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

[Supergeorge123]

What about the alternative for most of these fish? Is it better to pick them up from walmart and keep them in a 55 or the alternative which is likely a slow death in their 5 gallon holding tanks surrounded by decaying flake food? The fish at walmart and other places are not really there to be sold, they are to get more people into the store. What then?

 

[Fat Homer]

What about the alternative for most of these fish? Is it better to pick them up from walmart and keep them in a 55 or the alternative which is likely a slow death in their 5 gallon holding tanks surrounded by decaying flake food? The fish at walmart and other places are not really there to be sold, they are to get more people into the store. What then?

If people stopped buying those oscars, the stores would in theory stop stocking them eventually...

Since after all it comes down to simple supply and demand... no demand = no supply and vice versa... since most if not all businesses, especially chain stores are out to make a buck and not lose money

 

[Stanzzzz7]

What about the alternative for most of these fish? Is it better to pick them up from walmart and keep them in a 55 or the alternative which is likely a slow death in their 5 gallon holding tanks surrounded by decaying flake food? The fish at walmart and other places are not really there to be sold, they are to get more people into the store. What then?

I think regardless of alternatives, it still make sense to suggest these fish need big tanks. To advise otherwise would be at least, misleading.
Smoking kills yet we are all free to do it. Should we be told anything other than smoking is bad for you?
Sorry but I fail to see any sense in advising anything but large tanks for these fish.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Its not so much brainwashing as justifying it to yourself. A bit of rationalising in your head, the LFS guy saying it will be fine and 1 internet site saying yes when 200 say no and you can come up with a perfectly good reason to keep an Oscar in a 55G evEn though you know you really shouldn't.
I really want a jag for my 4x2x2 , I won't do it but I have come up with some reasons it will be cool that would no doubt cause outrage on this site.
There's not much excuse for being uninformed these days but humans being what they are will ensure this sort of thread will be popping up for years to come.

I agree with you. What you are saying is true. That's why I feel its important for people with long term experience with these fish to speak out about what these fish really need.
Having said that I don't believe one needs to be an expert to look at an oscar in a 55and think, you poor bastard, what a dull limited existence you have in there. It's plain and obvious to see.

 

[jaws7777]

Here you go again.
A big box is far less restrictive than a small one.
But yes, let's defend the idea of keeping Oscars in a small one, that's makes sense, educates and improves the hobby.

Im not defending the argument in keeping an oscar in a 55 gal. I think they both said it it wasnt ideal but found a way to make it work. Is it hard to imagine that yes a mistake was made, they grew attached to their pets and instead of bringing the fish back to the lfs tried their best to make it work. I just dont get all the pitch forks and shaming.



This o looks pretty well taken care of. No signs of hith and nice vibrant colors.

All of us have different situations and cant keep large tanks for a whole host of reasons. Maybe financially maybe space is limited ect ect. At least they are admitting it isnt ideal.

No way do i support cramming fish in small tanks. Especially when mine looks empty all the time. That said I wont flame anyone for making mistakes, admitting it but in the end still providing great care for the fish.

What about the alternative for most of these fish? Is it better to pick them up from walmart and keep them in a 55 or the alternative which is likely a slow death in their 5 gallon holding tanks surrounded by decaying flake food? The fish at walmart and other places are not really there to be sold, they are to get more people into the store. What then?

Stop thats being waaaay to open minded.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

First of all the op disagreed with the title of this thread and said Oscars don't need a big tank and a 55 will work.
In most cases it won't and the ones that it does work in are just prison sentences.
Secondly, if these people didn't ignore the advise of experienced keepers then a more realistic choice could be made.
Cichlids come in many shapes and sizes.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

First of all the op disagreed with the title of this thread and said Oscars don't need a big tank and a 55 will work.
In most cases it won't and the ones that it does work in are just prison sentences.
Secondly, if these people didn't ignore the advise of experienced keepers then a more realistic choice could be made.
Cichlids come in many shapes and sizes.

 

[RD.]

First of all the op disagreed with the title of this thread and said Oscars don't need a big tank and a 55 will work.
In most cases it won't and the ones that it does work in are just prison sentences.
Secondly, if these people didn't ignore the advise of experienced keepers then a more realistic choice could be made.
Cichlids come in many shapes and sizes.

Yep, there's those reading comprehension skills again. Some people only see what they want to see. My feelings were and still are, that doing so is idiotic. Past mistakes aside, there is no excuse in promoting this kind of fishkeeping. As Jeff said, when you're in a hole, stop digging.


As far as Walmart, we solved that problem in Canada. Walmart no longer sells live animals, including fish. What a concept! When I was a kid K-mart sold everything from Mynah birds, to Squirrel monkeys. Those days are long gone for a reason.

 

[Ogertron3000]

What about the alternative for most of these fish? Is it better to pick them up from walmart and keep them in a 55 or the alternative which is likely a slow death in their 5 gallon holding tanks surrounded by decaying flake food? The fish at walmart and other places are not really there to be sold, they are to get more people into the store. What then?

In big retail stores they must pull in a certain amount of $ per square foot to be profitable so I doubt they would have fish for sale if they weren't selling. I used to think along the same lines that they are better in a smaller tank than ideal for life than stuck in a store tank but now I'm not so sure, it's a sort of out of the frying pan into the fire situation. I do understand why people would think that way but I still don't think its the best solution, unfortunately I can't think of a better solution either except that these sort of places shouldnt sell fish but that's a whole different subject.

 

[Fat Homer]

Yep, there's those reading comprehension skills again. Some people only see what they want to see. My feelings were and still are, that doing so is idiotic. Past mistakes aside, there is no excuse in promoting this kind of fishkeeping. As Jeff said, when you're in a hole, stop digging.


As far as Walmart, we solved that problem in Canada. Walmart no longer sells live animals, including fish. What a concept! When I was a kid K-mart sold everything from Mynah birds, to Squirrel monkeys. Those days are long gone for a reason.

That reminds of the markets when i used to goto China, it wasnt uncommon to see some seriously exotic animals for sale which you cant help but wonder, how many get released into the wild and how many die due to lack of knowledge / research of the animal in question...