Oscar's

Jan 13, 2008
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#1
Hi, I got a 55 gallon Fish tank and i was wondering if i could get an Oscar with my current Cichlids:
-Frontosa- yes i understand it should not be with the others, but as of right now they are all coexisting perfectly
-Male Kenyi
-Mpanga Red
-Yellow Lab
-Jewel
-Trewavas Red-Finned

2 not cichlids
-Red-Tailed Shark
-Ple*co
 

Last edited:

charls

Large Fish
Feb 22, 2006
165
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32
San Antonio, TX
#2
Depending on how large your jewl cichlid, red tailed shark, and the oscar are, there might be some confrintation. of course almost any fish that is smaller than the oscar he will chase it and possibly kill it. my oscar killed three or four of my cichlids but got along greet with others (big & small). also that tank might be overcrowded if you put that oscar in. But if you really want to put in the oscar it should be ok as long as the fish are larger than it or at least not much smaller.
 

SinisterKisses

Superstar Fish
Jan 30, 2007
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#4
Oh lordy. K, here we go ;)

First, a 75gal tank is too small for a frontosa adult, unless you plan to keep only the frontosa in the tank. That being said, Frontosa should be kept in groups, they live in colonies and are much more comfortable and happy that way. Frontosa colonies need at least a 6ft. tank. However, Frontosa should not be kept (solo or in colonies) with any of the fish you currently have living with it (except maybe the yellow labs, but that's pushing it). Frontosa are from Lake Tang, and require a much higher pH level and very, very hard water, much more so than any of the other fish. Also, Frontosa are very shy and timid fish, and the mbuna you have in that tank aren't a good match because of how aggressive and fast they are - the Front won't be able to compete for food forever, and you may give the poor guy a heart attack with the mbuna zipping around him ;) And lastly, Fronts easily reach 12" or bigger, and they will eat or try to eat anything they think they can fit in their mouths - which is pretty much every other current fish in the tank.

Moving on from the Frontosa, you have four mbuna in there - the lab, kenyi, trewavasae, and Mpanga. These fish are not suitable to live with an Oscar. Mbuna are from Lake Malawi, Oscars are South American. They have completely different water parameters for one thing. And yes, an Oscar will likely eat or kill most of the fish in the tank as it grows, as they stay much smaller than an O.

And lastly, even without taking consideration of how an Oscar shouldn't be mixed with the existing fish in your tank, based on room alone you couldn't fit an Oscar in there. Really, an adult oscar should have a 75gal tank to himself if you ask me, with maybe some dither fish (giant danios, silver dollars, etc) and/or plecos or large-ish catfish.
 

Jan 13, 2008
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#6
I understand your concern on the Frontosa, As of Right now he is about 6 inches all of my other fish are anywhere between 3-6 inches and they are all coexisting perfectly. I love my front and i plan on moving him out eventually, but as of right now i very much love him, and he is doing wonderful.

P.S. i decided to buy a 55 instead because my parents felt that a 55 gallon was big enough and i didn't have enough to buy a 75, therefore all of these fish are in a 55 gallon cichlid tank.
 

Jan 8, 2007
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corrupt lfs
#7
Not sure about an oscar, but besides the physical/behavioral issues already addressed....keeping one in a tank like that may ruin its appeal. I have a con in my mostly mbuna tank (jewel, pictus). It ended up in there while i was moving fish around over a year ago when it was the size of a quarter. Its 6 inches now, acts skittish and hides with the mbuna.
 

Orion

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
Feb 10, 2003
5,803
3
38
Kentucky
www.thefishcave.net
#8
It's not just one random persons concern about the Front, that's the way it is. If you want to make a healthy, well rounded tank then you need to get rid of the Front, and focus on the mbuna if mubuna are the fish you want to keep.

And no, an Oscar will not mix with this tank and the fish you have in it.
 

Jan 13, 2008
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#9
I have some good news for everyone, i have been thinking about it and i think that tonight after school i am going to give him up, as hard as it may be.
he will go to a happier home where he is not being terrized all the time.

Good By Front-:(
 

SinisterKisses

Superstar Fish
Jan 30, 2007
1,086
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#10
I know it sucks when it's a fish you're attached to, but you're definitely doing the best thing for him. I'm a firm believer that we are responsible for doing what's best for the fish, rather than what we want or what's best for ourselves, even though it's tough sometimes! You really are doing what's right, especially since a 55gal will be much too small for him as an adult!
 

Big Vine

Elite Fish
Feb 7, 2006
3,895
9
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Florida
#11
Absolutely, giving him up---although it wasn't easy---was your best bet.

About your oscar question...
I started out with my oscar in a 55 gal. tank, and he has since been moved to a 75 gal. tank. Judging by how much he has grown---and he's still nowhere near full-grown yet---I would not have wanted to keep him in a 55 gal. long-term...especially if he were to turn into a monster. Sure, he could probably 'squeak by' in a 55 gal., but it would be far from ideal...and an awful lot of maintenance work (water changes).

BV
 

marvin

Large Fish
Jul 7, 2007
264
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florida
#12
i am trying to figure out why a 12 inch oscar needs a five foot tank... i am looking at one of mine that is eight inches and he looks kinda small in a four foot 55ga and its not like they need a lot of swim room.... at 12 inches they kinda sit on the bottom a look around
 

Katie217

Superstar Fish
Jul 15, 2006
2,494
5
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Florida
#13
marvin...
just the fact that your oscar "kinda sit on the bottom and look around" tells me your doing something wrong. my oscar, is extremely active, and healthy and the only time i see him sitting on the bottom, is after a water change and hes upset.
 

marvin

Large Fish
Jul 7, 2007
264
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florida
#15
Who said anything about a 5 ft. tank?

BV
duh no one did but there were coments made about oscars needing 55 & 75 gal. tanks duh most 55' are 4 feet and a 75 is over that. duh i was just drawing a conversational picture. i am a therapist and that is what i do when working with adolescents
 

marvin

Large Fish
Jul 7, 2007
264
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florida
#16
marvin...
just the fact that your oscar "kinda sit on the bottom and look around" tells me your doing something wrong. my oscar, is extremely active, and healthy and the only time i see him sitting on the bottom, is after a water change and hes upset.
well dont think im doing any thing wrong because i have three that are reaching there life expediency but thanks for the guilt try...
 

alter40

Superstar Fish
Nov 26, 2007
1,293
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40
Charlotte, NC
#17
duh no one did but there were coments made about oscars needing 55 & 75 gal. tanks duh most 55' are 4 feet and a 75 is over that. duh i was just drawing a conversational picture. i am a therapist and that is what i do when working with adolescents
Marvin, you should really start trying to show a little more respect to the members of this forum. Your rudeness and attitude are getting a bit old. People come to this forum to ask for help or offer help with their aquariums and this is not the place to attack people. If you have opinions on matters in this forum there are ways to express those without putting people down or without bragging about your profession.

I don't know about others on this forum, but I for one find your behavior uncalled for and over the top. This is a friendly place and if you don't know how to have a conversation with someone without being friendly then just leave. I have tried to just keep my mouth shut about this but it seems every time that I see your name on here its you attacking another member of the forum. If you have any issues with what I said maybe you should take a look at the "Member Conduct" post at the top of every forum here or just click on this link - http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/freshwater-beginner-information-questions/announcements.html

Just my 2 cents!
 

Orion

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
Feb 10, 2003
5,803
3
38
Kentucky
www.thefishcave.net
#18
If you want to try to have a conversation that might/might not be controversial or that you know may well bring out emotions in people then it needs to be brought up as such and not sound like it might be a personal attack. I'm 100% for people thinking outside the norm, and taking time to think about different ways is always good for both the new and the old. But on the 'net, presentation is king.

But if you want to talk about standard sizes, yes a 55 gallon is 4' and so are 75's. Custom sizes come in any shape or size.
 

Jan 23, 2008
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#19
duh no one did but there were coments made about oscars needing 55 & 75 gal. tanks duh most 55' are 4 feet and a 75 is over that. duh i was just drawing a conversational picture. i am a therapist and that is what i do when working with adolescents
it looks like you could take alittle of the therapy urself (ill probably be kicked off for this but im sorry its the truth)its like your just on here to be a pain in the you know what