how big of a tank t=do oscars need?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Aqualoon said:
I know nothing about Oscars, never kept them and don't plan to anytime soon, but the info I'm about to copy and paste is from www.cichlid-forum.com by TheFishGuy (huge Oscar lover and has kept many of them)

Here's some additional info on keeping multiple oscars:

Here's my take on the whole two oscars and tank size issues.... It's been my experience that no matter the size of the tank, even an 800, males will simply not get along. The problem comes when you have a tank smaller than 800 gallons one male WILL kill the other. Especially if a female is present. I currently have six oscars in an 800, three are mature, three are not and have not revealed their sex yet. Of the three that are mature only one is female. The two males still hate each other but there's room to run in a 14' tank, not a 240, or a 75. To get two males to get along is not an easy task but it's been done.

In short here's the deal:

F + F = OK
F + M = OK (sometimes)
M + M = No way

That's usually why only one oscar is recomended for a 75, not because there's not room for two oscars but because there's aggression issues.

Two females will work in a 75 with a 90% success rate. I say 90% because there's still a 10% chance they won't get along. I'd still do it though.

I'd give a pair about a 75% success rate in a 75 simply because a female will test a males strength before spawning with him, if he's too strong and she's got no place to run then she's dead. If he's not strong enough then she might kill him if he's got no place to run..

And two males I'd give about a 10% shot... best not to try it.

Now here lies the problem, there's no proven method of sexing juvinile oscars.... So you're stuck with the only safe option of getting one Using dithers to spread aggression around doesn't work with oscars.... (Dithers are target expendable fish that are used so your main fish don't kill each other. They spend their time going after the dithers instead of each other) Oscars will simply eat the dithers, or ignore them
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you try the water changes on the bioload of two oscars in a 75 with a pleco ... let me tell you, it's not fun. TWice a week keeps them only at manageable levels when still young. I have personal experience when I was growing mine out. They aren't even mature yet.
 
muffywrx said:
you try the water changes on the bioload of two oscars in a 75 with a pleco ... let me tell you, it's not fun. TWice a week keeps them only at manageable levels when still young. I have personal experience when I was growing mine out. They aren't even mature yet.
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That was the point I was making too when I said the maintenance would be too much for a beginner (and a lot of seasoned) hobbist. It might make him drop the hobby. Once a week water changes is enough for me lol, I can't imagine having to do it two or three time per week.

oscarlover2498 said:
ok well it looks like a need a 125 gallon atleast time to save haha
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You won't regret going with something a little larger, bigger is always better when it comes to fish tanks. After you get your new tank, I have a feeling you'll want to upgrade again in the near future. :)
 
Bigger is always better when it comes to tanks. I do water changes 3 times a week on the 125 grow out but it keeps ammonia and nitrites at zero with 3 x daily feedings
 
yeah i know i would definitely get burned out with the hobby real quick if i was having to do water changes multiple times a week just to keep the water under control on a tank that wasnt just a growout (do water changes 2-3x a week on my 10g grow out but its right by my sink and all i have to do is siphon it out into the sink and use the sprayer to put the water back in, dont even have to pull out the python)
 
oscars and common pleco are all pretty messy fish. filteration should be taken care of to ensure best results for your Oscars. also, even in a 125 you may face aggression problems with just 2 oscars. just keep one.
good luck.
 
Sarah88 said:
yeah i know i would definitely get burned out with the hobby real quick if i was having to do water changes multiple times a week just to keep the water under control on a tank that wasnt just a growout (do water changes 2-3x a week on my 10g grow out but its right by my sink and all i have to do is siphon it out into the sink and use the sprayer to put the water back in, dont even have to pull out the python)
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Used to have to do it all the time in the shop so I actually enjoy it. Sad I know. Enjoy it less the bigger the tanks get though ;-)

I could leave that tank for longer without water changes but find they do better with regular changes (obviously using pre treated water)

I agree with what others have said. 75g for 1 with lots of changes and excellent filtration but should be ok with 2 in the 125g again with regular water changes.
 
VRWC said:
You guys are so mean...telling the truth and all!!

ej2iw.gif




A 55 is not a fair sized tank for a juvenile/adult oscar unless you do 50% water changes every 2-3 days and <sarcasm> take him out for 2 swims in a bigger tank 5x a week.</sarcasm>
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never apologize when ya right...if folks cant take criticism or helpful suggestions they need to grow thicker skin. that was a nice reply compared to some of the flaming i have seen. i just try to remember i was a newb once too until i ran into you guys. you guys were a major help and to this day im forever grateful. keep up the great job !
 
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