Advise from experienced Oscar keepers

[Unlabeled]

Hello everyone, I'm brand new here, but have been keeping tropical tanks for more than 10 years.
This past weekend I took on a new project. I rescued a Tiger Oscar in a 32 gallon tank. I've done some homework on Oscars and already keep SA and CA Cichlids in another tank, but Oscars are new to me. I know the tank is too small for an adult Oscar, but It's what I have to work with at the moment. The tank was very poorly set up. Substrate too shallow to properly cycle, garbage walmart HOB filter, and no lighting. I'm honestly surprised the fish is in as good health as he is. I have new light and filter ordered, and already added a good layer of substrate, so the tank is gonna have to go through a fish in cycle. Any FYI or other advise/insight about keeping Oscars would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BIG-G]

Do lots of water changes. While the tank is cycling you may want to add some ammonia absorbing materials of some kind.
Oscars are just about the messiest fish when feeding as there comes. So over filtration on an oscar tank is almost impossible.

As far as tank size if you plan on keeping oscar long term I would shoot for a 6ft 125 gallon tank at least.

 

[tlindsey]

Hello everyone, I'm brand new here, but have been keeping tropical tanks for more than 10 years.
This past weekend I took on a new project. I rescued a Tiger Oscar in a 32 gallon tank. I've done some homework on Oscars and already keep SA and CA Cichlids in another tank, but Oscars are new to me. I know the tank is too small for an adult Oscar, but It's what I have to work with at the moment. The tank was very poorly set up. Substrate too shallow to properly cycle, garbage walmart HOB filter, and no lighting. I'm honestly surprised the fish is in as good health as he is. I have new light and filter ordered, and already added a good layer of substrate, so the tank is gonna have to go through a fish in cycle. Any FYI or other advise/insight about keeping Oscars would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome aboard

 

[Unlabeled]

Do lots of water changes. While the tank is cycling you may want to add some ammonia absorbing materials of some kind.
Oscars are just about the messiest fish when feeding as there comes. So over filtration on an oscar tank is almost impossible.

As far as tank size if you plan on keeping oscar long term I would shoot for a 6ft 125 gallon tank at least.

Thanks. I keep hearing all sorts of varying opinions about ideal tank size and tankmates for oscars. In your opinion, is 125 the minimum for a single full grown oscar, or is that allowing for a few tank mates? I currently have convicts, firemouths, and green terrors in another tank and my plan for a larger tank had been based on moving them into something in the range of a 125. Trying to reform my plan now that the oscar came along.

 

[Unlabeled]

Welcome aboard

Thanks

 

[mattison187]

Thanks. I keep hearing all sorts of varying opinions about ideal tank size and tankmates for oscars. In your opinion, is 125 the minimum for a single full grown oscar, or is that allowing for a few tank mates? I currently have convicts, firemouths, and green terrors in another tank and my plan for a larger tank had been based on moving them into something in the range of a 125. Trying to reform my plan now that the oscar came along.

Only issue i would see arising with putting all those fish in a 125 would be agression fron the gt eventually. Bioload wise i think with good filtration and staying up on water changes that shouldnt be a problem. As far as cycling the tank you have now, just pull some bio media from one of your other tanks and you should be instant cycled for the most part

 

[Gourami Swami]

125 leaves you room for a few tankmates. Absolute minimum for an Oscar is 75 gallon, but that is not ideal. If you went the 125 route, firemouths convicts and green terrors would work, depending on how many of each. I'd say one Oscar, one green terror, and a few convicts/firemouths would probably be fine. Green terrors might become a problem when they are large. Convicts can be real mean SOB's as well. I would recommend a lot of rockwork for the fish to hide in. Bigger tank is always better by the way, if you have room for a 125 you have room for a 180 and that would allow much more room for error.
Best of luck