Keep 3 oscars in your 125 (is it a 4x2x2?) if you get a pair take the 3rd oscar out its as simple as that they may all be fine, you never know until you try it yourself you know if they don't get along or looks too small for your oscars.
3 oscars in 125g?
- Thread starter gary grice
- Start date
It's amazing the change that has occurred on here in people's views on oscars. Seems like just a few months ago I recall having to actually argue with multiple people claiming that oscars would be fine in a 55 gallon for life, yet now it seems that everyone has decided that even a 125g is not enough. imho, you all are grossly exaggerating. Neglecting the possibility of aggression, I fail to see how a 72" x 18" footprint would be inadequate for three 14" (possibly smaller) fish. And as for filteration, do you all realize that the OP has almost an 8x hourly turnover? With a reasonable maintenance schedule, that is more than adequate.
Edit: If the tank is a 4x2x2, then yes, that will be overcrowded, but if it's a regular 125, it will be fine.
Edit: If the tank is a 4x2x2, then yes, that will be overcrowded, but if it's a regular 125, it will be fine.
I have neil proneks book on oscars and he says if you have a 29 gallon tank it would be perfect for a single adult oscar and a 55 gallon would be perfect for a pair. It shows that a 125 is easily enough for 3 oscars some people will say things have changed since that book was written (1972) if i worked then it would now especially with better filtration.
no way a full grown oscar could live life in a 29 gallon tank and be healthy. i kept my 14" oscar in a 55, granted he was a bit cramped i moved him into a 125 (72x18 footprint) and had 2 8" oscars with him with more then enough room for more fish. but that strayed afar from my point. there is no way an adult oscar could live life in a 29 gallon tank.
and as far as the aggression and certainty that one oscar WILL get beat down. you don't know whats in the mind of an oscar. i mean yes the odds are pretty hefty, but i have kept three oscars together the larger one being in the tank almost a year before the two smaller ones, and to boot the smaller ones were introduced to the larger one at about 4". each fish has there own mind set, if a fish has interactions with you, there aggression levels often vary. for example, my piranhas, mean as a bull when they are hungry, but when im in the room interacting, aside from them being hungry, they are puppies. i have noticed that a fish responds to the owners methods. i know that sounds stupid, but i have done alot of things people have said is impossible, like schooling 4 serrasalmus genus piranhas.
to the original OP, i think you'd be fine, you seam to love your fish by asking this question before getting the oscar, which would mean you have a good relationship with your fish. you might want to put that other filter on it, but remove the original two oscars, redecorate, add some soft edge decor', add the new O first, and then the original two together, this will confuse the original O's into thinking they are in a different oscars home, and the pecking order will form as three oscars, instead of an established 2 with the out-cast.
after you get it all taken care of, observe them closely, im sure there will be some quarrels, but minor should be ok, but if you see O's picking sides, and getting very aggressive, then its time to pull the plug.
and as far as the aggression and certainty that one oscar WILL get beat down. you don't know whats in the mind of an oscar. i mean yes the odds are pretty hefty, but i have kept three oscars together the larger one being in the tank almost a year before the two smaller ones, and to boot the smaller ones were introduced to the larger one at about 4". each fish has there own mind set, if a fish has interactions with you, there aggression levels often vary. for example, my piranhas, mean as a bull when they are hungry, but when im in the room interacting, aside from them being hungry, they are puppies. i have noticed that a fish responds to the owners methods. i know that sounds stupid, but i have done alot of things people have said is impossible, like schooling 4 serrasalmus genus piranhas.
to the original OP, i think you'd be fine, you seam to love your fish by asking this question before getting the oscar, which would mean you have a good relationship with your fish. you might want to put that other filter on it, but remove the original two oscars, redecorate, add some soft edge decor', add the new O first, and then the original two together, this will confuse the original O's into thinking they are in a different oscars home, and the pecking order will form as three oscars, instead of an established 2 with the out-cast.
after you get it all taken care of, observe them closely, im sure there will be some quarrels, but minor should be ok, but if you see O's picking sides, and getting very aggressive, then its time to pull the plug.
I would never keep an oscar in a 29 gallon myself but it worked for others, i have an oscar in a 65 gallon 48x18 footprint and he is with a blue acara and i will add maybe a sevrum, i think thats a reasonable foot print for those fish. I do agree some people go overboard with either too big minimum or too small minimum i myself would not go smaller than 18 inches wide.
Depends on how you're defining "worked." If by "work," you mean it will survive for a year or two before dying of ammonia poisoning and multiple possible deformities, then sure, it will "work" fine. However, if by "work," you mean the fish will be healthy and live to its full potential, then no; it would take a magician to make that "work."
Beats me he is saying an adult oscar in a 29 gallon would make a perfect display fish, did not say if it was for an hour or life.
Back in the day I had 9 8-14" oscars in a 125 with a variety of catfish. Due to the overcrowding there was no problem but in your case 2 and introducing another there could be a problem pending on the bond of the 2 just keep an eye on em
