Hello!

[missmeliss]

Hello All!

I have been a member at Aquaria Central for about 2 years now, and have been serious about the hobby for about that long as well. I am finally going to try and make the move to a "Monster Fish Keeper", or at least a "mini-monster" haha. I am going to be getting a 75 Gal and have fallen in love with the look of Tiger Oscars. I am wondering if there are any suitable tank mates for an O in this size tank? I have been told a Pleco, but which Plecos are large enough to not become Oscar snacks? I am planning on using Silica sand as the substrate with a lot of river rock/ holey rock (not Texas Holey Rock, but something with a similar look). I know that anything that is streamline in shape with "go down the hatch, without a scratch" as they saying goes, and I am not too, too picky as far as looks. If there is nothing but a pleco that will get along with the O, then I am content to have just those 2 together.

Are there any other "mini-monsters" that may be content in a 75, that may have more options as community fish?

You learn something new every day, and today I am starting with trying to learn about Monsters .

Thanks in advance!
Melissa

 

[Crotalus Scutulatus]

Welcome aboard...

Oscars are mellow. Try a pair of them. Large pleco is cool but it is no longer an algea eater. If you don't want a pair then consider a peacock bass! Cat fish too! Good luck.

 

[missmeliss]

A pair in a 75? Sounds like that may be a recipe for disaster... or destruction of the tank from the inside haha. Although I guess if they grow up together they may be alright? What type of catfish could I go with? I was looking at Columbia Sharks, but wasn't sure if their whiskers would be too much of a temptation for the Oscar to chew on...

 

[CLDarnell]

Hello and welcome to MFK!

You would be OK with a pair of Oscars in your 75. And go with a Bristlenose Pleco...they remain fairly small (6") and aren't quite as messy as a Common. As far as tank mates, I have quite a few African Cichlids in with my Oscars and they all get along fine. I think the secret is to introduce them to the tank relatively at the same time and when they are juvies, make sure they have plenty of structure (territories), and make sure you have plenty of filtration.

Good luck to you, see you around the forum

 

[Red Devil]

welcome to mfk..nice to meet you... have fun

 

[thaos95]

welcome to MFK!

 

[fishy12]

I say 1 oscar for the 75 gallon, they can become territorial, now if you get 1 125 and you want a pair thats fine and you can put some silver dollars in with them.

 

[Lupin]

to MFK, Melissa! Glad to see you here.

 

[missmeliss]

Fishy I agree with you - what could I keep with a single Oscar in a 75? I definately do not have enough room for a 125...yet lol I think it would be cool to have a school of something in with them, but then it comes down to what schooling fish is big enough to not become breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner lol.

 

[fishy12]

Well, silver dollars are good dithers and schooling fish for oscars, but I am not sure if a school would work in a 75gal, I haven't tried it before maybe ask around about it some more.