Tankmate For My Oscar

[Morquinn]

So we are planning on buying or building either a 125 gallon or 300 gallon... we are unsure really how big we want it right now, but anyways, we have a 4 inch oscar (currently in a 55 gallon) with 2 black finned sharks and 2 silver dollars and would like another cichlid type fish.... we were thinking something like a jack dempsey or jaguar cichlid... would it be possible to keep those fish together? If not, are there any type of fish (that get fairly big) that we can house with our oscar?

 

[Raechal]

So we are planning on buying or building either a 125 gallon or 300 gallon... we are unsure really how big we want it right now, but anyways, we have a 4 inch oscar (currently in a 55 gallon) with 2 black finned sharks and 2 silver dollars and would like another cichlid type fish.... we were thinking something like a jack dempsey or jaguar cichlid... would it be possible to keep those fish together? If not, are there any type of fish (that get fairly big) that we can house with our oscar?

I used to keep a jack dempsey with my 4 inch Oscar and the Jack dempsey was an inch or so bigger than my Oscar and my Jack Dempsey would bully the Oscar constantly. I now keep my 4 inch oscar in a 55 gallon with a parrot cichlid and they get along very well. They even lay eggs. But I suppose it all depends on your Oscar. I'd go for a less aggressive cichlid.

 

[swordtail7272]

I'ld go with a severum or 2. They get bout 10" & are relativly peaceful for a cichlid. They have a great
personality. They are also very colorful.

 

[DanDanUK]

So we are planning on buying or building either a 125 gallon or 300 gallon... we are unsure really how big we want it right now, but anyways, we have a 4 inch oscar (currently in a 55 gallon) with 2 black finned sharks and 2 silver dollars and would like another cichlid type fish.... we were thinking something like a jack dempsey or jaguar cichlid... would it be possible to keep those fish together? If not, are there any type of fish (that get fairly big) that we can house with our oscar?

Ok in all the years i have kept cichlids i have found that Oscars do much better with other oscars as tank mates, I'm not saying that other cichlids don't do well with oscars i'm saying that oscars do well with other oscars personally would get your larger tank first befor you start thinking about another tank mate for your Oscar fish because Oscars grow much faster that other fish and they require a minimum tank space of about 75Gallons if you were to keep another oscar just add an extra 25gallon so you would be looking for 100gallons and so on.

Jack dempsy there anothe slow growing cichlid so if you was to buy one and put it in with your Oscar i think you would find your oscar out growing him very quickly and there would be a strong possibilty that he would turn on your JD with him been so small because Oscars are bullys.

The Jaguar cichlid a fiesty cichlids and a quite agressive one would do ok with an oscar of equal size but bare in mind that Jag's have teeth on there lips oscars don't so if they do end up competing for domenance you could very well find your oscar with a few holes in it, but oscars are much more stockyer and bit more powerful and there pesistant little buggers.

 

[KathyM]

Just to add a flip side to Dan's post - I wouldn't recommend another oscar. It's a huge risk to take, and it doesn't often work out well (not saying never, but is it worth the risk?). It's true for many fish that they are more aggressive with their own kind, it's even more true for oscars.

What Dan said about oscars growing faster than some cichlids is true, but it is doable if you plan properly, or pick the right species.

 

[DanDanUK]

Just to add a flip side to Dan's post - I wouldn't recommend another oscar. It's a huge risk to take, and it doesn't often work out well (not saying never, but is it worth the risk?). It's true for many fish that they are more aggressive with their own kind, it's even more true for oscars.

What Dan said about oscars growing faster than some cichlids is true, but it is doable if you plan properly, or pick the right species.

I disagree if you have the right amount of space they will they will be fine. For example if you have a 55gal tank with one oscar and then add another then yeah your asking for trouble it won't work, But on the other hand if you have a 125gal tank with one oscar then decide you want to add another one then you will see some sort of agression but it will be mainly dominance, To see who's gonna be the boss if you like and it will die down within a week or so maybe even days, Reason i know all this is because for the past 6 years i have delt with SA and CA cichlids and do have a reasonable amount of knowledge on these fish.

Oscars are my passion i have owned them as pet's and for breeding and i have also bought and sold them but you only have my word for this and you also have the option to choose to take my advice or not.

I bought a 9" tiger oscar from Pete (Hendrixtheoscar) last night and placed him in my 180gallon tank which houses my 2x 12" Oscars and how that turned out was better than i had hoped there was some stand off behaviour from all oscars but mainly dominace 2 of the oscars had a couple of little scars around the mouth but nothing serious today when i come down to see how everything was going all 3 Oscars were swiming around fine the odd nudge now and then from my origional 2 oscar into the new oscar but nothing serious they were just letting him know whos boss.

Perseverance is what you need with Oscars and to be able to provide them with the space the need to swim and territory to claim.

 

[KathyM]

I think you've been very lucky. I've personally seen the damage that can be caused by two oscars that aren't suited, and it wasn't in a 55g, let's put it that way. If you want to take a risk, that's up to you, but I don't think even very many long term oscar owners would agree with Dan's view, or with the idea of slinging in a new fish straight into a tank with two adult oscars already in it. Again, it's down to the individual fish in all cases and Dan must know his fish very well to have taken such a risk, but it's good to have a general picture, and the general picture is that it can and often does go terribly wrong.

Edited to add: If you do decide to give it a go, I would really recommend getting a separator for your tank, as the sling it in and see technique is very risky.

 

[DanDanUK]

I think you've been very lucky. I've personally seen the damage that can be caused by two oscars that aren't suited, and it wasn't in a 55g, let's put it that way. If you want to take a risk, that's up to you, but I don't think even very many long term oscar owners would agree with Dan's view, or with the idea of slinging in a new fish straight into a tank with two adult oscars already in it. Again, it's down to the individual fish in all cases and Dan must know his fish very well to have taken such a risk, but it's good to have a general picture, and the general picture is that it can and often does go terribly wrong.

Edited to add: If you do decide to give it a go, I would really recommend getting a separator for your tank, as the sling it in and see technique is very risky.

Your attitude is getting on my nerves who just slings in fish ? have you personally got it in for me because i didn't buy your friends fish or something everything i reply to you got to have your gobby say and go against anything i say. I'm not an idiot and have been working with cichlids for some years now who are you to correct me ?

I don't think you know what your talking about i think you may have had one bad experience and you then think thats the way the cookie crumbles, Yes it's known that Oscars can be bully's yes it's known that they will fight and mouth wrestle i have seen oscars get along and not get along but it does not mean it can't work!

Give them space and territory to claim and hiding places fore if they do need them and you shouldn't have any problems i have a large tank so i can get away with 3 oscars and have got away with it no harm done a bit of wrestling and the odd nudge but nothing serious.

And just incase you think it's a fluke it's not i have done this many times befor with different oscar fish.

 

[KathyM]

Crikey Dan - don't you think you're going a bit over the top? I was just offering another side to oscar keeping from my personal experience - which is what you did. I'm pretty sure it's "allowed" on here?

I know you're feeling bad about what happened with Lisa, but please don't let it cloud your judgement on this, I was only offering advice and really couldnt give a monkeys what you do with yours

 

[vancouver]

Another cichlid quite similar in temperment to an oscar is a chocolate cichlid.. They get pretty big, and are really cool fish. Might want to add some more silver dollars when you upgrade, as they like to school, and will be a lot happier with some buddies.

If you wanted a few smaller cichlids, festivum and rainbow cichlids both grow to about 6'', and aren't terribly aggressive.

The temperment of your oscar will also determine what tankmates will be best. Some have really nice oscars that aren't interested in fighting, while others have oscars that are territory maniacs.