Well just about done setting my 75 gallon tank back up, no current fish in it. I am going to be getting 2 Oscars just like I had before, but I can't think of a good bottom feeder to go with them. These will be the only 3 fish in the tank. When I orionally had the tank set up in VA I had a **** Channel Cat in there, which I didn't want but a friend forced me to take it (I ALREADY KNOW IT SHOULDN"T HAVE BEEN IN THERE SO DON"T TELL ME AGAIN!). Any way I moved back up to Ohio so had to break it all down. The Oscars I am going to purchase are going to be small, want to grow them up again. Any ideas on bottoms feeder? Thanks for any input....
Bottom feeders idea for Oscar tank
- Thread starter myersrj40
- Start date
I have a lace cat in with my oscar. He does a good job of cleaning up Gulp's mess. 
They are supposed to max. out around 7-8" so it's a nice "small" cat. You don't want to get anything that will grow too large because the 75 gallon will already be a slightly "crowded" tank when both oscars grow to full maturity (some recommend 40-50 gallons per oscar). Lace cats are also "pretty" cats, with nice spots and a big sail dorsel fin.
http://aquadex.info/fish/Synodontis_nigrita.cfm
Here's a pic of mine on his first day with Gulp:
Just be warned... If you give them a good cave, you will rarely see them. Or.....maybe mine is just afraid of the big 9" fish that keeps following him around when he comes out.
They are supposed to max. out around 7-8" so it's a nice "small" cat. You don't want to get anything that will grow too large because the 75 gallon will already be a slightly "crowded" tank when both oscars grow to full maturity (some recommend 40-50 gallons per oscar). Lace cats are also "pretty" cats, with nice spots and a big sail dorsel fin.http://aquadex.info/fish/Synodontis_nigrita.cfm
Here's a pic of mine on his first day with Gulp:
Just be warned... If you give them a good cave, you will rarely see them. Or.....maybe mine is just afraid of the big 9" fish that keeps following him around when he comes out.
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Stay away from any small catfish and especially the cory catfish. They have spiny fins and when a big fish tries to eat them they stick these fins out and they get caught int he big fish's throat. I have seen a few posts about this problem. Always choosea bottom feeder that is at least as big as the oscar.
The Lace Catfish is a great choice. Also, Clown Loaches work really well with my big Oscars and other large cichlids.
If you are going to start out with small oscars, I'd recommend a pictis (sp.) I have had excellent luch with them and they are an awesome looking fish that stays pretty active. If you get one about 3" long with your little oscars, they never seem to view him as food when they get big, and they top out at about 6" so they won't contribute greatly to crowding. I have also used iredescent sharks but they get big and usually aren't as exiting as they look in the pet store. I also once had a tiger Shovelnose, but they get huge, and are more of a predator than a vaccum cleaner.
A bristlenosed pleco would probably fit your bill well...they stay pretty small(under 6 inches) and seem to hold their own when bigger fish pick on them.