Oscar Fish Growth rate

nick@nite

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 30, 2011
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What is your experience with the growth rate of an oscar fish, what kind of diet did you have them on for this growth rate. I recently got back into Oscar fish and what amazes me is I kept 4 of them in a 10 gallon tank for a few semesters in college. I didn't know back then that they can grow so quickly. I have a 50 gallon now and I am going to get a 150 - 200 when the time comes, use the 50 gallon to quarantine.
 

k0y0te

Jack Dempsey
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Jun 8, 2009
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on the average about an 1 inch a month. I feed mine pellets, veggies, fruits, frozen blood worms, frozen krill. But not all Oscars will grow at that rate, some slower , some faster. A buddy of mine Tiger Oscar grew about 1.5 -2 inches a month. They slow down alot in growth rate around 9+ inches. It's not uncommon to hear of an oscar hitting 12 inches by the time he/ she is a year old.

Since they are fast growers i would recommend that you get the big tank first. Most Oscars outgrow a 50 gallons in a matter of a couple of months (assumeing that you get him around 1-2 inches)
 

soulpatch

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 9, 2010
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My oscars were bought at perhaps an inch long and I was easily at 10 inches in all of 8 months. They have pretty much slowed down at this point and are not gorwing too quickly anymore.
 

BigUmbeeFan

Gambusia
MFK Member
Dec 8, 2009
925
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I had an oscar grow 1.5 inches a month. A matter of keeping water clean and feeding. The more they eat the faster they grow.
 

nick@nite

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 30, 2011
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USA
Any particular filter you guys recommend for a 150 - 200 tank? It seems a lot of people love the Fluval FX5 but I don't have experience with canister filters yet.
 

importracer

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Dec 22, 2005
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What is your experience with the growth rate of an oscar fish, what kind of diet did you have them on for this growth rate. I recently got back into Oscar fish and what amazes me is I kept 4 of them in a 10 gallon tank for a few semesters in college. I didn't know back then that they can grow so quickly. I have a 50 gallon now and I am going to get a 150 - 200 when the time comes, use the 50 gallon to quarantine.
Rule of thumb:
75-100g for a single.....2 for a 100g...........You can safely raise a pair in a basic 6 foot 125g and they will thrive.........OScars grow quick, so a 50-55g is way unhealthy for this fish....Start this fish off in the tank they will be in for the rest of their life.......Many say a 75g is the best for one Oscar.........When it comes to Oscars, I like the minumum at 125g(foot)........A strong filtration system is needed for this type of fish...........It is best to build yourself one...A DIY wet/dry setup is the best filter for these monsters..........I have built one for my 1125g for under $100..........WOrks fuine.......An oscar can grow to 8-10 inches within a year.............
 

framcosco

Peacock Bass
MFK Member
Nov 15, 2010
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IN my experience....if you get a 2-3" Oscar,....if housed properly (100gall+ tank), good diet, and do weekly maintenance (ie water changes, filter cleaning etc) ...... 12"s in about 1 year.

They grow pretty fast. Get a larger tank ASAP.

Personally, I use a combination of Hikari pellets (all sorts -- everyday), red wrigglers (2x-3x per week), (meal worms 1x per week), algae wafers (2x-3x per week), and the occasional mysis shrimp, market shrimp, and hikari frozen blood worms.

BTW, I doubt you kept several Oscars for several semesters in a 10 gallon tank.
 
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Tayler

Feeder Fish
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Jun 27, 2011
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My 2 oscars did about 3.5" in the first month I had them an now they are growing a lot slower. I feed mine hikari cichlid gold an staple along with frozen foods an feeders every once in a while.
 

nick@nite

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 30, 2011
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USA
I've been doing cichlid gold every day and a few times a week beef heart. I'm already looking at craigslist for a bigger tank, looks like I could get a 180 for $300 - $500.
 
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