Novice needs some advice!

[servo]

Well after some while I have come to a decision that I want an Oscar as a pet and, because I'm a complete novice in this, I'm turning to you. I want it to have a good home, so here goes some questions...

• What size of a tank I need, so that my Oscar could live there quite well? My room isn't the biggest one, because of that I guess tank should be close to the minimum. Tank size should fit full grown Oscar.
• What kind of decorations you suggest/are using, as I have read, they aren't the bigest friends of natural plants, but maybe there are few exceptions, which could stand these little beasts
• How big should it(tank) be, if I want to have a pair of Oscars?
• And what could be their relationships, as I don't want to get them hurt...
• Maybe you could highlight some tanks?

Sorry for so many questions

 

[haynchinook334]

75gals for 1 oscar

sand and any other decore you like ( as long the oscar has swimming room)

100 gals for a pair

they will be fine just the two



AND WELCOME TO MFK.

 

[haynchinook334]

here's alittle insperation for a fellow oscar lover.
SETUP FOR THIS TANK:

125Gal

2 x cascade 1500 canister filters
2 x cascade 300 HOB filters
2 x 55gph powerheads
2 x 200 watt heaters

 

[Bllib]

My question 2 you is this. How are the oscars that you want to get? Also If you are a newbie you may not want to start with sand. Either do a bare bottom tank or common aquarium rock. Have fun with what you put in the tank. I do have live plants in my tank. Occasionally they will pull em out. I just put them back in and wait about a week and then there back out

If the oscars that you are going to get are small you could start with a 55. Just know that they will need a much bigger tank as they grow. I will probably get blasted for this but I had 1 oscar in a 55. He was about 7 inches long. It wasn't the most ideal sitch but it was all I could afford at the time. I ended up giving him away to a better home.

 

[warren4066]

if you want a pair you will have to buy more than 2 unless its a proven pair

 

[Nicksplosion]

some may not agree, but i say you could house two oscars in a 55 with good maintenance and care. The best thing ot do would be to get them as a pair very young from the same tank at the same store and raise them together. you should have some hiding places and maby rock piles for them as they are territorial.

for the tank i personaly prefer a 55 long, not high, to allow max swimming area.

 

[pcfriedrich]

Do it right. if you want one oscar, get a 75 gallon tank. if you want two, get a 5 ft tank. its probably a good idea to get a few convicts or firemouths to clean up after their messy eating. a pleco would also serve this purpose, if you don't want cons.

 

[Fish on Fire]

55 gallon should suffice. Oscars aren't open water swimmers, they spend most of their time just laying down and being lazy. The only time they'll really bother to move is when feeding time comes around or when they think you're going to feed them. They don't get too big for a 55 (despite the claims of other people). Just keep up with your weekly 50% water changes and have 2 penguin bio filters that are rated for 60 gallons or something like that. Try fake plants.

Don't get me wrong, but I know peeps who have 10"+ oscars in 30 gallon long tanks (no joke) with tank mates and there is no sign of stunting and the fish are perfectly healthy (well fed, no diseases, active) even some breeding activity. Pretty sure that a solo oscar will do fine in a 55 gallon tank if several can thrive in a 30 gallon.

 

[MATTHEWS]

55 gallon should suffice. Oscars aren't open water swimmers, they spend most of their time just laying down and being lazy. The only time they'll really bother to move is when feeding time comes around or when they think you're going to feed them. They don't get too big for a 55 (despite the claims of other people). Just keep up with your weekly 50% water changes and have 2 penguin bio filters that are rated for 60 gallons or something like that. Try fake plants.

Don't get me wrong, but I know peeps who have 10"+ oscars in 30 gallon long tanks (no joke) with tank mates and there is no sign of stunting and the fish are perfectly healthy (well fed, no diseases, active) even some breeding activity. Pretty sure that a solo oscar will do fine in a 55 gallon tank if several can thrive in a 30 gallon.

I used to be one of those 30 gal long peeps.. Had 2 oscars and a Jack Dempsey and they grew up fine. I had a under gravel filter, power filter on the back, and did major gravel vacuuming when doing water changes usualy more than 50% bi weekly. The O s ended up being about 12" and the JD was 7". They were very happy and we used to party on the weekends. Never once did they complain that they were cramped! Just make sure you have a lid or they'll eventually need your help to get back into the tank.

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

some may not agree, but i say you could house two oscars in a 55 with good maintenance and care. The best thing ot do would be to get them as a pair very young from the same tank at the same store and raise them together. you should have some hiding places and maby rock piles for them as they are territorial.

for the tank i personaly prefer a 55 long, not high, to allow max swimming area.

Having one in there is in itself something than can be done, but 2 is a little excessive, even just in terms of space.