How Long oscar in 55 gallon
- Thread starter FISH4LIFE
- Start date
Bigger is better. However, I kept an oscar for 9 or so years in a 55 gallon. He was beautiful and healthy and 14 inches when I rehomed him. I did a 75% wc every 5 days though. I would suggest a 75 for a single oscar, but people who say it is cruel to keep one in a 55 for life are incorrect in my opinion.
I agree - a 55g is not "cruel"... especially with proper maintenance.
A 20H is way too small.
Matt
A 20H is way too small.
Matt
twhittle;3732823; said:
for life. . .easily, make sure to do weekly waterchanges at 50%.
oscars are happy as long as theres food and clean water.
my cousin keot a adult pair from fry to adult for 10 years and no problems.
heres mine.
oscars are happy as long as theres food and clean water.
my cousin keot a adult pair from fry to adult for 10 years and no problems.
heres mine.
50 could work for life, it has better dimensions. as he grows, increase your maitenance appropriately. Call me cruel, but it was just around last year and a half that there were no issues with an oscar in a 50 gallon, and 40g breeders with this kind of maitenance were not frowned upon. Now it seems to be solid GT for 55s. Mark my words, it'll be at least 90g min tank size in 2 years max.
Just because you kept a Oscar in a 55g for life or when it was around or over 12" doesen't mean it was the right thing to do. You can be kept in a closet, but would you be happy or be abled to move around easily, absolutly not. Keeping an Oscar in a 55g for life is like keeping a Great Dane or a Bull Mastif in a 8x5 dog run. It can be done, but is it right.....no. In the end it is your fish, but if you want to do the right thing and keep it humainly then go 75g or more.
So sorry guys, I have do dissagree with you. Keeping an oscar in a 55g for life or any fish that gets over 11" for that matter is on the cruel side. Definently not fair on the fish as it is your responsibility as a pet owner to research and find out what the animals needs are "before" getting it. That goes for all animals/pets. If you can't provide the proper housing or care, then you need to go with something else.
Again, you can get a 75g-150g cheaper used off craigslist.com with stand and all then you can get a 55g new with stand. You just have to be patient. I just got a 135g stand, canopy, and with tons of extras just because they found out I was military. Not to mention the countless 55g-75g's I have seen up for free because they just wanted to get rid of them. Be patient and watch craigs. You have plenty of time with him being only 3".
So sorry guys, I have do dissagree with you. Keeping an oscar in a 55g for life or any fish that gets over 11" for that matter is on the cruel side. Definently not fair on the fish as it is your responsibility as a pet owner to research and find out what the animals needs are "before" getting it. That goes for all animals/pets. If you can't provide the proper housing or care, then you need to go with something else.
Again, you can get a 75g-150g cheaper used off craigslist.com with stand and all then you can get a 55g new with stand. You just have to be patient. I just got a 135g stand, canopy, and with tons of extras just because they found out I was military. Not to mention the countless 55g-75g's I have seen up for free because they just wanted to get rid of them. Be patient and watch craigs. You have plenty of time with him being only 3".
Anubisscott;3733554; said:Just because you kept a Oscar in a 55g for life or when it was around or over 12" doesen't mean it was the right thing to do. You can be kept in a closet, but would you be happy or be abled to move around easily, absolutly not. Keeping an Oscar in a 55g for life is like keeping a Great Dane or a Bull Mastif in a 8x5 dog run. It can be done, but is it right.....no. In the end it is your fish, but if you want to do the right thing and keep it humainly then go 75g or more.
So sorry guys, I have do dissagree with you. Keeping an oscar in a 55g for life or any fish that gets over 11" for that matter is on the cruel side. Definently not fair on the fish as it is your responsibility as a pet owner to research and find out what the animals needs are "before" getting it. That goes for all animals/pets. If you can't provide the proper housing or care, then you need to go with something else.
Again, you can get a 75g-150g cheaper used off craigslist.com with stand and all then you can get a 55g new with stand. You just have to be patient. I just got a 135g stand, canopy, and with tons of extras just because they found out I was military. Not to mention the countless 55g-75g's I have seen up for free because they just wanted to get rid of them. Be patient and watch craigs. You have plenty of time with him being only 3".
some people dont have the space. and the same arguement could be said , is keeping a single oscar in a 1000g tank wrong or right?
my answer is no because they would rather be in the wild.
anyway an oscar is an oscar and if kept in good water and fed well then im sure there happy in a 55g. most oscar lovers keep them in standard 3-4foot tanks all their lives and they thrive and it shows in their behavior and coloration. . . its very rare to see a washed out colored oscar. so it must mean that there happy.
if you got a 55g and want a single oscar, then go ahead. theres nothing wrong or cruel about it. . . just make sure to look after the water.
Vincentii;3733632; said:
If you don't have the space, then you need to find something smaller. Also, the arguement is not the same when it comes to a 55g Vs a 1000g. That point is moot. Again, that would be me putting you in either a closet or a 5 bedroom house. Which would you prefer or think would be adequate? My Daughter wants a horse, but would it be fair if I kept it in a fenced in part of the yard that is 10' by 20'? Again, just because it is done doesen't mean it is right or will always work. I have seen them healthy too until acouple years in a 55g when they have trouble turning and their owner gets lazy with water changes. Body begans to bow and colors start to fade not to mention HiTH.
This is why you see Oscars, Pacu's, and other large fish dropped off at LFS's. Filtration in a 55g isen't enough and too much Bioload for the size of the tank. Not to mention after 12" they have trouble turning in it. You have to change the water ever few days to keep ammonia levels down as they are some of the messiest cichlids you can keep. Craigslist, will be your friend.
An oscar and a pacu are two different beasts.
Pacu are unsuitable for all but the largest home aquaria and ponds.
The perennial oscar argument - between a 55g and 75g - iis about a couple of inches of width on 4' tank.
How about this: a 55g is good for an oscar until it gets to be about 11"... then upgrade to the 75g or larger... or trade the fish into the LFS that will jam it into a 20H..
Matt
Pacu are unsuitable for all but the largest home aquaria and ponds.
The perennial oscar argument - between a 55g and 75g - iis about a couple of inches of width on 4' tank.
How about this: a 55g is good for an oscar until it gets to be about 11"... then upgrade to the 75g or larger... or trade the fish into the LFS that will jam it into a 20H..
Matt
agrees with the dogsofwar.