want to listen and do your own thing, I hope for the sake of the fish, that you come to your senses sooner rather than later and realize the tank as is won't work and you should do the right thing before problems start to occur.

.... Two 3" oscars in a 75 gal tank isn't enough room? I know they will grow fast, but come on... Even if the oscars grow to be around 8" in that tank, it's still enough room. A 75 gallon tank is typically 4ft by 18" wide, and around 21" high. In my opinion, this is quite enough room for both fish. The ONLY reason these fish would not be able to be housed together is because of aggression, and at this small size, it won't show up till much later down the line when they reach around 6-7". The jack dempsey may show some problems with other fish in the tank which is why I suggested some dither fish. The dither fish would distract the cichlids from each other, and they would be the focus of aggression. Dither fish are fast and can escape from the larger fish easily with no major problems. Make sure you have enough hiding places in the tank, purchase a couple flower pots.

Eventually, you will probably need to rehome a few of those fish. There is always the chance where the fish could get a long as adults, but it is very unlikely. Right now, I imagine that the oscars will be actively swimming around your tank while the JD is hiding somewhere in a cave. The oscars will continue to act like this for a while, and as long as they don't go near the JD's cave they will be fine. Once the oscars get larger, you probably will have some problems. I also suggest that you do not get a female JD as they probably will pair up, I don't believe that that statistic about full grown JD's not reproducing is true....

 

[shroob]

I would disagree about a 75 being big enough for 2 oscars. Especially if the two oscars are male, then they will not tolerate each other. It may work with a mated pair, or two females, but even then the water changes and filtration would have to be tip top to keep the bioload in check. The minimum recommended space for 1 oscar is 55 gallons, two would need more than 75 (due to the bioload, plus the swimming space etc, thats a different issue).
While the oscars may be small now, and yet this gives the OP time to seek new homes/enjoy his fish, I will agree with Jaiden, you could wait until aggression starts, but why wait? By the time you see aggression atleast one fish is already suffering.

 

[Jaiden]

Right now, I imagine that the oscars will be actively swimming around your tank while the JD is hiding somewhere in a cave. The oscars will continue to act like this for a while, and as long as they don't go near the JD's cave they will be fine. Once the oscars get larger, you probably will have some problems.

Actually, the Oscars are ALWAYS swimming in almost direct contact with the JD and very rarely venture too far away from him.

I don't know how to tell the difference between male/female Oscars.

If these fish hadn't come with the tank, I never would have had the JD. I never really wanted one. But I know what my options are now, at least. Thanks everyone.

 

[shroob]

There is no easy way to tell male/female oscars apart, best bet is to wait until they breed then tell from that. You could always vent them, but I'm no expert at that.

 

[spAcE mOnkEy]

I would disagree about a 75 being big enough for 2 oscars. Especially if the two oscars are male, then they will not tolerate each other. It may work with a mated pair, or two females, but even then the water changes and filtration would have to be tip top to keep the bioload in check. The minimum recommended space for 1 oscar is 55 gallons, two would need more than 75 (due to the bioload, plus the swimming space etc, thats a different issue).

I agree with this, but we are talking about young oscars only around 3 inches. You are talking about the care of two full grown oscars. Many people keep talking about stress and all that, but no matter when she moves the fish there will always be stress. While the fish is young, the stress from the move would be more likely to harm it in the long run, rather than moving when it is a mature adult. I came up with that based upon your own information about how "stressed" these fish will be.

While the oscars may be small now, and yet this gives the OP time to seek new homes/enjoy his fish, I will agree with Jaiden, you could wait until aggression starts, but why wait? By the time you see aggression atleast one fish is already suffering.

In my opinion, oscars are very hardy fish and a little stress is going to show no negative effects on them. Just because fish fight now and then doesnt mean one is going to curl up from stress and die, or even get a disease. This would only happen in extreme cases, and if the owner was not monitoring their behavior. This is why I think it would be just as well to raise them up together and then remove the problem fish. Right now in a fairly large 4ft by 18" wide tank there are two 3" fish and one 7"... I think they have more than enough room for now.