Oscar + Firemouth?

[Ferris]

Hi all,

I'm shortly going to be setting up a 75 gal tank, which will home 1 Oscar and 1 sailfin Plec. I would like to add a single Firemouth to the tank and would just like your thoughts on this.

The Oscar will be a juvenile (not purchased yet) and the Sailfin is currently about 7-8 inches. I'd be particularly interested in any comments from someone who has kept Oscar's and FM's successfully or otherwise.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ferris]

Bump, i know freddyk will have some good input on this but any ideas/thoughts, feel free to post them.

 

[IMCL85]

Nice but you better watch out for ur tank filtration as the pleco and oscar r both heavy pooooer and with other fish u should have atleast 2 filter to keep ur water clean and alot of water change or else HITH disease will attack ur oscar. And soon u probably need a 125 for ur oscar.





Good luck
Jack

 

[mikelouth]

I would opt out on putting a firemouth or anything that size in with an Oscar.
I made that mistake and ended up with 1 and 1/2 firemouths.

 

[Ferris]

Thanks guys, the filtration won't be a problem as i'll have a fluval +4 internal and an undecided external filter (probably an eheim pro).

If i do add a FM, i would add the Oscar and FM at the same time and at a similar size. I know that the Oscar will fairly quickly outgrow the FM though. I'm hoping that the same tactic i employ with Mbuna might work, that being adding different fish as juveniles to let them grow up together and get used to each other.

Any more thoughts will be much appreciated.

 

[Lynden]

Oscars are only mean when they are paired. It will probably be fine, as long as you take their adult sizes into consideration. A 75 gallon tank could probably suit two adult 8'' oscars AND a plec, you might have to clean the tank more often though. Whoop-de-do. For a 14'' oscar, shoot for a 125 at least for a pair of those.

-Lynden

 

[freddyk]

I'm hoping that the same tactic i employ with Mbuna might work, that being adding different fish as juveniles to let them grow up together and get used to each other.

As far as temperment goes this certainly increases the chances of it working, though there are never any guarantees. One thing for sure though, the Oscar will eat whatever it can catch regardless of whether they grew up together.

 

[Ferris]

One thing for sure though, the Oscar will eat whatever it can catch regardless of whether they grew up together.

Nice one freddyk, i guess the answer to the question is its possible but with an element of risk, which is very familiar when it comes to any species of cichlid.