Question?

[ECCO_]

How do you introduce new fish(tankmates) to oscars?
And what would be good tankmates?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

How do you introduce new fish(tankmates) to oscars?
And what would be good tankmates?

Tank mates really depend on the size of the tank.


Introduction can sometimes be tricky. Normally you want to re-arrange the ornaments in the tank, this will break up the territory and allow all the fish to settle in. Some people I talk to add feeder fish into the tank to keep the old fish occupied, not sure how well this works though. No goldfish if you want to try both methods.

 

[ECCO_]

How do you introduce new fish(tankmates) to oscars?
And what would be good tankmates?

Tank mates really depend on the size of the tank.


Introduction can sometimes be tricky. Normally you want to re-arrange the ornaments in the tank, this will break up the territory and allow all the fish to settle in. Some people I talk to add feeder fish into the tank to keep the old fish occupied, not sure how well this works though. No goldfish if you want to try both methods.

Well for now, they are in a 55gallon, but by November we'll have them all in a 150g.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Personally I would wait till' you get the big tank and add everything in togather. This way there would probably be no bullying.


All of these should be okay (just naming a few):


Silver dollars
Jaguar Cichlid
Jack Dempsey
Red Devil

 

[Sheilaf]

I agree about waiting. I recently tried introducing another oscar to my oscar tank and despite removing the resident oscar, rearranging the tank and then putting the old guy back in, it did not work. You have a much better chance of it working in a 150g tank. I agree with the silver dollars and the JD being good tankmates for oscars. I have to disagree on the jag and red devil. I found Jags and red devils to be far more aggressive than oscars (or most other fish for that matter). Oscars really aren't that aggressive (there are some exceptions) when compared to fish like Jags or Red Devils. You could try them together in a large tank and really keep an eye out for problems, but from what I've heard, when Jags and Red devils snap, you may not have time to save your other fish. I had a red devil that killed every other fish in my tank except for the Jag

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

I agree about waiting. I recently tried introducing another oscar to my oscar tank and despite removing the resident oscar, rearranging the tank and then putting the old guy back in, it did not work. You have a much better chance of it working in a 150g tank. I agree with the silver dollars and the JD being good tankmates for oscars. I have to disagree on the jag and red devil. I found Jags and red devils to be far more aggressive than oscars (or most other fish for that matter). Oscars really aren't that aggressive (there are some exceptions) when compared to fish like Jags or Red Devils. You could try them together in a large tank and really keep an eye out for problems, but from what I've heard, when Jags and Red devils snap, you may not have time to save your other fish. I had a red devil that killed every other fish in my tank except for the Jag

Hmmm... Always thought Jaguar and Red Devils to be okay?? I guess I stand corrected. Although I believe Nelly has a Jaguar in with an Oscar in a similar sized tank to the 150.

 

[Sheilaf]

Too be honest, I think it really comes down to the individual fish. And of course, tank size does help. I've heard horror stories of jags going beserk and killing everything in the tank. When I had my Jag it was really pretty laid back but no one dared to mess with it. My Red devil however was a nightmare, it killed alot of other fish. Of course when I had these fish I was very new to central american cichlids and I did not give them the space they needed. But from other people's experiences they are pretty nasty fish when they want to be. These are the fish I've commonly seen as good tankmates for oscars (and again I think it comes down to personality and tank size-but I think that's the case with most combos of fish):

Silver dollars
Bichirs
Jack Dempsey
Firemouth
Convict
Blue Acara
Chocolate cichlid
Severum
and I've heard of people trying salvini (I did and it worked pretty well) and green terrors. But again, both those fish have a reputation for being not so nice.

 

[ox5477]

nelly did have his jag "brutis" in with his o's until it started attacking them so they are now seperated.... wouldnt recommend it.

I agree with the list sheilaf has posted

Ox

 

[Dave Ehl]

Oscars are pretty smart. I've rearranged my tank several times to try to introduce new fish, and every time my oscar will not tolerate any tankmates. It just seems like they know its the same tank. The only way I can see introducing new fish is overwhelming the oscar with a lot of new fish. You might have to add a couple of shoals of different fish, wait a few weeks, and then you can add larger fish. Don't do anything until you get your big tank.

 

[blue acara]

A good way to introduce a new cichlid into a cichlid tank is to put up a barrier, keep the fish separated for a week or two. This gives the new fish a chance to recover from the journey and get used to its new home. When you remove the barrier observe the fish and watch out for serious aggression, separate again if necessery. Putting them together straight away will put the new fish at a big disadvantage, often resulting in its death.

Catfish are a good tankmate for oscars. Common plec-grows very large, Synodontis sp are a good choice.

 

[england]

Personally I would wait till' you get the big tank and add everything in togather. This way there would probably be no bullying.


All of these should be okay (just naming a few):


Silver dollars<good choice>
Jaguar Cichlid<in my oppinion bad choice>ok when juvi,until they mature>
Jack Dempsey<had no problems when i had my female with oscars>
Red Devil<here thats also not good<never done this mind>

hehe yes nelly did have brutis in with oscar and gandulf for just over one year,<in my 150us gallon> all was hunky dorey, suddenly one day that was it, brutis thought he would take over the tank, hearding up the oscars into a corner and that was that!!!!!

i have three tinfoils and two silver sharks<all a group> they get on fine with oscars, as does my gibbicep/common plec/hoplo catfish and senagal birchir

i have since come to the conclution i will only keep cichlids sigular or as a pair and no more in the same tank,,,

 

[england]

http/www.fishforums.net/content/forum/25...s-Gallon-Tank-/
heres how my tank is now
http/www.fishforums.net/content-page/246...nation/page/20/
attack from a vieja

 

[Sheilaf]

nelly did have his jag "brutis" in with his o's until it started attacking them so they are now seperated.... wouldnt recommend it.

I agree with the list sheilaf has posted

Ox

I totally agree. When I put my resident oscar back after removing him for an hour and re-decorating the tank, he pretty much took a look around and was like "hey, just cuz you moved those rocks over there doesn't mean this isn't still my tank!". After which he started attacking the new oscar. Very intelligent fish!

 

[england]

What i would do if i wanted to try different cichlids together is

buy all cichlids i wanted when theyre juvi<best chance of forming a hiraki and community and area's,,,,,,,

for example say i wanted

1 oscar<look for a 1.5-2incher><smallest because will grow quickly>

2 severum<look for a 3-4incher>

6 silver dollars<look for 3-4inchers>

1 senegal birchir<look for a 3-5incher>

 

[Zawiha]

These are the fish I've commonly seen as good tankmates for oscars (and again I think it comes down to personality and tank size-but I think that's the case with most combos of fish):
Bichirs

unless the bichirs are sizable they can easily end up as spaghetti.
So, having know a fair few people who have lost bichirs to oscars i'd be wary.
Adding probly a full size'd specie such as a sengal or delhezi.
If not a full size, one a fair bit bigger than 7 inches (and quite thick)