Hello, new to the forum, and wondering if you guys can help me with a bit of info. Recently picked up a pair of tiger oscars, one being about 5" and the other 3". I currently have them in a 36 gallon with a 4" red devil and a bulldog pleco. They seem to get along okay, so I hope to keep the oscars the the red devil when I move them into a larger tank. So here are my questions.. What size tank should I get for the trio? What temperature should I keep them at? lastly, how much should I be feeding them while they grow? I have seen a lot of conflicting info on the web, so I thought it best to ask some folks with experience.
need some help with my oscars
- Thread starter Roli
- Start date
I would get as big of a tank as you can, but not less than 125. If the red devil doesn't get enough room, he'll probably beat up on the oscars pretty badly. Oscars, being cichlids, are aggressive, but nowhere near as mean as RDs (on average-it is possible to have a pretty calm RD or a super mean oscar). My oscar is like a puppy. I mean he oscasionally nips at other fish, but I wouldn't want to try putting him with a RD
you might very well have future issues with the red devil, as they typically are much more aggressive than oscars
Hello and welcome to mfk!
Agree with above, but if you can go for the biggest tank you possibly can then when the mfk fish addiction bites bad (and it will!) you'll already have plenty of space to add more fish to your trio.
Agree with above, but if you can go for the biggest tank you possibly can then when the mfk fish addiction bites bad (and it will!) you'll already have plenty of space to add more fish to your trio.
I would say a 150 gallon tank minimum and still I would keep an eye on that red devil, have seen completely docile REd Devils, also I have had a Oscar that was so aggressive that I could not put my hand in the tank to redecorate it ( and it was a single Oscar do to its aggressiveness in a 95 gallon tank so it had plenty of space ).... What I am getting at is each fish has its own personalities so it couold work out fine it depends on the individual fish that you have , and water temp should be 78-82 I know82 is highbut I have read on the net that oscrs like that temp to breed not sure if you ever wanted to try that I just thought I would throw that out there ...... O lastly before I forget as well as getting the biggest tank you can really get the best filtration you can also .... Growing oscars should be fed 2-3 times daily good quality pelets ocasional feeder fish is ok but make sure you have a quarintine tank set up and keep the feeders in that tank and monitor them for a few weeks to make sure they are healthy and don't make you oscars and red devil sick ... REmeber that oscars will eat alot and they do make alot of waste also ... and the trick to growing them out is the better quality water you have the better results on them growing to their maximum size in the shortest amount of time .... I really hope this helps you out and good luck keep us posted and Welcome to MFK!! any questions feel free to pm me or anyone here you will not find a better group of people that has more knwledge about fish thean these Mfk is the best frum on keeping monsters there is ( but I am biased I only belong to this one lol ) poswt some pics of you fish when you get a chance 
I took a collaege's advice, when he told me to measure the wall and the space I had, and get a big-as-possible-tank.
And indeed I still enjoy my 180Gl every day.
If you got the space and money to keep it running, think BIG!
And indeed I still enjoy my 180Gl every day.
If you got the space and money to keep it running, think BIG!
Thank you very much for the advice and warm welcome, it is greatly appreciated. Currently the water is 82 but I will lower it right away. I have filters set up that pump 6x my tank volume every hour, my water is always clean and the nitrates and nitrites are low, water quality is always kept as best as can be with weekly 20% changes and constant removal of any uneaten food. If things go wrong I can put the RD with a Jack Dempsey (who lives in a 29gl) temporarily until I can figure something else out. I wouldn't try to put him in with my Red Belly Piranha (in 33gl with two striped raphael cats), she's very mean. Also, I think I will pick up a 125gl in about a months time, I live on the third floor so anything over that I would worry about weight. Also, I have a 10gl used for quarentine for feeders for the piranha and JD. The piranha doesn't understand how to eat anything other than feeders. Sorry for the massive babble, but if any of this sounds wrong please let me know, I am not new to fish but new to oscars and I want to do this right. Thanks again!