Oscar Bug

[Big Vine]

So I've been doing some thinking...uh-oh!
I want a somewhat predatory fish---preferrably carnivore---to take care of my convict fry (which I'll be having lots of).

Here's what I've come up with...
-move the convict pair (along with however many of their free-swimming fry I manage to net) into my 20 gallon long tank
-put an oscar in the 55 gallon tank

An oscar will eat convict fry, right? Assuming it would, how large of cons would it eat?

BV

 

[MemnochsKat]

Moving fish around again? You think to much! However I like the look of Oscars myself! GL

 

[sphed]

55 gallon is to small for an oscar, they need atleast 75 gallon

 

[big54bob]

55 gallon is to small for an oscar, they need atleast 75 gallon

Actually a 55gal is the smallest size an oscar can enjoy.
Just a question, You have the standard footprint right?

 

[MOsborne05]

I personally don't like having one oscar. I know people say that they do fine by themselves, but I would want 2 of them so that they could grow up together and be buddies But, a 55 is definitely too small for them long term. So.............I think you should do some colorful mbuna

Check out the first pic in this thread, that's the daddy of the fish I'm getting http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=143130

 

[Big Vine]

Well, I guess I'll pass on it then.
It's too bad...oscars were never exactly on my 'top-ten' in terms of looks, but when I took the time to really watch some at the LFS, I started wanting one. It was a 6-8" greyish/green one with red on it...swam right up to the front and seemed to 'interact' with me (whereas the others in the tank just kinda did their own thing).

Based on this and the comments I've read from folks who keep oscars, I'm really beginning to think that oscars are a lot like dogs...they pick you, you don't pick them, lol. It's true though, right?

As for those mbuna...not too shabby, Mo.
But I really just wanna stick with CA/SA for now and find something to eat reasonable-sized convict juvies. Maybe I'll just do as SinisterKisses says and "pull a BV" by keeping a lone male salvini (did you catch that, Matt? now you've gotta ban me! ) in there.

BV

 

[Lotus]

I think one day I'll get an African leaf fish for excess fry. They seem very cool to me, and don't need that large of a tank.

 

[SinisterKisses]

Well, I guess I'll pass on it then.
It's too bad...oscars were never exactly on my 'top-ten' in terms of looks, but when I took the time to really watch some at the LFS, I started wanting one. It was a 6-8" greyish/green one with red on it...swam right up to the front and seemed to 'interact' with me (whereas the others in the tank just kinda did their own thing).

Based on this and the comments I've read from folks who keep oscars, I'm really beginning to think that oscars are a lot like dogs...they pick you, you don't pick them, lol. It's true though, right?

As for those mbuna...not too shabby, Mo.
But I really just wanna stick with CA/SA for now and find something to eat reasonable-sized convict juvies. Maybe I'll just do as SinisterKisses says and "pull a BV" by keeping a lone male salvini (did you catch that, Matt? now you've gotta ban me! ) in there.

BV

HAH!

I would stay away from the O, too...partly because while they can live their lives in a HEAVILY overfiltered 55gal, I don't personally think they should have to. And mostly because I don't like oscars

Stick with the salvini. I don't know why you'd want an O over a sal anyway...sals are GORGEOUS, and not a dime a dozen like oscars are.

 

[Big Vine]

You're right...55 gal. is just pushing it. Would only be for 1-2 years until we get a house, but still...not really fair to the fish. Besides, someone over on CF was saying how theirs had a hard time catching con fry/juvies anyway...a salvini won't have that difficulty.

Stick with the salvini. I don't know why you'd want an O over a sal anyway...sals are GORGEOUS, and not a dime a dozen like oscars are.

Think a lone male (with dithers) would color-up much in there at all, or would he pretty much feel no threats to his dominance and therefore just stay a more drab coloration?

BV

 

[Big Vine]

I think one day I'll get an African leaf fish for excess fry. They seem very cool to me, and don't need that large of a tank.

Hehe...these are the ones you see them housing in with dwarf puffers at PetSmart all the time, right? They do look kinda cool too...I'll have to look into them as well. I have a feeling I'll go with salvini though---simply because I just can't seem to shake the idea of owning one in some capacity.

As morbid as it might sound, I think I would derive hours of enjoyment from watching even just a lone male sal eat various live-feeder items. I'd be able to keep my cons, have a steady means by which to dispose of their fry, and keep a salvini. Three birds with one stone, eh?

BV

 

[Lotus]

Hehe...these are the ones you see them housing in with dwarf puffers at PetSmart all the time, right?
BV

Yes, those are the ones.

Gotta love the Petsmart stocking plans... that way you always know how to tell someone where the fish are in their store.

 

[Katie217]

BV, I'm speachless!
I think BV needs to be put on MFT "time-out" (if we still even have that...) And he needs to keep the same fish for over a month! Common BV

 

[Big Vine]

Lol...I'm still keeping the same fish this time...just doing a little reshuffling, that's all. I'm moving out the cons and getting a male salvini---one male salvini...that's it. After all, I need something to eat the convict fry because my angelfish aren't big enough yet.

BV

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Another thing about 55gals is they suck for size....very narrow tanks.

 

[Big Vine]

Another thing about 55gals is they suck for size....very narrow tanks.

Yup, I should've saved up for a 75 gallon instead. Oh well.
At least the 55 gal. footprint I'm working with now will be sufficient for even a larger adult male salvini.

BV

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Should just get some Malawi/Tang predetors and watch them acctually hunt the fry....very entertaining and amazing.