buenos aires tetras and oscar?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

cichlid tank

Candiru
MFK Member
Feb 25, 2020
263
137
46
20
i have one oscar in my 60 gallon tank, and he is about 3 inches. i added a small school of buenos aires tetras to the tank as a dither fish. what are your ideas on this? is it possible to safely house these two together? thanks.

-Jackson
 
The tetras will eventually get eaten.
 
Fellow oscar keeper here. Have been for years..

Anything that can fit in the oscars mouth is a potential meal.

Depends on the individual oscar if/when he eats them. He may never.

Biggest issue here is an oscar in a 60gal. I keep mine in a 75g and it's not ideal.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tlindsey
Fellow oscar keeper here. Have been for years..

Anything that can fit in the oscars mouth is a potential meal.

Depends on the individual oscar if/when he eats them. He may never.

Biggest issue here is an oscar in a 60gal. I keep mine in a 75g and it's not ideal.
i have 2 75 gallon hang on back filters, is that not enough for the O? or is it the fact about the space.
 
i have 2 75 gallon hang on back filters, is that not enough for the O? or is it the fact about the space.

Space and dilution of pollutants produced by the oscar at 10-12". In a 75g tank, you typically have to changed up to the top fin level of the oscar (at least 65 gallons of water, oscar is bascially on its belly on the tank floor and water line just a smidge above the dorsal fin) at least once a week and every week to keep nitrate levels below 20ppm.

As for the tetras, they are smaller than giant danios at full length, and my 10" & 12" oscar had no problems hunting the giant danios when the lights were off after the 1st year.
 
Jexnell Jexnell had his oscar eat a denison barb which is bigger than the fish in question.
 
If it fits the O will eat it. If it don't fit the O will still take a test bite, most likely killing said fish.
20180103_082344.jpg
She lived with them Roseline sharks for 8 months, then one day snapped and ate one. They were 3in long when she ate it.
 
She lived with them Roseline sharks for 8 months, then one day snapped and ate one. They were 3in long when she ate it.

Similar situation with mine. I have a 10gal loaded with red cherry shrimp and guppy/endlers. My oscar and severum go absolutely nuts over the RCS. I occasionally toss a few guppies in as well and often a few of them will remain for weeks. Always males for what ever reason. I've had some last for months in with my O and sev. Like you say though. One day they're gone. Gobbled up.
 
i have 2 75 gallon hang on back filters, is that not enough for the O? or is it the fact about the space.

Yeah, like said above, it's all about the footprint of the tank and volume of water. I assume your 65gal is only 12" front to back.

For me, massive filtration is way over-rated. It's more about maintaining water parameters with water changes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cichlid tank
MonsterFishKeepers.com