Oscar Tank Size and Growth Rate

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icefish

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Aug 3, 2003
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I have a 46 gallon bow front tank and I'm considering getting a pair of Oscars.

Is this tank big enough?

Tha batch of Oscars currently at my LFS are about 2" long. How fast will they grow if well fed?

The existing substrate is gravel, and I have some largish pieces of lace rock too. Are these okay for Oscars?

Thanks!

(BTW the tank is unpopulated due to the complete wipeout of my community tank last week caused by a power failure while I was away)
 
not sure about the oscars, but if the tank stays empty (i.e. no source of ammonia) for more than a few days, it will most likely re-cycle when you add fish.

i thought a pair of oscars would need more room than that eventually, but someone else will know for sure...
 
2 Oscars right now will be fine. Eventually though, as they get bigger, (and I'm not sure when, but I'm guessing at least a year,) they will become aggressive toward each other, and one may be killed. Of course, they may mate too. However, it is impossible to sex an Oscar without Dissection, so don't count on picking out a male and female at the fish store.

I have two small Oscars, 2 large Tinfoil Barbs, 2 Red Jewels, A gar and 2 large african clawed frogs in my 45 Gallon... and as Cichlids are many times more concerned with floor space than actual gallons, (although that matters too,) a bowfront should be good...I believe a bowfront gives you more floor area? If not, I stand corrected...
 
A 45gal tank will not hold a pair of oscars for a year. Your 2" long oscars will grow about an inch a month until they hit around 8"... oscars are messy eaters and produce a lot of waste. I would take a guess that the minimum tank size for a mature pair of oscars would be 90gals...with lots of filtration and maybe up to 2 waterchanges a week!
 
yea agree with DARTHV that you will need at least 90 and more like 125g. and get an ehiem filter for that size tank and you shule be fine, but the bow front wont hold them for that long!
 
Agree with Tightdog and DarthV. Oscars will get to 12" big. 46g will not be enough for even one Oscar. An Oscar possibly can live in that 46g tank for half year, then you need to upgrade.
 
Master of the Hills, I just would like to state that you also will run into trouble very soon. You state 2 large Tinfoil Barbs. What do you consider large? They do grow up to a foot in captivity! Not to mention the 10" Oscars or the Gar which can reach over 26" depending on the species.
 
ROCKETMAN and ICEFISH you both wil need a much larger tank in the coming months/years if you decide to do this. ROCKETMAN you will need a larger tank soon! the bow front does give more floor space but not that much. you will need probably 125g unless some of your fish are killed by other fish in the tank. just warning you tho, be careful both of you, bkuz overstocked tanks suck trust me, look at my signature.
 
Does anyone here have a 125?

Take one oscar back. One oscar will be okay in your tank. Provided you are moving five hundred gallons per hour in filtration and do a fifty per cent water change weekly.
 
Yeah TightDog, I know I need a larger tank. I don't plan on having those Oscars too long.

The Gar I have, (a needlenose,) is one I can't find much info on. But from what I've heard, he doesn't get as long as some other Gar species, such as an Alligator Gar.

The Two Tin Foils are, maybe...6 inches?

In the future, the problem I think I'll have to worry about is the Jewels and Oscars...they're both Cichlids, and in a few months will be large enough to rough around those Tin Foils. The 45 Gallon is actually my Mom's tank, although she knows nothing about fish. Basically, she buys the fish and I clean up after them - and her. I'm planing on moving the Red-Tailed Black Shark soon, but as he is semi-aggressive, am still debating whether I should keep him in the 45G or move him into a 60G community. In the 45G, he may be prey, however in the 60G he may be predator. I just can't decide.

Basically, the 45G is on a terminal course...in a few months it will all hit bottom and need some major sorting-out. The best idea would (of course) be the addition of another tank....

Whew, there was some hijacking. Disregard all that...
 
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