Oscars

[Jsperry20]

Do Oscars do well on their own? or do they need company. i have a tank big enough for one but i wouldnt want it to suffer through not having the company of its own kind, or of any fish for that matter. any feedback would be appreciated. thanks

 

[Stacey13]

An Oscar will be perfectly fine on it's own.

 

[shroob]

Out of interest what tank size is it?

 

[Jsperry20]

Out of interest what tank size is it?

its actually only 80cmX35cmX45, i was originally told it would be ok but after doing some research ive found it will be a little on the small side. What do you people think, good idea or bad idea?

 

[Jsperry20]

Or... will he be ok in this tank for about 8 months, then i can buy him a nice big tank

 

[Stacey13]

That's 33 US gallons, right? Assuming you cycle before hand, and you're starting with a baby oscar, you should be okay for 8 months MAXIMUM. That means you may be changing water multiple times a week in a few months, it also means you MUST not add any new fish to the 33 gallon tank with the Oscar. Not only because of the bio-load, which will be minimal if you start with a baby oscar, but because Oscars are territorial. As long as you're sure you can provide at least a 55 gallon tank in 8 months, (though a 75 would be better) and you are committed to doing enough water changes to keep your nitrAtes below 20 ppm., then yes you could keep a baby Oscar healthy in a 33 gallon tank. (for 8 months)
Obviously, if the Oscar you want is already an adult, then it won't work. You could not keep a 33 cycled with a large Oscar in it. My Oscar is about 9 inches now, and his "droppings" are the size of my smaller fish!! (different tanks, obviously)

 

[shroob]

Like Stace13 said, 33 gallons should be ok for a short amount of time (if you get the oscar at 1 inch, you have about 6 months I think before you MUST have gotten a bigger tank - Oscars should grow at about an inch a month till they are about 1 year old. So you could have a fish around 6 inches in that tank. What size tank are you planning on getting for when it gets larger?

 

[Jsperry20]

hmm i definatly wouldnt get an adult, and my tank is fully mature with the canister filter fluval 205. I dont know exactly what size tank i would get in the future just yet but id definatly get a nice big one. Ive wanted to get a big tank for a long time im just waiting till my house extention is finished. Thanks for the advice stacey and shroob and i would be fully commited to this oscar if i get one