I am setting up a new tank, currently I'm regulating the tank with goldfish but in less than a week I would love to put in two Oscars, two Dempseys and a plecostamus. The two oscars first, two weeks later, the Dempseys and then a week after that the plecostamus. This is a 60 gallon tank and I understand that I need to have columns in it to separate it for the two types of Cichlid, but how long would it have to be before I would need a larger tank because of the growth of the Oscars and what temperature is it that the tank would need to be kept at for the cichlids.
New Tank
- Thread starter sunfire57
- Start date
What’s the dimensions, you don’t need a divider as they should get along but the jds grow very slowly and could get eaten, it will last you until about 6-8 inches for the oscars but can be kept for life with the jds. You won’t be able to keep them all together for long tho. Maybe 3-5 months before they will need to go because of the bio load. I would chose one or the other
Linda, 60g is not the best for a single oscar by themself. That's way too much stock for a 60g IMO.
The problem with cycling with goldfish, is they often bring parasites and disease into the tank from the way they're not well cared for before you get them. Even if you did want to attempt establishing a nitrogen cycle with goldfish, it will tank a good 5-6 weeks, not days.
The problem with cycling with goldfish, is they often bring parasites and disease into the tank from the way they're not well cared for before you get them. Even if you did want to attempt establishing a nitrogen cycle with goldfish, it will tank a good 5-6 weeks, not days.
So, are you suggesting that I go with all Oscars and no JD's plus the plecostamus? And, I've already been cycling the tank for more than a week with the goldfish and to this point, it's gone very well. Two Oscars and no JD's? I appreciate any help I can get in relationship to this tank as I'm in for the long haul now. 
The tank is too small for adult oscars, IMO the smallest tank for an adult oscars is a 6ft 125 gal, ( minimum). An adult oscar won't be able to turn around in that tank without hitting the sides.
It might work for the 2 JDs and a small pleco (ike an ansistrus"bristlenose) much longer, because the JDs are slower growers.
Most cycling of new tanks takes around 6 weeks to build up enough of a population of "good" bacteria to use up ammonia and other metabolism by-products produced by the fish from urine and feces.
I agree most inexpensive goldfish can be disease carriers, but if you wait the appropriate cycling time before adding other fish (6 weeks), you may find out if the goldfish is infected or not, and in this time, "not" spread disease to your other fish.
If you are dead set on oscars (no matter what advice you are given), you should realize that as adults you will need to be doing every other day 50% water changes to keep them healthy, and looking reasonably unscarred.
It might work for the 2 JDs and a small pleco (ike an ansistrus"bristlenose) much longer, because the JDs are slower growers.
Most cycling of new tanks takes around 6 weeks to build up enough of a population of "good" bacteria to use up ammonia and other metabolism by-products produced by the fish from urine and feces.
I agree most inexpensive goldfish can be disease carriers, but if you wait the appropriate cycling time before adding other fish (6 weeks), you may find out if the goldfish is infected or not, and in this time, "not" spread disease to your other fish.
If you are dead set on oscars (no matter what advice you are given), you should realize that as adults you will need to be doing every other day 50% water changes to keep them healthy, and looking reasonably unscarred.
No, I don't know any locally grown fish people, we get our fish from our local PetSmart. The stores here are well cared for as are the fish and the plants they sell. There were no dead or sick fish in the tanks we checked when we were looking for our fish and they do have a 14 day health guarantee.