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Single Oscar?

2K views 13 replies 3 participants last post by  ulrichhawk 
#1 ·
I have an 80 Gallon tank (Was informed by the pet store that they believe it is a 90 lol). The Ph is and has been at 7 for weeks the Hardness is reading 8 currently. No Ammonia. My question is... Is it possible to have two Oscars live happily in a tank this size? I had a 55 Gallon and for several Years had two Oscars and a Pleco (about 14 inches) in it that seemed very content and healthy. I ended up taking the fish to a pet store when I moved.
My current tank is cycled and at the moment has several gold fish in it. There purpose was only for cycling. I saw a rather large Oscar at a good store near here and was wondering if I should get him or go with two of the smaller ones they carry. I just want to make sure he is content on his own as well. Although I plan on adding a Pleco soon as well. I just seem to like the Plecos. Would love to have a Green Terror tank but there are none around where I live to be had.
 
#2 ·
Well a 55 gallon tank is the absolute bare minumum for ONE oscar. For a fish that can and sometimes do grow to over 14inches they need plenty of room to roam. 75 gallons is the preferred minimum. I wouldn't stuff two oscars in a 80 gallon IMO, it's just not big enough. You could add smaller tankmates like angels(obviously large enough to not be eatin), firemouth cichlids, maybe a convict, severums, etc. Don't get a super huge species of pleco either. Oscars have a huge bioload and need tons of filteration and water changes. I don't know how long or how big your previous oscars were in that 55 but it was entirely too small. Especially with a 14in pleco.
 
#4 · (Edited)
I believe I have heavy filtration. I'm using a magnum 250 with a pro 30 bio wheel and an emperor 400 as well. Once I get the tubing I will have my Turbo twist hooked up as well. Ive never used one before so I am not sure of the benefits it has. I have another Mangum I could use as well but I would need to modify the hood for it to fit.
 
#5 ·
The filteration looks solid but could you maybe give me the turnover rate? If you can't it's fine. Oscars are kind of pushovers. I don't see them as any kind of bully. Smaller cichlids should be fine with him. If you wanted a soewhat big cichlid with him a severum is a good choice and I believe you have enough room. A small bichir or catfish would make a great companion for the bottom half of the tank also.

Otherwise everything sounds just great!
 
#9 ·
Total flow rate is about 650 per hour. Another 175 will be going through the light. The Oscar I was getting was gone so a friend is dropping one off later. (Pet Stores are at least 50 miles from here.) With my 55 I was doing quite frequent water changes but they worked out well. Thank you both for replying. I will keep you posted as to what happens.
 
#10 ·
Everything sounds great! Oh and sometimes it's not a matter of filteration it's just a matter of space. On another forum someone actually kept like 12 half grown africans in a ten gallon and thaught it was okay. He was going on and on about how he has like 1000gph and he does like 50% water changes weekly. It wasn't enough room. Sometimes people forget that fish don't just need clean water but the need room to ctually swim lol.
 
#11 ·
Lol. I Talked to an actual owner of a pet store today that has several african cichlids, two oscars, and a pleco in a fifty five gallon tank. Sounds like a concentration camp. (Not to make light of the past). I can not see how the fish survive like that. I hooked up the Twist 3X and after several leaks and 40 minutes of tube changes and trouble shooting I now am proud to say that it works. Hopefully it will be a benefit to the tank. Fish friend should be here in about an hour. Will be posting pics of the tank and my daughters turtle set up later as well.
 
#12 ·
Alright. Good news and bad news. Dear friends fail at times in following direction. She listened to the store clerk and not me. I now have Two small Oscars, A small Bala shark an Angel fish and a very very small (although cute) Pleco. The current plan is to keep said fish in my current set up until The new year at which time I will make a road trip for a larger tank. Size really is not an issue as I have more than enough room in the house. If the Oscars appear to "attach" themselves to each other I may just seperate them from the others when the larger tank is obtained. I have a friend in MD that has a 6 foot aquarium once used for Pacu. Not sure of the actual gallon size but it is conciderably bigger than the current set up I have. Again, thank you so much for the advice and help!!!!
 
#13 ·
Sounds like a plan. Hopefully you can get everything going smoothly and get that tank some occupants. There is nothing more exciting than stting up a brand new fish tank.
 
#14 ·
I love my fish tanks. In my last house I had a 30 a 90 and a 55. They were a lot of work but so fun at the same time. I have had some great fish, I miss my giant Gourami and my old Oscars the most. I used to have a green terror that had no eyes. (when she was small she was attacked and they just healed over.) She was from a pet store. Had to keep her fed with lots of feeders. She was a doll though.
 
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