RE: Don't Buy Oscar Fish - 6 Reasons Why

[Mitchell The Monster]

That's kind of a double edged sword. I've never kept an mbu puffer because I can't house one properly. I know quite a lot about them though.
A lot of people have kept fish that they certainly shouldn't, does not make them more experienced or educated fish keepers, just poor ones with no self control or regard for the fish.

Okay yeah true.

 

[Ulu]

I discovered years ago that my tank may be big enough for my fish, but it is never big enough for the whole internet.

 

[RD.]

I've seen it work before and it will work in most cases unless you have a very large oscar. I've seen them upwards of 18 inches, but I had one in a 55 and he hit 14 inches and was fine, it wasn't ideal, but it still did work. That's why I said a 55 gallon will work, but a 90 would be perfect. A lot of sources say 55 is minimum, though I would say 75
https://www.firsttankguide.net/oscar.php
https://www.fishkeepingworld.com/oscar-fish/
https://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-an-Oscar
http://www.fishxperts.com/oscar-fish-care/
https://theaquarium.club/oscar-fish/

This type of idiotic comment is exactly why I voted to have a Dislike button. I actually used the Angry button for the first time. Hopefully for the vast majority in this hobby it's not about "what will work", and more along the lines of "what is ideal", for the fish.

A dog tied to a 10ft chain and staked out in the backyard 24/7 for its entire life, also works.

 

[duanes]

Although I couldn't get through the video, I agree agree with it on some points.
I believe oscars are not good fish for the casual aquarist.
And totally agree that most tanks are too small, anything under 100 gallons is a ridiculously small for even a semi adult oscar.
I also believe that the water change schedule needed to keep oscars and other large cichlids healthy, is probably too arduous for the casual aquarist.
Anybody who has an oscar in a less than 100 gallon tank should be changing a large portion of water every other day (maybe every day ), and if that seems too much, then an oscar is too much fish for that person.

 

[Fat Homer]

Although I couldn't get trough the video, I agree agree with it on some points.
I believe oscars are not good fish for the casual aquarist.
And totally agree that most tanks are too small, anything under 100 gallons is a ridiculously small for even a semi adult oscar.
I also believe that the water change schedule needed to keep oscars and other large cichlids healthy, is probably too arduous for the casual aquarist.
Anybody who has an oscar in a less than 100 gallon tank should be changing a large portion of water every other day (maybe every day ), and if that seems too much, then an oscar is too much fish for that person.

Well said, i guess if one were a casual keeper as mentioned (which is likely his target audience as well) then yes, most large predatory fish probably wouldnt be considered the best option, especially those prone to certain disease such as HITH or Parasites...

Sometimes i’m just so used to and enjoy the upkeep part of my tanks that i dont find it a chore anymore but for someone new to all this is though, they may feel it’s quite excessive the amount we do...

 

[Ulu]

I built this stand for a 60"+ custom tank I don't have yet. Felix the Oscar lives in a $55 petco tank.
Felix gets 100+ gals of fresh water every week.

I'm showing the plumbing without all the fake ivy on it, in this old photo. (Cloudy from bubbles, right after I moved his tank back to the foyer.)

This wasn't enough flow. I had to enlarge the pump, the weir and the siphon. He's getting over 300 gph now.

He has since received a 6" Bacto-surge filter, as well as 2 more and extra bio-rings, in the sump. I also took out the big heater and put two small ones in the sump.

At nearly 11" long in a 12"x48" tank, Felix the Oscar is quite healthy, but he gets lots of effort and water changes + frequent siphoning and it is a challenge. I could not do this, considering that I run (and constantly experiment with) 7 other tanks, if I were not retired and healthy. So for now I change his water 3x or 4x a week, and he remains spotless and hungry if slightly lean for an Oscar.

I would never recommend this to anyone unless you like constant water changes.

 

[TheReefer]

This guy makes tons of fish care and profile videos on fish he's never actually kept lol

I've kept them lol

 

[TheReefer]

This type of idiotic comment is exactly why I voted to have a Dislike button. I actually used the Angry button for the first time. Hopefully for the vast majority in this hobby it's not about "what will work", and more along the lines of "what is ideal", for the fish.

A dog tied to a 10ft chain and staked out in the backyard 24/7 for its entire life, also works.

Its not an idiotic comment, plenty of people have kept oscars in a 55, it can work, though i wouldnt recommend it. You want it to be ideal, go make a river in your back yard. Again, smallest id go for an oscar is a 90, all depends on size, is the fullu grown oscar 10 inches or 16? Ive sren both of them. Rachel oleary has an oscar in a 75, are you going to hate on her?

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Hate is a strong word but yes.
I agree with RD 100 % it's far too small for an active, intelligent, inquisitive fish like an oscar.

 

[TheReefer]

I discovered years ago that my tank may be big enough for my fish, but it is never big enough for the whole internet.

Exactly, 2.5 gallons had heen accepted as the minimum tank size for a betta, but noe its 10 gallons. People just complain that the tank "isn't big enough"