Jacks And Oscars

[xterraboy03]

First off Hello,

I am a newbie member and really like the site and its features, plus it seems like great overall knowledge compared to many sights out there.

I am posting this because I am surprised that I haven't seen any knowledge or posts about Jacks and Oscars!

I currently have a 7'' Jack Dempsey (female) - Jackie - I feel like i rescued her from the lfs, when I got her she had almost no top fins or tail, but i have nursed it back to health and she is about 75% back to new fins.

-Just got today a 3'' Tiger Oscar - Man these fish are awesome hunters, they are aggressive and will grow until they are the biggest in the tank a very competitive fish.


Although is not my first rodeo and I know that Jacks and Oscars get along together in a community tank! B/c they are both an aggressive hunters!

Does anyone have any knowledge about these two fish?


it seems that I have been duped by the local fish store because I have recently picked up a Red Clawed Crab,
It is one cool fella to watch - hopefully he can prosper in the tank and not become deprived of its natural nutrient brackish water, because my tank will not support the correct habitat. I also read in the forums that if the nitrate lvl gets to high that it can kill him.
-Does anyone have a under-gravel filtration system? And will this help alleviate any problems with Oscars being a bit of a messy fish. I also wonder if it will help in the not so sightly crab droppings that I think are in the tank. I have only had the RCC for two days now.

-Any ideas about where to get "Bog Wood"?

I apologize about so many questions as a newbie to the community,

Thanks for the help!

Xterraboy03

 

[indigoj]

Plenty of us Oscar Keepers in the New World Cichlid section.

Personally wouldn't call them overly aggressive just big and hungry.

 

[xterraboy03]

Thanks for the direction

 

[england]

oscars are big wimps

have a read through this link
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/253192-join-the-oscar-club-its-just-for-fun/

 

[oscars r ace]

you need to look in the new world cichlid section as already mentioned. how big is your tank?

Oscars are very messy fish, what type of filtration do you have?

 

[xterraboy03]

you need to look in the new world cichlid section as already mentioned. how big is your tank?

Oscars are very messy fish, what type of filtration do you have?

The Oscar is located in a 42L tank at the moment he is about 3'', as soon as he starts to grow I will transfer him over to my 55gal,
I have a standard filtration system, and was looking into getting an under-gravel filtration system - would this be recommended for such a messy fish?

 

[indigoj]

42 litres? Get him out of there asap!

 

[oscars r ace]

even 55 gal isnt big enough when he starts to get big, the general rule is 75 gal min for 1 oscar.

undergrav is useless, a good external filter is required, internal is nowhere near powerful enough

 

[NinjaSmurf]

Indigo, the oscar isn't staying in the small tank, it needs to grow out some first. With good water changes it'll be fine for a little, so calm down.

Xterra, what exactly is a standard filtration system? Can you be more specific? And yes, you will need a bigger tank I'm afraid to house both those fish.

Also, I would take back or rehome the crab, if it is brackish it won't live long, and I'd be surprised if the dempsey doesn't try to eat it.

 

[indigoj]

Indigo, the oscar isn't staying in the small tank, it needs to grow out some first. With good water changes it'll be fine for a little, so calm down.

Please don't be so patronising. 42 litres is in no way acceptable for a 3" Oscar for anything over quarentine time (eg 4 weeks max)

 

[xterraboy03]

Well i guess i know that my filtration system is the one that is very common around 20 dollars, for a 42L tank, with a waterfall - are u talking like a super filtration like what the lfs has? Glad for the advice about the under - gravel kit looks to be a big waste of money.

Goin to take back the crab although i like him, when the lfs store opens in a couple of days. I guess i could look into a crawdad or crawfish to be a scavenger in my tank.

I went to a buddy's house today to find his roommate has two Oscars one more green, and another that is red, with a 55gal tank these Oscars were the biggest I have ever seen prob anywhere from 12"-13", makes me sad. My buddy was like man do u want em. I was like if I had the big tank that i want i would but what do u do.

 

[holidayinn]

Hi, I would say a 55g is definitely too small for 2 full-size oscars. You're looking at 100 gallons really minimum, and a lot of the fun in Oscars is watching them grow.

Crayfish are part of an Oscars natual diet in the wild, so wouldnt advise those.

I would think again about the stocking LT, Oscars wil be fine in the 55g for a while, but not advisable LT.

 

[NinjaSmurf]

Neither is getting killed by the dempsey. Besides, it's not like you have to wait long for them to get bigger, those things grow like weeds. With proper water changes two months or so isn't going to kill it. And I'm not being patronising, I'm just saying calm down instead of just yelling about getting it out of there when it's obviously a temporary and at the moment necessary situation.

Xterra, it sounds like your filter is a power filter. They are pretty decent, but a lot of people like canister filters, and personally I wouldn't mind getting one if I could. To be honest, if you are able to get a larger tank suitable for both fish in a decent amount of time then I would keep the oscar, if not then it might be time to consider taking it back and waiting to get one when you have a big enough set up.

 

[xterraboy03]

I do have a 55gal tank that the Oscar will get to move into in a couple of months and as he starts to mature, the canister filters look like they are the best i guess i need to research just about how much that will run but does sound like a great idea. Thanks for the advice Ninja Smurf

 

[NinjaSmurf]

No problem, good luck!