Oscar decision

[LifeBear]

I need to make up my mind about whether to get an oscar. My feelings are mixed.

I am buying two 55 gal tanks from a guy in the next town. He said I could have his oscar too. It is a beautiful specimen, tiger, about 10 inches long, looks healthy, cute in that way oscars are. And I have been thinking about SOMEDAY getting an oscar for years. I am just not sure I am ready yet. The biggest fish I have right now is a 3 inch goldfish.

If I don't take the oscar, there won't be anywhere for it to live.

But I am planning to move soon. I was planning on leaving the tanks empty until I get to the new place. If I take the oscar I will have to set up the 55 in my mom's den, then break it down, move it and set it back up again in a few weeks, maybe a month. I am afraid that will be very stressful on the poor fish.

I don't know. What do you guys think? Should I take the oscar? I have researched them and wanted one , just never had the opportunity to have a tank big enough. If I don't, should I tell the guy he needs to find it another home and he'd better do it by Sunday when I come to pick up MY tanks? Should I take it and put it on aquabid?

(sigh) I do want it. I just wish it hadn't come up until after I moved.

 

[Dane]

Hmm, sad story You said you were moving in a few weeks, right? Is it possible to keep the oscar in one of the tanks for you, at his house until you move? If it's too much trouble for him, maybe 'tip' him haha... I wouldn't pass up an oportunity like that, especially the way you've been saying you were thinking about getting one for such a while. Any thing you chose to do, i wish you luck Hopefully things will work out for the best.

 

[longhorn13]

that's a tough situation. how is your relationship with your lfs? maybe they can foster home the oscar until you get set up...it's worth a try to ask anyways.

 

[freddyk]

The fish could handle the move. Every move is stressful for them, of course, but you underestimate how tough these fish really are. I don't know how much overlap you have between the new and old place, but the entire move can be made easy by setting up the second 55 (since it's empty anyway) at the new place first, having it ready to go for when the Oscar arrives. I wouldn't take him simply because I like to get them younger and watch them grow.

 

[nc_nutcase]

I agree with Freddy. My position is that I love to raise fish, not just have fish. The process of helping them along the way from itsy bitsy lil babies to these mega mondo monsters is incomparable. Especially since they grow so fast.

You will hear a lot of opinions on tank sizes for Oscars. I've made a recent personal choice not to buy any more tanks that aren't at least 18 inches front to back. That is because I mostly have / like to have large cichlids (although I am cycling my first dwarf cichlid tank now, a 55 Gal). I wouldn't keep more than one large cichlid in a 55 Gal. Even then it is less than ideal. A 55 gal is 12 inches front to back... Oscars can easily get 14 inches long... now picture him doing a U turn bumping his head and his butt at the same time...

I'm by no means saying it cannot be done. I raised 4 Oscars and 2 Pacu in a 55 until the Pacus were 12 inches and the Oscars between 10 and 12. That was when I was real young and real rebellious though. I had one of those, "I love my fish and I know what’s best for them" attitudes (very rough phase of life).

Most LFSs that I've been to have a large cichlid tank or two. Most would probably accept the donation of a large Oscar... So it is your opportunity and he is your potential new fish... so the decision is yours... I think from reading above you can see what I would do... but the best thing about fish keeping is the fact you can design your tank the way you want it and collect the fish you want and raise them how you want... From what I can see... Any of your options can be rewarding… I’m sure you’ll be happy with your decision…

-Toby

 

[LifeBear]

The fact that he is full grown and I had always thought I would get a baby someday was a part of my argument against. But that seems a pretty low reason for making this fish "homeless" Kind of like those people who only want to adopt babies and not older kids.

Setting up one aquarium before Demon (I am probably going to change that name) makes the trip is an excellent idea, thank you. I will do that.

The only lps around here is Petsmart. They aren't going to agree to house him, I am pretty sure about that.
Ironically, if I already lived in the town I am moving to, the lfs there is wonderful and would probably take him, either permanantly or temporarily. I am so glad I am moving FROM here TO there.

As it stands, I will take the oscar by setting up one tank then bringing him in. This is as happy as I have been that I am getting two tanks instead of one, except for my chronic MTS. Getting 2 tanks will make this move much easier!

Thank you all.

 

[Dane]

yay, glad you're happy <3 Good luck with the tanks and with the move

 

[LifeBear]

The guy said he would keep the tanks and oscar as long as I needed. AND my move came up sooner than i had thought it would. We are going to go ahead and get moved, then bring in the new 55 gallon tanks. I'll move the first one, set it up, then bring the fish in a bucket and the second tank. He can go right into the first tank, as it will have been mostly filled with water brought in jugs from the original set up. Then the second tank can be whatever I want. Yay! no more worries, at least not about this problem.

Thank you all for the advice.

 

[nc_nutcase]

Congrastts on working everything out.

Just remember the bacteria you want to save from the established tank lives on surfaces (I.e. gravel, decorations, plants). It’s better to transfer these things than the actual water. Although they do need to stay submerged during transportation.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!