How To Speed Up An Oscar Fish's Growth Rate?

[BIG-G]

Everyone has pretty much covered it. Largest tank possible. Large frequent water changes. Good quality food, proper temperature.

I would also point out that multiple small feeding would be best.
Constantly over feeding any fish a really high protein diet will lead to problems.
So mix it up don’t feed the same things every day and also fasting the fish every once in a while will help.

 

[duanes]

Of course if you have a very lightly stocked, large tank, it will take longer for the water to turn into fish urine soup, but if only wimpy water changes are performed, the soup keeps getting thicker.
I had about 1000 gallons in the states, and still did 30-40% water changes every other day.
With my semi-automated water change system, 2 day old fish water went to the garden, the pond, the lawn, or for flushing toilets etc, so I never felt like 300+ gallons every other day was being wasted.

 

[PYRU]

There's not really a set growth rate. The 1" per month is just a very general statement. I wouldn't obsess over it.

Keep your nitrates under 20ppm and feed normally. The rest will take care of itself. Theres no need for power feeding, special food, etc.

I had a 8" Oscar in a yr from a pet shop starting at 2-3". A few yrs later it was 13".

Someone made a thread on unrealistic growth rates not long ago. It was talking about how people were getting ragged if their fish weren't hitting the imaginary growth rate on 1" per month on social media outlets.

 

[FINWIN]

Of course if you have a very lightly stocked, large tank, it will take longer for the water to turn into fish urine soup, but if only wimpy water changes are performed, the soup keeps getting thicker.
I had about 1000 gallons in the states, and still did 30-40% water changes every other day.
With my semi-automated water change system, 2 day old fish water went to the garden, the pond, the lawn, or for flushing toilets etc, so I never felt like 300+ gallons every other day was being wasted.

Nice setup. Is ti expensive to maintain?

 

[duanes]

Nice setup. Is ti expensive to maintain?

In Wisconsin, in winter, the heaters were the biggest expense, water was cheap, maybe $60 or less per month.
Used mostly natural light, so only lit half the tanks, and only 4-5 hours per day, unless heavily planted, then 8-10 hours.

I turned off almost all heaters during summer, and my energy bill for the "fish house" averaged around $125 per month, in Dec/January thru March and into April with the heaters cranked, the monthly bill could get as high as @$400 per month. The Pond was shut down in winter because it froze solid but "pond fish" went into the unheated basement in kiddy pools, with pond pump running.