Is a 55gal tank enough for 1 oscar? And will one oscar be happy alone?
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Oscars info?
TheBigEasy- Elite Member
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Cam- Global Moderator
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My opinion personnaly is that an Oscar would be better housed
in a 75gal due to the size they are capable of reaching and
the bio-load they create due to their messy nature,..You could
house a solo Oscar in a 55gal as long as you have very good
filtration,..frequent water changes are a must, these guys
are sensitive to poor water and are affected easily by it.
Keep in mind, these guys reach lengths of 12-16''s,..55gal
is 48x12''s,..
in a 75gal due to the size they are capable of reaching and
the bio-load they create due to their messy nature,..You could
house a solo Oscar in a 55gal as long as you have very good
filtration,..frequent water changes are a must, these guys
are sensitive to poor water and are affected easily by it.
Keep in mind, these guys reach lengths of 12-16''s,..55gal
is 48x12''s,..
TheBigEasy- Elite Member
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my filter is rated 625gph. I normally do water changes every sunday on my other tanks. I guess i have time to think about it.
cichlidlover27- Forum Moderation Team
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I got to agree with Cam here. I have a couple of my oscars in 55 gallon tanks and there fine although a 75 would make a real nice home for a oscar and maybe something like a jack dempsey thats what I got in my 75. 55 gallon is bare minimum for one oscar my oldest oscar is in a 55 and has been in there for about 6 years now. I think the biggest oscar I have seen in a petstore was a cat hair over a foot in length. with oscars you will need 10x turn over rate so if you have a 55 gallon then you will need 550 gallons per hour thats if your using hang on back filters. with canister filter you would need 3x turnover rate.
I believe if you get a oscar you will love them there real smart. I have had alot of fish so far and the oscar has stuck with me. I believe there great fish to have and they can live up to 15-20 years pending you take care of them, although 12-15 is more common. anyhow best wishes with them
I believe if you get a oscar you will love them there real smart. I have had alot of fish so far and the oscar has stuck with me. I believe there great fish to have and they can live up to 15-20 years pending you take care of them, although 12-15 is more common. anyhow best wishes with them
Cam- Global Moderator
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Absolutely! 55g is do~able for a solo Oscar, and at 11.5 times
turn over rate/hr, filtration will not be an issue:) I can't help
wondering if an Oscar will ever reach it's full potential in a
55g though,..imagine a 12-16'' fish making regular turns in a
12'' wide tank,..just something to think about,..
turn over rate/hr, filtration will not be an issue:) I can't help
wondering if an Oscar will ever reach it's full potential in a
55g though,..imagine a 12-16'' fish making regular turns in a
12'' wide tank,..just something to think about,..
cichlidlover27- Forum Moderation Team
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Cam wrote:Absolutely! 55g is do~able for a solo Oscar, and at 11.5 times
turn over rate/hr, filtration will not be an issue:) I can't help
wondering if an Oscar will ever reach it's full potential in a
55g though,..imagine a 12-16'' fish making regular turns in a
12'' wide tank,..just something to think about,..
yeah your right, that is true and like you already stated a 75 would be a better foot print alot more wider for the fish to turn and move and stuff and the bioload would be easier to cope with. I know the thing with oscars are they grow real real fast the first year and then after that they slow down on growing so if someone was to keep one in a 55 they could keep it for a good while before ever having to upgrade to a 75. although some keep them in a 55 for life. mine has been in a 55 for about 6 years now but hes got room to move and stuff.
TheBigEasy- Elite Member
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Decided against the oscar, as much as i want one, i dont want to cramp him at all. Thanks for the good info.
cichlidlover27- Forum Moderation Team
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yeah,
I see so now what are your plans for the tank?
I see so now what are your plans for the tank?
TheBigEasy- Elite Member
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not sure, its almost too small for most cichlids, or too big. lol. I guess i can try a few different smaller cichlids in there. I wanted to get 1 or 2 cichlids with a boat load of personality. Or I am gonna put a Red belly piranha in there. I kinda want a catfish too. Something that wont outgrow the tank though. Oh, so many choices, and so much time before cycling is done. lol
cichlidlover27- Forum Moderation Team
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Hey,
a Jack Dempsey would look amazing in there. I know u were talking about the electric blue dempsey but a regular dempsey would look sweet as well. I will post some pics up im sure you will like mine hes real pretty. I got him from a guy who didnt take care of him. I like catfish too there real real nice I guess its totally what you like and stuff.
a Jack Dempsey would look amazing in there. I know u were talking about the electric blue dempsey but a regular dempsey would look sweet as well. I will post some pics up im sure you will like mine hes real pretty. I got him from a guy who didnt take care of him. I like catfish too there real real nice I guess its totally what you like and stuff.
Cam- Global Moderator
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Best way for me is just a trip to some fish stores, you'll
know it when you see it. Don't overlook the common ones,..
like this Green Terror,..just about everything you could want
in an aggressive cichlid,..cheap too
Heres another readily avail cichlid my daughter keeps,..Sciaenochromis Ahli
Check out this thread to links of some Amazing looking Haps,.
http://www.aggressivepredatorsunited.com/cichlids-old-and-new-world-f28/starting-an-african-cichlid-aquarium-t347.htm
know it when you see it. Don't overlook the common ones,..
like this Green Terror,..just about everything you could want
in an aggressive cichlid,..cheap too
Heres another readily avail cichlid my daughter keeps,..Sciaenochromis Ahli
Check out this thread to links of some Amazing looking Haps,.
http://www.aggressivepredatorsunited.com/cichlids-old-and-new-world-f28/starting-an-african-cichlid-aquarium-t347.htm
cichlidlover27- Forum Moderation Team
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Yeah I would just go browse your local fish stores. Green Terror are nice fish but they can get real big as well some as big as oscars if not bigger depending on there sex. males can get up to 10-12 inches while females are around 7-9 I think you could get by with it though as Cam stated and GT's are amazing fish. I use to have a couple back in the day.
Cam- Global Moderator
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No, GT's don't get bigger than Oscars Shaun,..
cichlidlover27- Forum Moderation Team
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well maybe not get bigger but some can get the size as oscars is what I meant. check out this site, males can get up to a foot long and I have seen them here atleast a foot in size http://www.aquascapeonline.com/prodview.asp?idproduct=250
Cam- Global Moderator
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Oscars grow 12 to 16''s if not housed in a 55g,..
cichlidlover27- Forum Moderation Team
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yeah the biggest oscar I have seen at a fish store was maybe 13 inches tops. I would say yeah maybe one could get huge like that if he had a huge tank to roam. I know lots of people that does keep oscar there whole life in a 55 gallon although I would say for sure a 75 for one to be honest about it. I am a member over on www.oscarfish.com been over there for quite a few years now actually every since I got my first oscar.
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Very nice forum indeed Shaun!!!
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