Yeah never ever heard about too large a water change giving hith disease. Jack wattly specializes in discus in FLA. and does 100% water changes on his breeder tanks every day. Discus are a lot more sensitive than oscars also. HITH is caused from poor water quality.
Angelfish suitable tankmates for oscars?
- Thread starter oscar fish lover2000
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Yeah never ever heard about too large a water change giving hith disease. Jack wattly specializes in discus in FLA. and does 100% water changes on his breeder tanks every day. Discus are a lot more sensitive than oscars also. HITH is caused from poor water quality.
100% water changes daily means that the water quality doesn't change much at all, it would always be practically new and as pristine as the tap it came from. Any fish would do best with a schedule like that. It's the sudden difference that is a stressor. By replacing slightly aged water with new water, you've altered the chemical composition of that tank.
Ways to keep an Oscar in top form in a 55g:
Use a drip system to ensure constant, clean water.
Use lots of emergent plants (pothos, spider plants, philodendron, etc.) to kick nitrates to the curb for good.
Make the Oscar the ONLY fish in there. If you love him, you need to eliminate biological competition in that little tank. Period.
Cross your fingers and hope he ends up being an 11" adult.
Feed as lightly as possible. As a young fish, up to 6", this means at least an amount of food approx. the size of his eye twice a day. After 6", you're looking at once a day feeding, go by his belly. He should be flat between his ventral fins and his vent, not concave or convex. These feeding guidelines are estimates. Temperature, food quality, etc. will all play factors. Once he's up about 9", you can drop down to once every other day. At least once a week (starting now) include some earthworm chunks, crickets or other bugs.
Keep the heat as low as possible, usually for Oscars that about 76 degrees F, sometimes it has to be 78 if the O gets too sluggish or loses appetite. This is slow the growth and reduce overall biological activity in the small tank. A cooler fire, if you will.
Ways to keep an Oscar in top form in a 55g:
Use a drip system to ensure constant, clean water.
Use lots of emergent plants (pothos, spider plants, philodendron, etc.) to kick nitrates to the curb for good.
Make the Oscar the ONLY fish in there. If you love him, you need to eliminate biological competition in that little tank. Period.
Cross your fingers and hope he ends up being an 11" adult.
Feed as lightly as possible. As a young fish, up to 6", this means at least an amount of food approx. the size of his eye twice a day. After 6", you're looking at once a day feeding, go by his belly. He should be flat between his ventral fins and his vent, not concave or convex. These feeding guidelines are estimates. Temperature, food quality, etc. will all play factors. Once he's up about 9", you can drop down to once every other day. At least once a week (starting now) include some earthworm chunks, crickets or other bugs.
Keep the heat as low as possible, usually for Oscars that about 76 degrees F, sometimes it has to be 78 if the O gets too sluggish or loses appetite. This is slow the growth and reduce overall biological activity in the small tank. A cooler fire, if you will.
Please get it at least a 70 gallon tank. I used to think that Os could fit in a 55 gallon tank. Well I changed my opinion after i saw a 14 incher in person. They are thick bodied fish. Please listen. I took the hard way and got tons of nasty comments. You can easily get a cheap 70 gallon or more tank on Craigslist. Then you could put a smaller cichlid such as a JD in a 55 gallon by themselves. Do not take the hard way. Trust me If you go like 10 pages down the cichlid section you will know what i am trying to say. Good Luck!!!!
Just fyi if your tank is 48x18x20 then its 75 not 55 in one post you said it was 1.5 feet wide and 4' long.
I can say that I agree you could keep him in the 55 if it is a 55 and not a 75, however you fish would be happier in a bigger tank and it will be less work for you. Good luck sir I can't talk I would do the same thing kinda, and to be most people here would also.
What do I mean be that? you are getting flamed for 55 vs 75 which is simply 6" wider as far as the water volume that means nothing more then more work on your end keep water good e.g drip system or large sump. So how would most people do the same? how man people have any Aro in a tank <4' wide??? Whats a normal Silver or Jar get 32"+??? and people keep them in 24" wide tank.
I mean you have tons of people on here keep fish in tanks to small.
So all I am saying is Take their comments for what they are, honest advice that is meant to help you and your fish. And don't let the comments get to you, because they are either only trying to help, or are being hypocritical.
I can say that I agree you could keep him in the 55 if it is a 55 and not a 75, however you fish would be happier in a bigger tank and it will be less work for you. Good luck sir I can't talk I would do the same thing kinda, and to be most people here would also.
What do I mean be that? you are getting flamed for 55 vs 75 which is simply 6" wider as far as the water volume that means nothing more then more work on your end keep water good e.g drip system or large sump. So how would most people do the same? how man people have any Aro in a tank <4' wide??? Whats a normal Silver or Jar get 32"+??? and people keep them in 24" wide tank.
I mean you have tons of people on here keep fish in tanks to small.
So all I am saying is Take their comments for what they are, honest advice that is meant to help you and your fish. And don't let the comments get to you, because they are either only trying to help, or are being hypocritical.
thanks so much, i had a little suspicion that the tank was bigger than 55 gallons, it seemed quite big, i am so happy to know my oscar will be happy in his tank after all. From now on i think i'll take the lady at the pet store's advice, she is a very good fishkeeper, i've heard to many mixed reports here.
The thread you replied to is over 3yrs old but yes it could work only in a over 100 gallon aquarium.
I posted it and then i did relize it was 3 years ago lol my bad
I'll never keep a 12"+ cichlid in a 4' tank again. No way, just doesn't seem right. They need the space to be truly happy. Turning around can be an issue in a 55g when they get bigger.
Also keeping up with the bioload on a large messy fish like an Oscar is tough no matter how many water changes and filtration for a 55-75g,
Also keeping up with the bioload on a large messy fish like an Oscar is tough no matter how many water changes and filtration for a 55-75g,
