Over Stocked?

[David Foster]

Ok I had an issue little over a month ago about my Oscars being unnaturally shy. I posted my problem on here and went through all of the suggestions until I came down to the last resort of going with the idea of either adding some dither fish or as someone mentioned adding in another active cichlid. So I added two 3' turquoise severums (because I couldn't decide which one looked cooler) and it totally worked after about a week.The oscars are way friendlier and not just hiding from me when I approach the tank. One of the oscars is even eating out of my hand now. As of right now everyone gets along and has more than enough swimming space (120g 60'Lx24'Hx18'F2B) but, even though the guy who sold me the severums, told me that the tank will be big enough for all of the fish long term I have my doubts. So I am looking for some suggestions, Should I get rid of one of the oscars, or both? Should I get a 75g and just put one oscar in there? Or what do you all think? I kinda like the idea of moving the oscars some where and turning the 120g into a semi aggressive south american cichlid tank with maybe adding in 1 or 2 electric blue acaras. What are your opinions?
Stock list: 2 tiger oscars, 2 turquoise severs, 1 Dino bichir, 1 reed fish (have potential plans of probably moving the two air breathers to an oddball tank in the future.

 

[Angelphish]

Ok I had an issue little over a month ago about my Oscars being unnaturally shy. I posted my problem on here and went through all of the suggestions until I came down to the last resort of going with the idea of either adding some dither fish or as someone mentioned adding in another active cichlid. So I added two 3' turquoise severums (because I couldn't decide which one looked cooler) and it totally worked after about a week.The oscars are way friendlier and not just hiding from me when I approach the tank. One of the oscars is even eating out of my hand now. As of right now everyone gets along and has more than enough swimming space (120g 60'Lx24'Hx18'F2B) but, even though the guy who sold me the severums, told me that the tank will be big enough for all of the fish long term I have my doubts. So I am looking for some suggestions, Should I get rid of one of the oscars, or both? Should I get a 75g and just put one oscar in there? Or what do you all think? I kinda like the idea of moving the oscars some where and turning the 120g into a semi aggressive south american cichlid tank with maybe adding in 1 or 2 electric blue acaras. What are your opinions?

What all do you have in your tank? From what I've read you have 2 Severum and 2 Oscars, but you also have a Senegalus in your profile picture. Am I missing anything?

 

[Angelphish]

Ok I had an issue little over a month ago about my Oscars being unnaturally shy. I posted my problem on here and went through all of the suggestions until I came down to the last resort of going with the idea of either adding some dither fish or as someone mentioned adding in another active cichlid. So I added two 3' turquoise severums (because I couldn't decide which one looked cooler) and it totally worked after about a week.The oscars are way friendlier and not just hiding from me when I approach the tank. One of the oscars is even eating out of my hand now. As of right now everyone gets along and has more than enough swimming space (120g 60'Lx24'Hx18'F2B) but, even though the guy who sold me the severums, told me that the tank will be big enough for all of the fish long term I have my doubts. So I am looking for some suggestions, Should I get rid of one of the oscars, or both? Should I get a 75g and just put one oscar in there? Or what do you all think? I kinda like the idea of moving the oscars some where and turning the 120g into a semi aggressive south american cichlid tank with maybe adding in 1 or 2 electric blue acaras. What are your opinions?
Stock list: 2 tiger oscars, 2 turquoise severs, 1 Dino bichir, 1 reed fish (have potential plans of probably moving the two air breathers to an oddball tank in the future.

Depending on how often you do water changes, that's fully stocked, or at least close to it. I personally haven't kept a large enough Oscar to know how messy they are, but I've read enough posts on this forum to know that ideally a 100-120 is the minimum tank size for them, and they produce a lot of waste.

A 75 will be plenty for a Senegalus, and a Ropefish, although Ropefish do prefer to live in groups of three or more, so you will need to buy at least 2 more. You should be able to keep 3-5 more Polypterus and the 3 ropefish in the 75 as they don't produce nearly as much waste as cichlids. Upper Jaw Polypterus (upper jaw protrudes past lower jaw) should do fine in a 75, P. Delhezi, P. Retropinnis, P. Palmas, and all other Upper Jaws should work with the only exceptions being P. Ornatipinnis, P. Teugelsi, and P. Weeksii.

I recommend you ask around in the Polypterus sub forum before you buy anything.

 

[David Foster]

Ok awesome!! So you think that the 4 cichlids should be fine in the 120g(with adding no other fish) as long as I move the Bichir and rope fish to there own 75? I think I have a little time because all of the fish are still on the small/medium size and my grandparents have a 75g sitting in their garage that they want me to take so that works perfectly!

 

[tlindsey]

Ok I had an issue little over a month ago about my Oscars being unnaturally shy. I posted my problem on here and went through all of the suggestions until I came down to the last resort of going with the idea of either adding some dither fish or as someone mentioned adding in another active cichlid. So I added two 3' turquoise severums (because I couldn't decide which one looked cooler) and it totally worked after about a week.The oscars are way friendlier and not just hiding from me when I approach the tank. One of the oscars is even eating out of my hand now. As of right now everyone gets along and has more than enough swimming space (120g 60'Lx24'Hx18'F2B) but, even though the guy who sold me the severums, told me that the tank will be big enough for all of the fish long term I have my doubts. So I am looking for some suggestions, Should I get rid of one of the oscars, or both? Should I get a 75g and just put one oscar in there? Or what do you all think? I kinda like the idea of moving the oscars some where and turning the 120g into a semi aggressive south american cichlid tank with maybe adding in 1 or 2 electric blue acaras. What are your opinions?
Stock list: 2 tiger oscars, 2 turquoise severs, 1 Dino bichir, 1 reed fish (have potential plans of probably moving the two air breathers to an oddball tank in the future.

If you eliminate the Oscar's from the 120 gallon you could add Tetras small catfish like a group of Cory's.

 

[Hendre]

The cichlids may be a bit heavy, but nothing a few waterchanges can't fix. I think tlindsey has a great suggestion

As for polys I'd recommend more senegals and ropefish, a 75 would be fine for them. Sens rarely top 8" in captive bred specimens as you have

 

[Bertie]

That tank is pretty stocked and I think if you get move the senegalus and rope fish you should be fine long term as long as you do big water changes regularly, you may suffer problems when the severums get bigger as the oscars could change and start to attack them, you just have to see what happens

 

[Oompa Loompa]

That 120g plan sounds a bit tight to me. I'd do just the Oscar pair in that tank, and maybe if you want dithers you could do something like giant danios.

You could do one of the severums and whatever polys in the 75.

 

[David Foster]

Ok awesome! Yea I'm mainly worried about the oscars when everyone gets bigger but my girlfriend really likes the oscars and the tank is in our living room. I do weekly water changes at around 30% currently With an occasional 50%. I do also like the idea of some corys and tetras though! haha dang this is gonna be a hard decision! I also thought about (if it were only severums) adding in some german blue rams. Do you think that would work, or do you think the severums would eventually eat them? I really appreciate all of the good ideas and feedback so quickly!!

 

[Hendre]

I'd go with tetras and severums, cories are not to be scoffed at either very amusing fish in a group

 

[David Foster]

I'd go with tetras and severums, cories are not to be scoffed at either very amusing fish in a group

Yea Ive always really liked corys especially in a decent group, they have great personality and normally make the cats freak out when they start shooting up like rockets! Haven't kept any since I traded my planted tank for the 120g. What kind of tetras are you thinking?