Surprise a stocking question from a new member

[Mokane]

Hello all!

I Have a 125 that currently houses my Angles, but I am moving them to my 55. I want to try my hand at some bigger fish in my 125. I am currently look at getting a Oscar or two and some Firemouth. My question is how many Firemouth can I add if any? Also open to any other suggestions.

Thanks,
Mokane

 

[PDRed302]

In a 125 for life, I'd think you'd easily be safe with an Oscar and 4 to 5 Firemouth. Although there's a bunch of ca/sa cichlids out there that would fill the shoes of the Firemouth as well as thrive in the tank parameters you'll be providing for your Oscar and would I definitely suggest looking into them.

If it were me and I wanted to stock a 125 around an Oscar my stocking would probably go something like:

1x Oscar
1x Firemouth
1x Blue Acara
1x Salvini
5x Silver Dollar

Your Oscar would definitely be the star of the show but the variety in your other cichlids would imo, look nice; movement would be fairly constant and with the 5x Rodeo clowns, you'd be keeping the peace for the most part.

...of course, that's my opinion, everyone has one


My suggestion: look around on the site and see what people have with their O's and see what really draws your eye.

I'd also definitely play around with Aqadvisor.com as it will help narrow down the selection process... I'm not saying it will be spot on, as a matter of fact, it is wrong a lot but if you find a stocking setup you like and aren't 100% for sure about it, there's always the forums

 

[AquaAlex1993]

First, welcome to Monster Fish Keeper's where it's go big or go home! Although, if I may I'll speak for all of the fellow MFKER'S that we love all fish and fish keepers.
Oscars are a personable wet pet and I think you will love one in your 125.
There are many different options for tankmates. I am going to give you my personal opinion and discuss what I would do.
125 Oscar Gallon South American Display
1x Oscar cichlid
1x Green severum (or any of the commonly available severums like red spot gold)
1x Green Terror cichlid
1x Pike cichlid (do not get any of the larger growing sizes, saxatilis pikes are good)
4-5 silverdollars ( could do metynnis or myleus)
Pictus cats
Or if you want to mix and match. You can do a few firemouths, a jack dempsey. I recommend researching and good luck coming up with a gorgeous tank!

 

[Mokane]

Love the ideas! Thank for the feedback. I would like to get all the fish at the same time but don't have a LFS that carries a good variety of large SA cichlids in Middle Ga. Anybody know of a store in Ga that a could fill most of a similar list all at once?

 

[Mokane]

Sorry for the double post.... But just to be clear you mean one of each fish so for the first list it would be 9 fish and the second option 8 or 9 fish

 

[jaws7777]

Take into account the bioload of an adult oscar. I wouldnt put 8 or 9 fish in with him. One adult oscar would fill that tank. Add in some smaller cats maybe fancy plecos but if it were me i wouldnt get too nuts with cichlids.

Less fish = less water changes

 

[Mokane]

Thanks for the feedback jaws7777

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

Agreed with jaws. Either do his suggestion or a tank of only firemouths. Stanzzzz7 can educate you on Thorichthys. They do better in groups and the interactivity between them is a major part of their appeal.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Plenty of options with an Oscar in a 125, but I would only put 4 or 5 more fish in there with them. Oscars are great fish but are very messy, they spit half of their food back out onto the gravel. If it were me, I would do the Oscar and a small colony of other cichlids of one species. some ideas:
Sajica
Nanoluteus
Panamensis
Firemouth/other thoricthys

 

[J. H.]

Noone mentioned geophagus at all? They are incredible fish to watch, will help clean up the Os mess, and are gentle fish that can put good size in them and get along well with Os. They like their water softer than Os do, though. Gymnogeophagus might be a better choice, if you are willing to go without a heater. I keep my livebearers with no heater to cut back on electricity, and they do fine, I get plenty of fry. your O would probably be happy without a heater in your 70° house.
Hoplo cats are another good tankmate, but I would stick to an O, three eartheaters aandif it is a six foot 125. some bala or roseline sharks or some other five to ten inch cyprinid. I know balas can grow to 14 inches.