Thinking Outloud

[jimbooo]

hi people.

basically i have a Juwel Rio180 (40G/48USG) fully stocked so this is obviously not an option at the moment.

however. i have always wanted a tank with 2 oscars. now following my research i gather my tank is too small for 2 oscars (apparently 55g is the min) what other big fish could i accomodate. i want 2 or 3 big fish with personality AND live plants. i'm not worried if they are lawnmowers as i'll deal with that in my own way but what are my options.

water quality is very stable, very hard water (13KH) and ph 7ish.

your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

thanks people.

Jim

 

[timmystood]

Providing you got a fairly long tank then there is no reason why you couldn't add some big plecs with the Oscars. This will need to be confirmed by someone else but really most South American Cichlids should be ok with the Oscars. Angelfish may work, they can grow big but slight lack the personality in my opinion.

 

[BigIan]

in a 40 your rather limited id go with either discus or angels.

a Jack dempsy might work p[rovided its tank mates an put up a fight

 

[SandMan8388]

From having Oscars in the past, I wouldn't put two in a 55g. I had two in a 75g and it was still messy as hell and they weren't the best of buds. I ended up taking one out, and the other one basically out grew the tank! I would prefer a Jack Dempsey in the tank you have now (probably just by himself too).

 

[timmystood]

in a 40 your rather limited id go with either discus or angels.

Not really suited to a hard water tank though.

 

[CFC]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but in the limited area of a Rio 180 (36x18x18" if i remember rightly? Correct me if i'm wrong) there is not enough room for any combination of larger fish really. The trouble is not the gallonage but the footprint which doesnt allow sufficient space for each fish to hold a territory, large Cichlids especially demand room and most would take over at least two thirds of the available area.

You could have a single large specimin fish (Jack Dempsy for example) with an adult size of no more than 9 inches and then build the rest of the stock around that with some medium sized schooling dithers (silver dollars, medium sized barbs, giant danios etc) and a catfish/plec or two of some description.

And for clarification a 55 USg is the minimum recomended size for a single oscar, a non mated pair would need at least 120g and a confirmed pair at least a 75g, just incase anyone reads this and thinks they can have two oscars in a 55.

 

[lljdma06]

13kh is nothing! Try 18-22kh! Now that's hard!

Have you thought about an African motif with Jewel cichlids? They can grow up to 6 inches long and seem to have quite a bit of personality. Another option may be Firemouth cichlids. They dig, but I have seen planted tanks that feature them, and you may be able to showcase anubias and mosses with stunning affects. I know that the firemouth likes no less than medium hard water, but I see firemouths all the time in South Fl thriving and breeding in liquid rock, so if the fish is acclimated, you might have options. Angelfish are being raised in fams down in S FL too, so your water shouldn't really be a problem.

llj

 

[jimbooo]

thanks for the thoughts guys, i like the idea of one jack dempsey. this is all theoretical at present as i have a fully stocked tank. however the angel is getting on a bit and as soon as he goes i may have a clear out and start again with one feature fish hence the questions.

thanks for all the advice. i was toying with the idea of discus but i think my water is too hard. using ro will be a pain and i'm not one for making life hard for myself.

i'll keep you all posted should the angel go. by the way how long do angels live on average?

 

[mr williams]

If you want live plants the oscars migh be a bad choice. I believe they are quite partial to uprooting everything.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

If you want live plants the oscars migh be a bad choice. I believe they are quite partial to uprooting everything.

not always, my oscar's got a fairly heavily planted tank and is fine with it.

as with all cichlids it varies vastly from one fish to another what they're personality will be like, you just have to get the fish, get to know it and experiment with what surroundings will suit it

 

[Gankutsuou]

with that extra length, it'd be more than suited to my current stocking should you have heavy planting as you suggested. Except I would subtract the brochis, and the single khuli loach. and the clown pleco, and add 3 more Porthole catfish.

38 Gallon
Aquaclear 50 and Whisper 30 hooked up, 3 foot long
1x porthole catfish (2 more should come should I ge the 30m which is 90% sure. 1 more will come if I do not, and the brochis will be moved to the 10 gallon again.)
1x African butterfly Fish
1x Elephant Nose
1x Albino Senegal Bichir
3x peacock eel
4x Porthole Catfish
1x L260 Queen Arabesque Pleco
1x Camaroon Shrimp

The thing is, you'll have 4 8" to foot long buddies (if they somehow reach the max size), but the peacocks either string themselves up into plants, dig, or get under bogwood poking their heads out.

The portholes are a loose shoaler that have great flagtails if you get the kind I did, and each reach 4.75. The senega; will usually be a log if you don't get one like mine, and the elephant nose will get to 8 inches. essential, you'll have quite a few "big fish". I strongly advocate VERY heavy planting, and flat bogwood coated with java moss. My porthole has taken that as his territory currently, and none of the other fish touch it. my eels are constantly under that bog wood now, or up in the wisteria. The senegal is all over, and You should get a giant centerpiece plant like Amazon red Rubin for the elephant nose to hide behind.

I stress the heavy planting. Also, the camaroon will get to a whalopping 6 inches. AKA, blue vampire shrimp.

how's that for large fish in a tank ? and yours is greatly well suited with that extra le