Good Bottom Feeder for an Oscar Tank

[BigMac2012]

So I have a Tiger Oscar that's about 10.5 inches and a 8 inches Pleco in a 75 gallon tank . I was doing some research about adding a Crayfish to the tank and saw that they'll do fine until the Crayfish molts. So I was curious about what type of bottom feeder too add then saw that a Pictus Catfish but there are no places near me that I know of that sell bigger fish. I work near a PetsMart that has some Pictus Catfish but they're about an inch. So my question is (after that backstory lol) if I have a few hiding places would a small Pictus survive?
This picture is kinda old but I love him so much!

 

[Frank Castle]

Pictus aren't big enough for an Oscar, they will get eaten and the barbed spines on the pectoral and dorsal fins will likely kill the Oscar as well. The 4-lined Pimelodus is a better choice for Oscars, but until it is larger, same thing can happen.

Welcome to MFK

 

[kno4te]

Ornate pim is another option. Rapps gets them in regularly.

 

[BigMac2012]

Thanks guys... would you have any suggestions on where I could get one the right size I need? I see a lot of places online but when it comes to getting live animals online I'm a little hesitant...

 

[celebrist]

The online vendors are great, I was hesitant for years as well but no longer. I agree with Pim. Blochi being a good choice. Your quarantine tank may need to also be a grow out tank for a while though until it puts on enough size to not look like a snack

 

[pops]

nothing he can eat. and 1" fish is lunch

 

[pops]

I run common pleco,s in my oscar tanks, one 10" plus in the 2 oscar tanks, yes they poop ropes, but they keep my glass clean along with the wood in the tank, and as I vacuum them hard once a week, I find to be a fair trade off.

 

[BigMac2012]

The online vendors are great, I was hesitant for years as well but no longer. I agree with Pim. Blochi being a good choice. Your quarantine tank may need to also be a grow out tank for a while though until it puts on enough size to not look like a snack

What online vendor do you use? I don't have a quarantine/grow out tank, I live with my mom and she would not go for me having another tank that's why I was hoping for a vendor where I can get the right size...

 

[celebrist]

I use wet spot but I haven't seen them offer four lines. I got mine local but that shop folded.

Post in the general aquarium section for other vendors.

Also aqua bid

 

[Frank Castle]

Pictus aren't big enough for an Oscar, they will get eaten and the barbed spines on the pectoral and dorsal fins will likely kill the Oscar as well. The 4-lined Pimelodus is a better choice for Oscars, but until it is larger, same thing can happen.

Welcome to MFK

You should have no problem finding trade-ins at LFSs that people bought as juveniles and then decided they didn't want them anymore once they got large. 8-10" may not seem like a big deal, but in person a Cichlid or Catfish that size can be much more than you bargained for. Check some Ma-and-Pa stores before you go spending copious amounts of money.....even corporate chains may still be taking "out-growns" in just for the sake of not having crazy people at the registers holding the rest of the world up because they can't read.