Juwel 300 Bowfront

[Verminator89]

Right, so today i travelled to Telford to pick up a free tank + 2 oscars. Lucky sod i know, chuffed with it aswell Oscars are in general good health, albeit suffering from some bumps to the face. Apparently they are a little clumsy with decor and have come into contact with big rocks in the past. I shall get some pictures up of the tank and its two beautys in when i get my camera from my house (tank is at the gf's).


Basically i want to know what sort of fish i can add. I'm stuck with ideas in my head. I know they have to be large, and robust. Apparently they didnt get on with a plec they had to share a tank with last time. Willing to try again to see how it goes however.


I'd really appreciate if people would give me your opinions what would/could be worth trying. I'd like something active, and big(ish) that would add something like;

Movement
Colour
something different



All suggestions welcome.
Cheers, James

 

[star4]

I know they are only 6" at the mo but potentially that tank is going to be pushing the limit for 2 full grown oscars, unless you are thinking of just some extra's in the meantime

 

[mattlee]

I know they are only 6" at the mo but potentially that tank is going to be pushing the limit for 2 full grown oscars, unless you are thinking of just some extra's in the meantime

have to agree with star. after seeing the size that oscars can get to i wouldnt put 1 in anything less than 5 ft. Keith is about 11 inches and still may grow a tiny bit and theres no way he would be happy in a 4 ft tank especially with another oscar in there to...... so if i were you i would start from scratch or use this tank until they are too big then start from scratch. just remember that oscars do grow very fast

tankmates is a tricky one obviously nothing that can be eaten and that can withstand a bashing now and then and stand up to the oscars. personally i wouldnt add anything, even a common or gibbi would be pushing it in a 4ft tank. if the oscars dont like plecs than i would just leave it as it is or rehome the oscars and put what you want in it....

 

[Verminator89]

Well as you guys may or may not be aware i'm planning a 6ft tank here at my gf's. This tank is jsut a stepping stone toward that. So that is no issue. Also, i asked the couple i got these from how long they've had them, she said over three years! And they are unfortunately only this size, so i don't know if they will grow any more at all. For sure they are stunted somewhat, but in a bigger tank from now on, and with a better routine + feeding do you think they are likely to grow.


Alternatively i have concidered moving them onto someone else, and starting again. I need to think about it some more, as they are quite cute, in an ugly sort of way. Time will tell.


Certainly for their size they have BIG ol eyes, which is a good indication of stunted growth, is it not?

 

[star4]

6" at 3 years old! yup I would say they are stunted and the big eyes. Chops has huges eyes compared to Rusty. They will grow once in a bigger tank, Chops has grown nearly 2 inches in the short time I have had him, although I doubt he will reach his full potential size

Tank mates will be trial and error, it purly depends on their attitude. I wanted to move some of the baby rotties into other tanks, although Chops lives quite happily with the parent rotties, metae & clowns he was not keen on the smaller rotties (just chasing) However I tried a couple in with Rusty, who lives with Vinny & seymour (sevs) happily and he went for them almost immediately and I took them out of the tank sharpish. Now Minxy's Tigger (who is lodging here) is the most docile lovely natured oscar you could wish for and at 8-9" I really didnt think she would accept baby rotties, but she proved me wrong by not even bothering with them Cichlids are really funny creatures you never know if they are going to get on, and even in the case of Duce (texas) and Rainbow(JD) poor Matt had dreadful trouble with them squabbling and rainbow got pretty beat up, but now they are quite content and happpy together here Yet Bailey (A. Diadema) who has never bothered with anything I have tried her with went for Rainbow after 30 seconds of him being released into the tank. Hence him getting moved back in with Duce.

 

[Verminator89]

They told me they were 6-7" over the phone, however when i got there they are more like 7-8", 9" including tail. However they look oddly shaped and clearly are stunted. I shall try and get pics up soon of them. Even so though, for the size they are and how old they are supposedly i'm quite stunned. In the good bags of left over fish stuff they gave me they had Koi Pellets. Feeding them Koi pellets! Eeek. Certainly havnt had a "good" diet by the looks of things.

Currenty swaying more toward getting rid of them as i have other plans for the tank, as i think i've made it look quite spectacular if i may say so myself Hehe.

 

[star4]

Look forward to the pics, I really couldnt help by taking them I am so full now fish wise, I had to turn down another oscar yesterday and some angels needing a home.

 

[mattlee]

get them pics up James.... come on