Oscar stocking

[Forest3544]

I am going to be getting a new tank soon and was wondering about stocking with Oscars.

First I was wondering if an Oscar a black convict, and a fire mouth would work together. Also I was wondering if a Jaguar cichlid would work with any of these fish. Thanks

 

[tlindsey]

I am going to be getting a new tank soon and was wondering about stocking with Oscars.

First I was wondering if an Oscar a black convict, and a fire mouth would work together. Also I was wondering if a Jaguar cichlid would work with any of these fish. Thanks

Welcome aboard



What size aquarium?

 

[Forest3544]

Either a 120 or a 110 tall

 

[tlindsey]

Either a 120 or a 110 tall

With the exception of the Jag and the 120 gallon not 110 high it could work. Most members tend not to mix SA and CA Cichlids together .

 

[Jexnell]

Do you have any of the fish already?

Oscars grow at a phenomenal rate an inch a month or better, so will outgrow the Con and Firemouth, and they may end up as food for the Oscar. Now if they are bigger near full size, and you introduce a small O to them.
As an example, my wild caught Columbian Oscar Juan, I got him 3 months ago at 1.5inches, 3 month's later he is a 6in fish.
Now if I got a baby con and firemouth at the same time I know he would have outgrown them and end up eating them.

 

[Forest3544]

I have not bought any of the fish yet. And I would try to but the Oscar as small as possible and the convict and firemouth a bit bigger. And I guess if this wasn’t possible I could try growing them out before I get the Oscar

 

[Jexnell]

That would be the best way to go. Have to stay ahead of the ever growing Oscar's mouth. I tried to do this with some Roseline sharks and in the long run, the Oscar won and out grew the sharks and ended eating one of them.
Make sure they have hides that the Oscar can't fit into.

 

[dan518]

I would be very careful about adding a convict, oscars are predatory but generally not very aggressive, male convicts are very aggressive and a oscar has to have a distinct size advantage or it will be bullied.

 

[Gourami Swami]

I agree. I would personally choose some SA cichlids to go with the Oscar instead of the con and FM. Blue acara, some geophagus species, severum, bandit cichlid, would all be good choices. I would definitely not try the jaguar in that that tank size, the jag will outgrow the tank alone. I would go for the 120 with the Oscar and two or three smaller cichlids. Something like: Oscar, severum, bandit. Would probably be okay. But it will still depend on your fish's personality.

 

[duanes]

I agree with gourami swami, North and Central American cichlids (like managunse and Amatitlania) are often much too aggressive for oscars, even a convict half the size of an oscar can shred its fins, and make its life miserable. And the cichlids GS suggests (being from S America) are much more geographically appropriate as tank mates, sharing a similar mild mannered temperament to the oscar.
They also share similar water parameters.
Central Americans come from much harder, alkaline waters than the South Americans, although oscars can usually tolerate these conditions, but often end up later in life, with hole in the head scars, to the bacteria more prominent in alkaline conditions, especially if a frequent heavy water change schedule is not adhered to.
Your tap water conditions may help in choosing stock, if your water is soft, with a low pH eg 7 or below), the South Americans are a shoe in for your tank.
If your tap water is hard, high pH 8+ then Central Americans could be a better consideration.
Firemouths also usually do better as a shoal of 4 or 5, as opposed to as a single individual.
Not saying it can't be done, but if you are hoping for natural behavior, and a copasetic group, you might just consider how things have evolved in nature.