Tropical Fish Forums

[Arowe]

how many oscars can I keep in a 180 liter tank along with some other cichlids the oscars are fairly small the biggest is about 6in and the others arnt any where close to her size. in total I have four oscars I didn't think before I got them.they were all so beautiful as small fish and then they grow in to monsters but still,great fish no matter how much trouble that they make in your tank.

[diademhill]

Sorry Arowe but your tank isn't large enough for even one Oscar.

What are the other cichlids please?


Sue

[MakoShrk]

I have a brand new oscar, about 3 inches long. Beatuful white fish with gold/orange marbling. I currently have him in a 3 gallon temporary tank, and I was wondering how long I can safely keep him there before moving him to a bigger tank?

[nikelodeon79]

A three gallon tank is no place for an oscar, even for a very short period of time. So, the answer to your question is zero hours, zero days, and zero months.

Please either get your oscar a suitable tank or return him to the store.
_________________
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Mbuna

[MakoShrk]

OK then. Luckily, he only has to be there till Thursday, when I get the 29 gallon tank running properly.

[luv_my_cichlids]

I have a question about lighting in an oscar tank. I've read that oscars feel more at home in subdued lighting. The tank 77gal or over I'm planning on purchasing will have fluorescent lighting. My lsf carries hagen lights and I'm not sure what kind would make my oscar more comfortable. For example, there's the flora-glo (The light it creates tends to be more in the yellowish range), then there's the power-glo, marine-glo (more in the blue spectrum I think). I think there are more types too. What do you think would be best for an oscar tank?

Thanks

[MCHRKiller]

Luv: Really unless you have live plants its not going to make that much diffrence. Whatever bulb comes with your fixture will be perfectly fine, I would however steer away from the marine bulb as it may cause some excess algae growth. Oscars IME do prefer subdued blackwater style conditions...hence the bulbs on my 150G are wrapped up in black electrical tape. They look like a black and white candy cane

Mako: I would strongly suggest you buy some bio-spira or similar pre-packaged benefitial bacteria as its never a good plan to cycle with fish in general much less a fish that is sometimes finiky about its water conditions such as an oscar. Also please note that a 29G tank is by no means a lifelong tank for an oscar...its a mear grow out for a few months tops. Before investing in something that your only going to need to ditch in a couple of months anyway...Id suggest you go as large as you absolutly can. If the 29G is it then an oscar simply isnt the fish for you. If you could only obtain a 40G breeder or 50G tank that would be a much better alternative...these tanks offer 3ft lengths and 18" widths. They arent the best homes for an oscar, but I do understand these fish are very marketed and 90% of oscar owners do not house them in the 75G+ tanks they really should be in...the 40Gbreeder or 50G is a workable tank size for the fish. Much better IMO than the standard 55G which has a 12" width...but any tank larger than that 3G or even 29G is going to be a blessing to that fish

[MakoShrk]

Well, it's thursday, and my new 40gal tank is up and running...I'll be moving my oscar in this evening. He'll be much happier, I do believe.

[number6]

[luv_my_cichlids]