Hey guys, I’ll be getting a 125 gallon aquarium soon and need help with stocking ideas. I know I’m getting an Oscar(red or tiger) just not sure after that. I could get another one and have two, but would rather have the one and some kind of group if possible. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, Thanks.
Oscar tank mates
- Thread starter 850Nole
- Start date
I would suggest leaving the tank just for the Oscar.
A few years back I raised an Oscar from a 1in Fry up to a 12in beast before I gave her to another MFK member. I tried several different tank companies over the year or so I had her and none worked out. Finally I submitted and gave her the tank alone and was rewarded by her awesome looks.
I would if anything get a med sized catfish instead.
My thread on the O is here.
www.monsterfishkeepers.com
A few years back I raised an Oscar from a 1in Fry up to a 12in beast before I gave her to another MFK member. I tried several different tank companies over the year or so I had her and none worked out. Finally I submitted and gave her the tank alone and was rewarded by her awesome looks.
I would if anything get a med sized catfish instead.
My thread on the O is here.
Toni and Nemo my albino Oscar's
In this thread I am going to be posting updates on the development of my pair of Oscars. So I started a community tank of cichlid juveniles. My 14 year old son is the one that actually picked Toni and named it. This is the first pic i got of her. She was about 1.5in long. And as all Oscars do...
www.monsterfishkeepers.com
I would suggest leaving the tank just for the Oscar.
A few years back I raised an Oscar from a 1in Fry up to a 12in beast before I gave her to another MFK member. I tried several different tank companies over the year or so I had her and none worked out. Finally I submitted and gave her the tank alone and was rewarded by her awesome looks.
I would if anything get a med sized catfish instead.
My thread on the O is here.
View attachment 1446882Toni and Nemo my albino Oscar's
In this thread I am going to be posting updates on the development of my pair of Oscars. So I started a community tank of cichlid juveniles. My 14 year old son is the one that actually picked Toni and named it. This is the first pic i got of her. She was about 1.5in long. And as all Oscars do...
I agree with this.
Oscars are a neutral to soft water fish from South America, from east of the Andes.
So the best tank mates would be other South American fish from that geographic area.
Fish to avoid would be more aggressive cichlids from the hard waters of Central America, and west of the Andes, even some smaller yet aggressive ones.
IMO opinion, this info prevents, JDs, red or green terrors, Texas cichlids, and any of the convict types as good tank mates, it would also eliminate rift lake African cichlids.
Oscars appreciate sluggish, low flow waters,
This might also eliminate any rheophillic species, and of course, any fish that fit into its large mouth.
Appropriate tank mates would be tetras, some less aggressive cichlids and catfish from S America "too large" to be swallowed, but also that don't get so big they compromise water quality in the oscars tank.
If water quality is compromised by high nitrate, and the metabolic substances, oscars tend to get scarred up from disease like HLLE/ hoie in the head, and other chronic maladies.
So the best tank mates would be other South American fish from that geographic area.
Fish to avoid would be more aggressive cichlids from the hard waters of Central America, and west of the Andes, even some smaller yet aggressive ones.
IMO opinion, this info prevents, JDs, red or green terrors, Texas cichlids, and any of the convict types as good tank mates, it would also eliminate rift lake African cichlids.
Oscars appreciate sluggish, low flow waters,
This might also eliminate any rheophillic species, and of course, any fish that fit into its large mouth.
Appropriate tank mates would be tetras, some less aggressive cichlids and catfish from S America "too large" to be swallowed, but also that don't get so big they compromise water quality in the oscars tank.
If water quality is compromised by high nitrate, and the metabolic substances, oscars tend to get scarred up from disease like HLLE/ hoie in the head, and other chronic maladies.
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One good, more exotic, South American option would be a leporinus species. They come from the same region as oscars.
Banded may be a bit big and rough, but probably not too much for an Oscar, which will grow bigger, much faster.
Spotted is smaller and calmer than the banded leporinus.
Both would likely get along fine with the Oscar.
Banded may be a bit big and rough, but probably not too much for an Oscar, which will grow bigger, much faster.
Spotted is smaller and calmer than the banded leporinus.
Both would likely get along fine with the Oscar.