Oscar Stocking Question

[FeroX]

What could I put with an Oscar in a 75 gallon tank, if anything? And if nothing, then what could I put with an Oscar (just 1 in both instances) in a 90 gallon?

Excluding: clown loaches and plecos
Primarily looking for: Other cichlids (Jade Eye most likely is my choice) and catfish

I'm really only looking for ....3 fish total, an Oscar, something else, and catfish.

So what can I get?

 

[jayjay]

What sort of filtration will you use? For example a sump and trickle tower would mean you could stock higher. To be honest it's more of the dimensions on the tank rather than total volume that will effect how you can stock a tank with cichlids.

 

[FeroX]

Was thinking an external eheim filter...not sure which one exactly yet...(maybe you could point me in the right direction )

http/www.eheim.com/external.htm

I'll most likely have a HOB filter aswell.

The dimensions of the 2 tanks I'm looking at are the long-style...so the 75g is 48x18x21 inches and the 90 is 48x18x25 I believe.

 

[jayjay]

How much do you have to play with on the filter? The bigger the better really. Eheims are great if I could afford one I'd go for a pro 3.

The 90g will be better just due to added water volume, the added height isn't that much of a bonus.

I'd consider perhaps some type of bichir with the Oscar? What type of decoration are you thinking for inside the tank? You could try another cichlid but it's risky, always have a back up option available just in case, e.g. a divider or spare tank.

 

[nmonks]

I wouldn't personally add another cichlid. The results are unpredictable. Oscars aren't aggressive, and generally don't go looking for fights, but the other cichlid might. Probably the safest would be some sort of cichlid that had an entirely different shape and lifestyle, such as a pike cichlid.

I've seen oscars mixed with large Ctenopoma, such as Ct. kingsleyi, and the effect is pretty good, the dark green of the Ctenopoma contrasting well with the coppery tones on the oscar.

Spiny eels also make excellent companions. Either the tyre-track or fire eels would be good.

Bichirs, as mentioned earlier, are also good. But do choose the species carefully: some of the larger bichirs tend to be snappy.

Big sleeper gobies, like Oxyeleotris marmoratus, can also work well.

As far as catfish go, almost anything around 20-30 cm should be fine. Hoplosternum littorale or Callichthys callichthys are both hardy, robust in temperament, and make excellent specimen fish in their own right. I have a soft spot for the African clarotid Chrysichthys ornatus; it's peaceful, very attractive, and a decent size without being massive. Dorad catfish are also superb choices for the oscar aquarium. Platydoras costatus is the obvious choice, but there are several others in the trade. Largish Synodontis can work well. Avoid the aggressive ones like Synodontis schall, but the peaceful species like Synodontis notatus and (a bit less peaceful) Synodontis angelicus would make exceptionally attractive catfish for any community of big fish.

Cheers, Neale

 

[FeroX]

How much do you have to play with on the filter? The bigger the better really. Eheims are great if I could afford one I'd go for a pro 3.

The 90g will be better just due to added water volume, the added height isn't that much of a bonus.

I'd consider perhaps some type of bichir with the Oscar? What type of decoration are you thinking for inside the tank? You could try another cichlid but it's risky, always have a back up option available just in case, e.g. a divider or spare tank.

HOBs aren't too bad, I wouldn't need to play with one too bad. The highest I've seen around me is one suitable for a 110g, so I'd be purchasing that either way I go, 75g or 90g. I think I will go for the 90g, just save up the extra small bit of money and it should be fine.

The decor will consist of sand substrate with a fine layer of pebble gravel on top. I MIGHT put some Mopani in there, but I haven't decided yet. Apart from that, I'll have a pot (for catfish and sleeping spot if needed for Oscar/other fish at night) and just some slate made into a cave also. Was thinking about buying a moss ball later on to see if he would bat it around constantly too hahaha...but that could stress him out with this thing that keeps moving around his tank, since Oscars don't take to that too much.

I wouldn't personally add another cichlid. The results are unpredictable. Oscars aren't aggressive, and generally don't go looking for fights, but the other cichlid might. Probably the safest would be some sort of cichlid that had an entirely different shape and lifestyle, such as a pike cichlid.

I've seen oscars mixed with large Ctenopoma, such as Ct. kingsleyi, and the effect is pretty good, the dark green of the Ctenopoma contrasting well with the coppery tones on the oscar.

Spiny eels also make excellent companions. Either the tyre-track or fire eels would be good.

Bichirs, as mentioned earlier, are also good. But do choose the species carefully: some of the larger bichirs tend to be snappy.

Big sleeper gobies, like Oxyeleotris marmoratus, can also work well.

As far as catfish go, almost anything around 20-30 cm should be fine. Hoplosternum littorale or Callichthys callichthys are both hardy, robust in temperament, and make excellent specimen fish in their own right. I have a soft spot for the African clarotid Chrysichthys ornatus; it's peaceful, very attractive, and a decent size without being massive. Dorad catfish are also superb choices for the oscar aquarium. Platydoras costatus is the obvious choice, but there are several others in the trade. Largish Synodontis can work well. Avoid the aggressive ones like Synodontis schall, but the peaceful species like Synodontis notatus and (a bit less peaceful) Synodontis angelicus would make exceptionally attractive catfish for any community of big fish.

Cheers, Neale

Very helpful, thank-you. As much as I'd like an eel, I wouldn't want to have to give it away when it becomes too big later on down the road. I can't have a 2ft eel...as much as I'd love one. I'm thinking I'll go with the climbing perch, they sound WAY too cool to be true, and I'm into oddball...or at least, really unique or cool fish, so that sounds perfect. I love the way it hunts/eats too. As for a catfish, I think I'll go with Chrysichthys ornatus, that sounded just about perfect for me. That or some Synodontis. I don't think they should have a problem with eachother (the oscar and catfish) since Oscars generally tolerate anything they're raised with from a young age, which is what I'll be buying mine at...but you never know so I think Chrysichthys ornatus is good.

Ty for that post, it was very helpful, but I'd still like to keep this topic open for other people's opinions aswell if you don't mind.

 

[funkyhoney]

Clown loaches in a group of 3 or more and 4+ Silver Dollars are the most common companion, other than that and what has already been mentioned Plec's are the only things I can think of.