Opinion For Good Tankmates

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Monkeyman806

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I am thinking of having a Tiger Oscar in a 45 gal show tank with about 10 Tiger Barbs. Now before anyone jumps the gun and starts calling me crazy I have seen on a few forums that this has worked. The idea of having an Oscar (normally found in a speices tank) mixed with a schooling fish is kind of cool. However, something about this just doesn't sit right with me and I am looking for opinions or advise. The idea is to cycle the tank with the Tiger Barbs and then add the Oscar. The Barbs end up staying really close and away from the Oscar and the Oscar (being only 2" at the start) never really sees the need to mess with the group. If you have any "helpful" words please feel free to let me know what you think or have seen. Thanks :D
 
I've seen this combination work but in a 100g+ tank - 45g is much too small for an Oscar.
The decor included a lot of viney pieces of wood which made a thicket the barbs could retreat to away from the Oscar.

Oscars are not particularly aggressive if they have enough space.
 
I am hoping to get the Oscar at 2" and make it 12 to 18 months... at that point I am going to be getting a 110 gal.... I just am not sure if I can make it that long
 
sorry but your tank is much too small!!!

my oscar went from 2 inches to 12 in 8 months not 18!

as for oscars not being aggressive....tell that to my bloody elbow, my oscar would charge across the tank while I was using the python and hit my elbow full tilt, mouth open, teeth sharp!!!!

never assume you know what a cichlid will do ;)
 
They aren't PARTICULARLY aggressive - doesn't mean they can't be. I've had soppy ones & some grumpy ones but never as bad as a Jag or snakehead in the aggression stakes.
That is why I mentioned the need for a safe zone for tankmates. Similar sized fish can't get away but smaller, fast moving, fish that can easily get out the the Oscars reach can be safe.

My last one grew from 2" to 14" SL in a year.

I agree - wait until you have a large enough tank before you get the fish although you could use the 45g to quarantine a 2" Oscar (for two to three weeks).
 

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