planning my Oscar tank...

[OzzieOscar]

g'day all.

I recently picked up a second hand marine tank that I've cleaned out and plan on actually setting it up as a sumped Oscar tank. Problem is, I can't figure out how many Oscars I can have. When I plug the dimensions into the calculator here it comes out to be 130 gallons, just 4.25 feet long, just under 2 feet front to back and just over 2.5 feet tall.

I would really like eventually have a pair of Oscars and maybe a small group of Silver Dollars, but am also fine if I have to only have one big fella (or girl) and then a group of Silver Dollars.

If I can have 2 Oscars in the tank, what's the best way to go about pairing them? get a group of 4 or 6 and let them pair off or???

Cheers in advance!

 

[timeshoy]

I think 2 oscars should be fine, not so shure about the s.dolars. And yes, take a group of small oscars and wheit for two of them to pare.

 

[Hendre]

If a pair 2 oscars can work. If not I'd say 1 Oscar with a group of dollars would be ideal imo

 

[dan518]

Imo sd and pairs of oscars need a 6 ft tank. Might get away with one oscars.

 

[Hendre]

Imo sd and pairs of oscars need a 6 ft tank. Might get away with one oscars.

Dollars like the long tanks. I agree

 

[OzzieOscar]

So just one Oscar and no other fish? Or would there be a different tankmate suggestion? If I can only have one Oscar in the tank that's fine...I've kinda fallen for these guys.

 

[Chockful O Phail]

At 130 and 4' long there's just not enough room for 2 full grown oscars to have room to move around. Add in any normal deco and there's even less room. I would recommend 5-6 Pictus catfish. They are relatively (to other catfish and especially plecos) low biomass and really efficient at cleaning food off the bottom, which with an oscar is a nice plus. One concern might be that at full size an oscar can open its mouth big enough to get a pictus started in its mouth but pictus are both long and fast so you shouldn't have to worry about predation.

 

[Circa4190]

Imo sd and pairs of oscars need a 6 ft tank. Might get away with one oscars.

You are correct. My current adult pair of O's are in a 4ft 75g for the next couple weeks until their forever home goes up. The aggression is pretty high from them at the moment. Most times they are cool with each other and everyone else in the tank, but on nights like last night it was all out war.

 

[OzzieOscar]

Would a group of clown loaches be compatible? I dont plan on setting this up for a few months at least as we will be moving into a new house, maybe I try and sell my 4 foot setup and get a 6foot? Thats if I can convince the other half that is