How Long oscar in 55 gallon

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Candiru
MFK Member
Mar 8, 2007
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How long could a 3 inch Oscar comfortably live in a 55 gallon aquarium with no tank mates?
 
55gal is said to house 1 oscar for life as a bare minimum with no tank mates and minimal decor. but with fish and especially oscars bigger is always better, a 55 would require 2 or 3 times a week water changes.
 
As above said, you could keep it there for life...

But in my opinion, it also looks nicer if you have a nice 80g...
 
youll be fine. at 3 inches a couple but full grown just one. i think the golden rule with oscars is 40g a oscar? i might be wrong. substarte is okay but they are messy. with oscars make sure you have good filtration or a lot of WC like the above mentioned. GL and oscars are fun underappreciated and overrated. great puppy fish though
 
There are many multi-page threads reagrding the minimum size tank for an oscar. It usually comes down to whether a 75g or 55g is adequate for a single fish.

I've seen many, many examples of happy, healthy, huge oscars in 55gs. A buddy of mine has a pair that he's grown to nearly a foot each in a 55g...amazing fish. But he knows what he's doing and is religious about water changes.

My opinion: 75g is better... 55g will do. Just do lots of water changes.

Matt
 
It can be fine until the Oscar reaches 10". A 55g is only 12" wide which oscars can get between 12"-14". I have seen Oscars kept in 55g's for all their lives and it ussually isen't pretty. Their bodies get a slight "bow" look to them at the least that gets worse over time not to mention HiTH(Hole in the Head) because the owner does not do enough water changes. 55g seems like a large tank, but to an Oscar it's not.

I would do the right thing and get a 75g or larger. My suggestion is watch Craigslist and be patient. I can't tell you how many 75g-125g's with stand and all I have seen going for $50-$100 bucks here on a regular basis and I live in Vegas(not a big fish community).

Good luck with your Oscar, they are great fish.;)
 
Anubisscott hit the nail on the head as far as 55G vs 75G . . . a 12" fish should have at least 18" of tank depth to facilitate turning around, etc.,

so, as to "how long" the Oscar can comfortably live in a 55G, I'd say you've got until it reaches about 8" in length . . .
 
Do not keep an oscar in a 55 for life. Cruel. Maybe 9 months at the max. It all depends on how fast it grows. I wouldn't keep it there once it reaches 8". They easily grow beyond 12" and that is as wide as a 55. Get a 75 and you could keep it in that for life. 48"x18" footprint would be ideal. I love oscars and didn't get one till I knew I would have a 150 gallon to put him in once he was 7".
 
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