Oscars or Malawi

[chris2222]

Getting a new tank soon and it will be either a 5ft or 6ft somewhere aroung 130-150uk G.

This means i could keep the two oscars that i have at the moment who are about 4 inches and growing quite quickly. But is having just two oscars going to be boring in the long run, should i just rehome the oscars and get a really big maliawi set up?

Really dont know what to do, has anyone got pictures of there oscar/malawi setups. Malawis seem to look better but oscars have a kind of personality.

 

[MasterP]

I would go ahead and put the oscars in there since they are eventually going to need a big tank. But if you are able to get another big tank for your oscars i would definently go for the malawi setup.

 

[Kopix Nation]

oscars are alot better than malawis!Malawis are not very bright and can be quite boring at times. But with oscars you can train them and pet them and play with them. Much better choice I would say!

claire

 

[freddyk]

I don't think it's fair for anyone to say which is better because they both have their positive attributes.

Oscars give the illusion of being more 'pet like' due to their attentive awareness of people mixed with their extreme delight in food. They develop a trust in their owners that allows us touch them (not sure why I would) and they'll eat out of the hand and even come out of the water for food (or an empty hand for that matter) with little prompting on our part. What attracts me to them though is the more complex and interesting behavior between each other then we get with Malawi fish. A monogomous couple really appears to go through moods and interact wonderfully. They are certainly better for people who can appreciate the finer characteristics of new world cichlids.

Malawi's are much prettier, bolder and varied in color, and infinitely more active, and their ability to thrive in relatively crowded environments leads to endless non-stop action. Most Malawi cichlids also enjoy caves and cover, which opens up the options for those who like heavier aquascaping. This type of aquarium makes a far superior living room show tank then the other, and can easily be appreciated by those who can loose themselves in an attractive and energetic aquarium. In a tank the size of the one you plan the options for a Malawi community are endless.

I for one can appreciate both types and would not dare guess which would be better for you.

 

[chris2222]

Thanks for the replies, still not completely sure what to do yet, the tank will be in the living room so a bright active tank would be nice.

I have got quite attatched to the oscars though and dont like the thought of giving them to a pet shop only to be shut up in a really small tank for ages. Have to give it some more thought, got another 3-4 weeks until i need to make my mind up.