Flowerhorn or oscar

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MaineDogFish

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 12, 2012
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Maine
Greetings all, new member here and would truely appreciate some guidance. I have a 75 gallon aquarium with 2 penguin filters, a 330 an a 400. (750 gallon hourly flow rate) I was keeping 2 pearlscale goldfish for 2 years and decided to move on to something else. Im down to two final contenders, a veiltail oscar, or a flowerhorn. I had an oscar years ago and I miss their personalitys, but I have fallen in love with the beauty of the flowerhorns. But I hate jumping into something I dont have all the information on.

My biggest question is this, Im fully aware that flowerhorns are very aggresive towards other fish, an some are aggresive towards people. Can a flowerhorn be "trained" to enjoy human interaction if introduced to the tank at a young age (4") My wife loves interacting with the goldfish we had, and I told her how oscars are like dogs in the way a dog does, (enjoys human intereaction)

I can find all sorts of suppliers for flowerhorns on the net, but it seems that trying to find a veil tail oscar in the states is difficult at best. (why is it aquabid doesnt have oscars??)

My aquarium is cycling now and will be ready in about 2 weeks, I have a sailfine pleco in there with a stone cave for him, and considering he is nocturnal I dont see an issue with compatability. Also is My current filtering system (both have been modified) http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/power_filter_tricks_v.php adequate?

So it boils down to the avalability and the human interaction issues. Any thoughts?
 
My FH's never tolerated ANYTHING. Not even a pleco. That sail fin will most likely have to go. FH's are very personable fish from the get go. They will follow you like dogs, and try to kill you at the same time lol. The only time I've ever seen FH kept with other fish is in very large tanks, and I'm talking 200+ gallons. Even then, there's damage to the FH and it's tank mates.

I would go for a FH since I find them to be more interactive with humans, but I'm biased. LOL. I've kept Oscars before, they're not as "crazy" as FH's.
 
I've heard the same about both as far as them being water puppies that like attention. I had a friend that had a midevil that would roll on her side and let him pet her. Mean as hell though.

Personally, if you're planning on doing a one fish tank, I'd go with the FH. Get a really nice one, there are plenty of colors easily available. I've heard complaints about long finned and veil tailed oscars being less hardy but I'm not sure how true that is.

I really like the blood parrots even though that's not one of your choices. They get decent size and are goofy/friendly, plus you can put other fish with them. But I'm biased. :D

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So i do agree with the above that fh can be really aggressive. BUT not that they will all kill every thing and people. Ive kept flowerhorns in communitys in 75GAL easy before. And most fh ive raised/breed will never hurt me. I hand feed, make jump out the water for food and even pet. Some may be overly aggressive ive found. Personally oscars are filthy beasts. And not as personably
 
Water said:
My FH's never tolerated ANYTHING. Not even a pleco. That sail fin will most likely have to go. FH's are very personable fish from the get go. They will follow you like dogs, and try to kill you at the same time lol. The only time I've ever seen FH kept with other fish is in very large tanks, and I'm talking 200+ gallons. Even then, there's damage to the FH and it's tank mates.

I would go for a FH since I find them to be more interactive with humans, but I'm biased. LOL. I've kept Oscars before, they're not as "crazy" as FH's.
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Thank you, but My concern is the "kill you"part. All I need is for My wife to go and try to "pet" him and get attacked, while Id see great humor in it, :ROFL: she for some reason wouldnt ..:nilly:
 
MaineDogFish said:
Thank you, but My concern is the "kill you"part. All I need is for My wife to go and try to "pet" him and get attacked, while Id see great humor in it, :ROFL: she for some reason wouldnt ..:nilly:
Click to expand...

Well, if you start out with a fry and raise it up it won't hurt that bad.. LOL.
 
Thank you everyone for your imput, Flowerhorn it is, as I said I have about two weeks before Im ready so Im in no rush.
 
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