We've decided on a red oscar

[thoughtprocess]

Hello All,
We've decided on a red oscar for our 55 gallon tank. But, I'm still recieving conflicting information on thier compatibility. Could any one give me advice, to suitable tank mates for a baby red oscar. I'd be raising all of them from very small sizes. We already decided to move our bala shark into the 55, what else would be good, we like alot of color.
Thanks for all your advice so far

 

[SoulFish]

if you want color get african cichlids and sell the balas and dont get oscars, if you want the oscar and the bala get a 100 gallon, 55 gallon is too small for an oscar and/or a bala shark

 

[Jawz]

To explain Soulfish's message heres a pattern ud likely see

Bala with new oscar-nothin
Bala has a few nipped fins but doin ok
Bala little more nipped not swimming freely as normal
Bala missing more fins acward swimming/hiding
Bala having troubles swimming
Bala dead on the gravel bed...possibly eatin

 

[thoughtprocess]

If my bala shark isn't compatible, what would be?

 

[Tras]

Your Oscar is going to quickly outgrow that bala. The likely result has been posted above. I would suggest either a bottom-feeder of some sort to facilitate removal of the large amount of waste food that will be present. Perhaps 1 or 2 Pictus might be a good idea (this is still a gamble) or maybe a pleco. Resist the urge to fill the aquarium with too many fish, though. I can personally guarantee that you will enjoy a happy, healthy Oscar, even if it's the sole inhabitant of your tank.

 

[ecotank]

My red oscar (my he rest in peace) got to be well over 14 inches in a 65gal setup, other than a pleco that will grow at about the same rate, everything else just becomes oscar food at one point or another. Great fish, but they do get big, and do eat anything they can get in thier mouths.