I have a 562 gallon pond. Oscars?

[SuperTrooper]

I recently built a 5' long, 5' wide, and 3' deep wooden above ground pond that I can set indoors. If 7.5 gallons goes into a 1' cube, then this pond is about 562.5 gallons. I currantly have the basics for it. Thick pond liner, 4330 gph pump, home made filter, and a home made lid.


This was suppost to be for holding pan fish or trout that I could raise and eat, but I have become interested in using it for pets instead. As Oscars are pretty entertaining, that is my first choice.


My questions:


Should I use gravel?

Should I use water plants?

How many Oscars could fit?

What are the most aggressive Oscars that I could legally get in the USA but still live with multiple # of it's own kind?

What should I feed them? I've heard that feed fish arn't a great food source and may spread sickness.

Is my currant gear enough?




To sum it up, I just want to know how many and the best gear to get so these Oscars can live long lives. Advice on care would be liked as well.


*celebrate

 

[Toyman321]

Well I am no oscar expert but I will try to throw in my 2 cents until someone else chimes in....

Yes you probably should use gravel.

I havnt seen too much in the way of live plants in Oscar tanks, also you would need a massave lighting fixture for the plants to survive and be healthy.

You will need a heater for the pond.

You are correct about the live food... Hole In The Head (HITH) is a common problem with Oscars that have been fed live foods.

 

[Managuense]

What are the most aggressive Oscars that I could legally get in the USA but still live with multiple # of it's own kind?

oscars really dont fill the "aggressive" description as much as they do the "large and eat everything" description.

can i make a suggestion for you?

of all of the larger cichlids out there that you could keep in a pond, the most suited are proably texas cichlids.

after some physiology testing that i read on another forum, some scientists figured out that texas cichlids can handle temperatures lower than any other cichlid! this obviously makes them good candidates for keeping them in outdoor ponds.

below 55F though, you would still need a heater or to transfer them indoors over the winter season....but this all depends upon how you set up your pond though.

what is your location?

 

[Managuense]

ahh crap, i now realize that you meant to keep them indoors....in that case you can really keep whatever you want.

HITH is believed by most oscar keepers (in the last 10 years anyway) to be caused by high nitrates over long periods of time, as well as vitamin deficiency. the "hexamita" idea has been tested and disproven by most oscar and discus breeders, who believe that the hexamita are present with HITH on an opportunistic basis, and are not the actual "cause" of the disease.

freqeunt water changes and a good staple diet of pellets and all sorts of insects will keep oscars healthy as can be.

occasional feedings of live fish are "ok", but are not necessary and can introduce disease into your tank (pond).

oscars mainly eat invertebrates in the wild, so NOT feeding them live fish wont hurt them in the least.

www.oscarfish.com is a great site for the species in general, and many people there have kept them in ponds who can offer you help on stocking levels.

HTH ......not to be confused with HITH