Hi there pictus cat Q..

[tknjk]

Ok well first of all Hello. I'v been lurking for a while now, and decided to finally post something. So here it is. I'm pretty new to the whole aquarium thing. Right now I have a 55 gallon with 2 oscars in it pretty much full grown. Very healthy and seem to be very happy with their arrangement. I currently have a 125 sitting in my garage waiting for a stand to be built for it. So here's my question. I have 3 pictus cats in another 29 gallon tank with 2 golden gouramis. When the pictus get to about full size do you think it would be safe to move them in with the oscars? I had a couple silver dollars in with them a while back, and they seemed to get along fairly well. The oscars just pretty much kept to themselves after a few days, and never bothered them. I ended up taking them out becuase well I just thought they didn't match well with the oscars being all colorfull and all. Any way there;'s my question, and I look foreward to being a part of this community. Very informative, and to say the least awesome place to see some really cool pics of some crazy fish tanks. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Cross127]

Not such a good idea for 2 oscars to be in a 55. I am not going to flame you because I know you are new and you need advice. First thing you should do is GET THAT STAND BUILT!!! Your oscars need that room desperately. 55 gallon is to small for even one oscar ( because of the width, if it were bigger than 12.5 inches wide to maybe 16" I would say it's ok for an O to live in a 55 for life). IMO 75 gallons is minimum for an Oscar. Adding the Pictus cats is not a good idea as of now. When the O's are in the 125 then I say have a ball with them. How big are your O's? Water change and gravel vac schedule? Feedings? Water parameters? Oh and welcome to the wonderful world of Fishkeeping and MFK!

 

[evilxyardxgnome]

55 gallon is fine for 1 oscar. The general rule of thumb for oscars is 50 gallons per oscar. But people have kept more than 1 oscar in a 55 gallon years ago and have been fine. Its just todays standards say that they should be kept in bigger tank.

 

[tknjk]

Not such a good idea for 2 oscars to be in a 55. I am not going to flame you because I know you are new and you need advice. First thing you should do is GET THAT STAND BUILT!!! Your oscars need that room desperately. 55 gallon is to small for even one oscar ( because of the width, if it were bigger than 12.5 inches wide to maybe 16" I would say it's ok for an O to live in a 55 for life). IMO 75 gallons is minimum for an Oscar. Adding the Pictus cats is not a good idea as of now. When the O's are in the 125 then I say have a ball with them. How big are your O's? Water change and gravel vac schedule? Feedings? Water parameters? Oh and welcome to the wonderful world of Fishkeeping and MFK!

I change 15 gallons twice a month (including vacuming gravel) I have 2 emperor 400's, and they mainly eat 2 different kinds of cichlid staple pellets, freeze dried shrimp, frozen blood worms, beefheart, and the very rare feeder. The oscars are just about the size of my hand. (fairly large hands.) Water temp is usually 78-80 F. I'm hoping to have the stand built or bought by the end of the month.

 

[Cross127]

55 gallon is fine for 1 oscar. The general rule of thumb for oscars is 50 gallons per oscar. But people have kept more than 1 oscar in a 55 gallon years ago and have been fine. Its just todays standards say that they should be kept in bigger tank.

It's just my standards in Fishkeeping I guess. I feel a 12 inch fish deserves at least a 75 gallon tank. I don't find 55 gallons to much use for any big fish over 8". I just don't like them because of the width factor. If the tank was say 6 inches shorter( as they are 21" tall) and 6 inches fatter then I would go out and buy as many as I could. I know in recent years many people thought than 55 gallons was fine for two but that is changing in the right direction up in gallons.

 

[evilxyardxgnome]

My O is maybe 12" and turns around just fine in my 55 gallon?

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

Those oscars should be ok in there for a while but try and get that stand built they need the space.

 

[Cross127]

I change 15 gallons twice a month (including vacuming gravel) I have 2 emperor 400's, and they mainly eat 2 different kinds of cichlid staple pellets, freeze dried shrimp, frozen blood worms, beefheart, and the very rare feeder. The oscars are just about the size of my hand. (fairly large hands.) Water temp is usually 78-80 F. I'm hoping to have the stand built or bought by the end of the month.

Ok I say up the water changes to 15 gallons a week maybe even more as they are getting big and need prestine water conditions for them to stay healthy. Oscars put tons of bio- load on tanks thats why WC's are the most important thing for them as with any fish. You have a great filtration set up on that tank. What are you using for media. I would recommend you use one EMP 400 as a strictly bio filter and the other strictly mechanical. They have a nice varied diet as well. You are doing very good for you just starting in the hobby. All you need is a bit of an upgrade and you are golden. Good Job!

 

[Cross127]

My O is maybe 12" and turns around just fine in my 55 gallon?

They will be able to turn around but for me I like the extra width. I mean would you like to be in a hallway thats narrow as hell or would you want to be able to move freely and go about your buissness.

 

[tknjk]

Ok I say up the water changes to 15 gallons a week maybe even more as they are getting big and need prestine water conditions for them to stay healthy. Oscars put tons of bio- load on tanks thats why WC's are the most important thing for them as with any fish. You have a great filtration set up on that tank. What are you using for media. I would recommend you use one EMP 400 as a strictly bio filter and the other strictly mechanical. They have a nice varied diet as well. You are doing very good for you just starting in the hobby. All you need is a bit of an upgrade and you are golden. Good Job!

Right now I have both filters set up with Ammo-Carb. The black and white stuff. So what you are saying is I should take it out of one of the filters, and just let it run through without anything?