My dream fish since starting the hobby 4 years ago is to keep oscars. Currently I have a 65 gallon tank that measures 36" x 18" x 25". The filter is a fluval 407. With nothing else in the tank besides the substrate, no other fish would 1 single oscar be okay in these dimensions? In 3-5 years when the basement is half finished I will be setting up a fish room with a 75 gallon, (moving 65 to basement), (moving 30 to basement), and getting either a second 75 or 125. My basement stairs are odd being corner stairs with a beam right at the end of stairs preventing an upright freezer to go down. (My best example as we tried doing so when we first moved in) I am rambling my apologies.
Keeping a single oscar fish
- Thread starter Sapphire92
- Start date
Welcome 
In my opinion a 65 gallon is too small for a full grown oscar, made the same mistake with 2 oscars in a 107 gallons at the beginning.
In my opinion a 65 gallon is too small for a full grown oscar, made the same mistake with 2 oscars in a 107 gallons at the beginning.
Welcome to the forum!
I agree that the dimensions/gallonage really isn’t good for an Oscar. Your plan could work for a slower growing fish, but oscars grow very fast.
Wait until you have a 125.
In the 65 you could probably get a Acara type (except green terror) or convict type. All have good personalities and are beautiful fish.
I agree that the dimensions/gallonage really isn’t good for an Oscar. Your plan could work for a slower growing fish, but oscars grow very fast.
Wait until you have a 125.
In the 65 you could probably get a Acara type (except green terror) or convict type. All have good personalities and are beautiful fish.
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Best way to buy a bonded pair of oscars is buying from same lfs? I know thats stupid question but I know its not always guaranteed they have bonded just cause they are in same tank at the store.
Unless they are being sold as a bonded pair I wouldn’t count on it.
To get a Oscar pair, you will want to buy 6+ juveniles and let them sort it out as they grow. Eventually a pair will form. Then you can rehome the rest.
To get a Oscar pair, you will want to buy 6+ juveniles and let them sort it out as they grow. Eventually a pair will form. Then you can rehome the rest.
I agree that the 36" tank will be too small for a single oscar when it is full grown. And yes a pair would need a 125 gallon.
Lots of cool smaller cichlids that would be okay in your 36" 65 gallon. Anything that maxes out at around 7" should be ok. Personally I'd breed some smaller SA cichlids in it. Acaras are a good suggestion, guianacara could work as well. Lots of smaller sa species to choose from.
Lots of cool smaller cichlids that would be okay in your 36" 65 gallon. Anything that maxes out at around 7" should be ok. Personally I'd breed some smaller SA cichlids in it. Acaras are a good suggestion, guianacara could work as well. Lots of smaller sa species to choose from.
I agree that a 65 gal tank is too small for any oscar that reaches 6 " or larger.
But its not just about dimensions .
Its because the smaller the tank, the faster the water quality degrades, and the larger the oscar gets, the more waste is produced that degrades water quality faster.
If you ae willing to do daily 40-50%n water changes, you might get a few extra months out of a 65 grow out tank.
One of the biggest problems with oscars (and other larger long lived cichlids), is" hole in the head disease", which disfigures them, and leads to other maladies, even death.
If nitrate reaches over 10 ppm HITH eventually and chronically rears its ugly head.
The only way to keep nitrate at non-chronic disease levels, is very frequent, large water changes.
But its not just about dimensions .
Its because the smaller the tank, the faster the water quality degrades, and the larger the oscar gets, the more waste is produced that degrades water quality faster.
If you ae willing to do daily 40-50%n water changes, you might get a few extra months out of a 65 grow out tank.
One of the biggest problems with oscars (and other larger long lived cichlids), is" hole in the head disease", which disfigures them, and leads to other maladies, even death.
If nitrate reaches over 10 ppm HITH eventually and chronically rears its ugly head.
The only way to keep nitrate at non-chronic disease levels, is very frequent, large water changes.