Poorman's Monster Fish Tank
- Thread starter johnnymax
- Start date
Do you plan on putting them in a larger tank eventually? As they get bigger. They will NOT have enough of room. 
I am thinking... I would love an 8' tank, but not sure I will be able to do that...
I am wrestling with what to do... No other fish interest me for this tank. I have been searching...
I am wrestling with what to do... No other fish interest me for this tank. I have been searching...
For oscars, they will use all levels of the tank. If yours end up on the bigger end, a 6 foot tank minimum is a must. The only plants I kept with my oscar were silk vines he could drag around or nest in. They are powerful fish...by the time my Brick was a foot long he could move 4-5lb rocks and pull filter pads out of 110 aquaclears. I'd find them with the tops all jacked up. He knocked the heaters loose too and I would find them floating. They just love wrecking things but that's part of their charm. I had a huge ceramic log I removed because Brick kept slamming it against the front glass. Because I knew I was getting an oscar the tank has tempered glass but it still made me nervous.
I have been going through the "Life of Brick" LOL
I am still set on an Oscar, but I will open up my 75 and just get one Oscar. I was wondering if it is cruel to put an Oscar in a tank alone? I do plan to give him attention every day. It will be different than the attention I give the the smaller fish in my planted tank. Oscar will be in the lower tank, so I can sit on the floor in front of him. I may be able to get a larger tank off marketplace eventually. I have drastically changed my though, understanding and plans for this tank.
FINWIN, are the silk vines you use made for aquariums, or will any work? I plant to make the tank a big play pen for the Oscar. Maybe have many toys and things and I trade them out. I am trying to figure out what to do.
Ha haa, glad you're reading up on Brick. I still miss that big lug. Just amazing and awesome!
I got the Flukers Repti vines in green, red, and purple. They're on Amazon. Brick liked playing basketball so he had a toy ball we would punch around every day. The plastic party favor balls will do.
Pretty much any silk vine will work but the Flukers are 6ft long and a great value for the money. Rinse and drop in. Just remember no felt, glitter or dyed paper on the vines. For added depth you can attach the suction cup vines on the back wall. A few round stones at the bottom will work.
I would strongly encourage you to make plans for a 125 or 150 down the road, or at least a 90 or 110. For an Oscar, a 75 will buy you time but once the fish gets to 8 inches you'll see the 'cramp' factor. And water changes. O's have massive bioload. A grown Oscar will foul a 75 constantly. And I know some people swear by 75s but the massive upkeep for water quality and limited space really restricts the fish. As an example, Brick was raised in a 225 with a blood parrot. His last measurements were 3 1/2 wide, 15 inches long and 8 1/2 inches tall. He was still growing when I lost him to tumor. My water change schedule was 90% per week. Two powerjets, two Jaeger heaters (300w), two spongefilter stacks rated 100 gallon each, and three aquaclear 110s. I was cleaning filters 3x a week at that point. They would be black as coal.
Also an Oscar will not reach it's full potential in a 75. I've not seen any more than 11 inches raised in one. Their behavior will be different too. In small space they just kinda hover. With room they're active and explore.
As a teen (7-9") he put out his weight in turds and I battled brown algae blooms for about 2 months.
Would you consider a female oscar? They're still personable and "colorful" (i.e. psychotic) fish, but less likely to end up on the bigger side. If you can upgrade to something like a 100g and get a female oscar, that might be just about fine.
As for leaving them alone, that is far from cruel - it is exactly what they want. They're territorial animals that barely tolerate others on their turf in the best of circumstances, and stories of oscars attempting to "drive off" their owners from their tank (not yours, mind) are common.
As for leaving them alone, that is far from cruel - it is exactly what they want. They're territorial animals that barely tolerate others on their turf in the best of circumstances, and stories of oscars attempting to "drive off" their owners from their tank (not yours, mind) are common.
