Can I put anything else in my tank?

[SharonW]

Hi I am a newbie to this site . I have one 5' tank that currently has 2 x 9" Tiger Oscars in it. Was wondering if there is anything else I can put in the tank that will clean up the mess they make at feeding time?? They seem to let alot of food drop to the bottom (And I don't feed them heaps, but do feed them twice a day) But they are big and don't want to be overstocking the tank, nor do I want anything I put in there to get eaten by them! Ideas?

 

[Deep Blue Sea]

maybe a pleco or a couple of earth eaters

 

[duster1971]

what is it that you feed them. and if you can post pics of fish and tank it wuld be verry helpful

 

[SharonW]

Don't Pleco's grow massive tho?!

 

[Bazinga]

i would stick with the 2 O's from what ive been told plecos can eat fallen food but since their diet shouldnt be a very meaty one but more veggies its not good for them to eat the fallen oscar food. i would go with a few convicts they eat off the floor.

 

[JK47]

maybe a pleco or a couple of earth eaters

Plecos and eartheaters no. Plecos get big and eartheater need be kept in groups with sand, the oscars will keep them hiding non stop. I would get a pictus cat or two. Great for cleanup, very active and will stay relativly small. 6" range.

BTW, welcome to MFK Sharon!

 

[SharonW]

what is it that you feed them. and if you can post pics of fish and tank it wuld be verry helpful

They get cichlid sticks, floating pellets that I bought from the local aquarium and also frozen fish (thawed of course ). Will try and get a pic for you

 

[duster1971]

i see some one mentiond pictis cats if you get pictis imo get 1 0r 3 not 2 i had 2 and they faught all the time i have 3 now and they dont fight as much

 

[JK47]

i see some one mentiond pictis cats if you get pictis imo get 1 0r 3 not 2 i had 2 and they faught all the time i have 3 now and they dont fight as much

Never kept more than one pictus at a time, good to know. Thanks.

 

[CODzilla]

i see some one mentiond pictis cats if you get pictis imo get 1 0r 3 not 2 i had 2 and they faught all the time i have 3 now and they dont fight as much

Yeah, I have two because everyone I spoke to trotted out the 'only Pictus is a lonely Pictus' line so I got the second and they can't stand the sight of each other!

If you do go the Pictus route try and find the biggest you can, they have serrated barbs on their side fins and if the Oscar mistakes it for a meal it could be fatal for them both, also make sure there are hiding spots and caves. If you try to net them there is a good chance their barbs will bet stuck in the net and it's nearly impossible to get them out so I cut the net around the barb and let them go, the net will come off within a few hours on its own.