Tropical Fish Forums

[Huntress]

If you want to put silver dollars in with the oscar I'd go for a 75 or 90g minimum. Also, for clean up a rubber mouth pleco should be OK while the oscar is small. Both the oscar and the pleco poop a lot no matter what species of pleco you get.

I would make sure that the gph on your filter is at least cycling the tank 15 times an hour. You'll probably need 2 HOB filters. Don't go with a UGF because oscars dig and dig and love to rearange furniture so no pointy things or sharp edged plants. I would keep the tank bare except for maybe a couple of amazon swords or an ozelot sword. The oscar may or may not trash those plants. Oscars must live in high quality water.

Also, get a heater protector for your heater. I cannot emphasise this enough. They are little plastic things that go over the heater so fish don't fry themselves or break it. My brother in law had this cantancerous beast of an oscar who beat the crap out of the heater every time she got. My favorite critter by far she was. She ended up busting 3 of them before my BIL got a protector. She ended up dying from hole in the head, but that's another story.

You must do major waterchanges with heavy gravel vaccuming every week 2 at the most. Poor water conditions will contribute to hole in the head disease and once your fish gets that you'll be treating it forever. It's a real pain.

My favorite oscars are the regular tiger kind or red oscars. I had a show quality red before I moved here to TX andhe was my baby. Played with toys and begged for food and bit me once or twice but I didn't care. One of the things he loved to play with was when I used the Mag Float on the glass. Kept ramming the thing. It was hilarious.

I think I've covered everything.
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[ultra]

OK thanks for the info huntress.

Iv heard about hole in the head diesease, do a lot of oscars get it?

What can I feed it as a staple food?

[Huntress]

HITH is a common disease for cichlids living in poor conditions. Basically it's aparasite that lives in the head and becomes "active" in dirty water. That's the short version LOL I'm not really sure why but I know the what and the how.

I fed my oscar Hikari gold cichlid pellets. Actually it's the same thing I feed my angels right now. Supplemented with beefheart (frozen), freeze dried krill, freeze dried tubifex worms, frozen bloodworms, feeders once a month LOL and just about anything he could fit in his mouth. he even was fed spiders and other large bugs. cleaned live earthworms. The possibilities are endless LOL

http://www.angelsplus.com/g/pastefood.htm

Here's a link for a good recipe to make your own food.

HTH
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"Feminae bene moratea historiam raro faciunt"

[Badfrog]

You've gotten good answers to most of your questions, lemme chime in on the few that (I think) got missed...

[shaydawg0279]

I think most oscars are so prone to hole-in-the-head because they are becoming to inbreed. I've seen people take great care of oscars and they still end up in bad shape. A sad part of the hobby.

[Lynsey]

Silver dollars are excellent tankmates for Oscars if you have a big enough tank.

[anubisscott]

Yeah, HITH is a bad disease. Lets just remember that its cause from parasites and poor water conditions. There are actually people who think the electronic waves from the heater cause it, which is totally FALSE. Just make sure water is clean and feeders are healthy and you'll be fine. Also, research and find pics of it. The sooner you spot it, the sooner you treat it, the easier it is to get rid of. Stress Coat, some type of Parasite care and Bacteria care(to keep bacteria from infecting it which is comon with it), and a good Gravel Vac will be your best friends. Good Luck
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[ultra]

Thanks for the info everyone,

so how would this setup sound?:

90gallon tank

1 oscar
1 plec (what kind?)
5 silver dollars (is there anything else that would be suitable? just to bring in some colour)

Filtration: at least 1350gph (what would be the best filter/filters?> no AC's or emporers or penguins because they are not available in the UK)

Planting: Lots of bogwood with java fern

Food: Hikari cichlid gold pellets, supplemented once a week with either bloodworm, beef heart or krill.

Maintenance: 50% w/c and gravel vac once a week.

Lighting: 2 wpg (too high?)

Temperature: 26 degrees celcius.

[ultra]

well maybe a 30% - 40% w/c, lol I forgot it was 90gallon.

[SLACkra]

I don't know much about oscars but I know that if you aren't going to have plants you will be fine with anything from .5wpg to 3wpg. 1wpg would probably be good for viewing.