How many oscars can I put in a 55-75 gallons tank?

Question

I am new to oscars and I am thinking about getting 2albinos, 2 tiger, and 2red oscars. Will they all fit into a 55-75 gallon tank? Also how long should I cycle my tank prior to getting my oscars? And finally can I put pleckos in with my oscars to help with algae issues?

Answer 1

Well actually, a 75 gallon is suitable for one maybe with way overfiltration and frequent water changes, as in two 50% a week, two. Do not listen to the one inch per gallon rule. I applies to small slim fish under 3 or four inches. Considering an oscar will grow to 14 inches, it doesn't really aplly. At that size, proper stocking is an estimate, but I can tell you that two is the absolute maximum for permanent solution. For six I'd suggest a 180 gallon with wet-dry sump and like 15 times turnover.
Reshearch a fishless cycle and do it. It takes about two weeks and cost $0.99. See here http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861&hl=
Also, it depends on which pleco. Any small one will be fine. Just get a fairly large bristlenose or rubbernose pleco and you'll be ok. If u get a common or sailfin, those grow over two feet, and you will need to return it.

By the way, what idiot keeps a ten inch fish in a tank that's ten inches wide? God, I am not advertising the site, but for the good of your fish, go here http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?act=idx

And good luck trying to give away some huge oscars.

Answer 2

Unless these are shell dwelling cichlids, which are pretty much Africans at that, you shouldn't even have them in a 10 gallon tank. What is in that 10 gallon tank now? You will want to think of compatibility here as well. Normally, about the only thing you want to put an Oscar in a 10 gallon tank for, is to treat it with medications. They may be small now and would fit, but the growth rates do not make this an ideal situation. I would say you could, but not reccomended to do. Actually as I said, you can put a very young Oscar in the 10 gallon short term. That is not inaccurate, just appears to be unpopular. I believe the reasoning most people are saying don't as they are thinking two things. I believe people are picturing this large full sized adult Oscar, which you did not say you had or didn't have. I'm assuming you are buying a new young small one. Two, people sometimes fail to get the larger tank, and see hey, this guy looks like he's just fine in the 10, and leave him there, which you cannot do. The growth would end up stopping, externally, however, the internal organs would continue to grow causing a premature death if you left this fish in a 10 gallon tank. If you really will follow through on what you said, then the 10 gallon is an option for a small Oscar. However, the biggest thing to say yes, with certainty will be, WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN THERE NOW, and what is the size of the Oscar. Again, as I've already said, don't do this for any long period of time, maybe 4-6 weeks.

Answer 3

I have raised many oscars. Right now I have 6 3 1/2 inch oscars in an15 gallon tank. Soon I move them into a bigger tank. A lot of people will tell you only 1 in a 55 gallon or so many inces to a gallon but I have forund that initially you want to buy a group of at least 6. You can put all in the 55 gallon. Start out with 6 of only one kind of oscar. I at the moment I have 6 tiger oscars. Why 6? Oscars will live and be friendly with each other only in groups of 6 or more. With six you raise them awhile and get the benifit of having a small school of oscars to watch. And heres the kicker. After having these 6 for about 6-8 months you will notice that two of them will start hanging together and will take over one corner of the aquarium, this is a mated pair. Now you have a male and female oscar and you can sell or give the other 4 away. This is the only way to get a male and female pair . With haveing at least 6 to start with you are almost garaunteed to have at least one male and one female in the bunch. Then I would only put the two that have become mates in this 55 gallon tank. It will be enough room for both. In a year or two you can move up to a bigger tank if you want. And with having a mated pair you just might get some spawning and have some little baby oscars to enjoy. As far as cycling your tank. Don't worry about it. Oscars are like big puppy dogs. The are very very hardy fish and will soon cycle thier on new tank. Have two good large filters because they will produce more and more waste as they grow. If you get a gravel siphon and make 10-12 gallon water changes every 2 weeks your tank will stay pretty clean. I keep 5 empty milk jugs put away and I use these every 2 weeks to change 10-12 gallons of water out and put fresh water in. Remember to treat the new water with clorine drops to remove the clorine . As your Oscars get bigger and bigger any fish you put in with them that will fit in thier mouth they will eat. The algea issue can be dealt with by buying a algea scrubber at the pet shop and you can rub off any unwanted algea with it. Also don't put the tank in front of a window or in direct sunlight, if you do you will have more algea than you can deal with. Also algea drops work well to solve this problem. At the moment I have 5 two gallons, 2 fifty-five gallons , 1 fifteen gallon,1 twenty gallons tanks running, Most of my fish are cory cats and guppies and oh yeah my dog pound the 6 oscars.

Answer 4

Your tank is only large enough for one Oscar as these fish can grow to well over a foot in length.

You need to cycle the tank until it is cycled - this takes three -four weeks but you can speed it up if you can get used filter media from a healthy aquarium or can buy a refrigerated product called biospira.
You will need test kits for ammonia, nitrite & nitrate to monitor the cycle and it is cheaper to buy one of the mini master kits.
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=113
A pleco should be ok with one Oscar. Make sure it has some driftwood & don't expect it to survive on just algae. Sometimes an Oscar will decide he's not going to share but usually a pleco is ok.
Do research an Oscars needs before getting one - too many stores would have sold you six & then feeder fish (worst diet possible) and then meds to treat the illnesses resulting from poor diet & poor water quality which could easily be avoided by just getting one fish, cycling the tank and feeding a well balanced diet.

The tank won't look empty for long. Oscars can grow over an inch a month.

Answer 5

I have 2 14" Oscars in a 75. They have been in there since they were a dime size. A 75 will only hold 2 Oscars. They are very comfortable in their 75 gallon.

Answer 6

I would go with a 75 gallon tank. Set your tank up and let it run for a week. Put something hardy in there like Zebra fish for another 2 weeks and you will be set for Oscars. They are very hardy! Try to add them all at once so there won't be any territory issues. When you see algae grow in the tank and a Pleco......at least a 8 inch one.

Answer 7

75 Gal Tank

Answer 8

I would put no more than 2 adult in a 55. A 75 is wider and will hold probally four. In a smaller tank like those though you are going to nedd some pretty good filtration. Larger Plecos should be fine. Territory disputes will be your biggest worry.

Answer 9

I had 2 Oscars at one time in a 55 gal.as they grew, they fought

Answer 10

The general rule of thumb is one inch of fish per gallon of water. (For example: 10 one inch fish in a 10 gallon tank, or 1 ten inch fish) Cycle your tank as long as possible, at least a week but the longer the better. Put cheap feeder goldfish in your tank first to test the water, so you won't kill the more expensive oscars if your water is not ready. Also the pleco would have to be as big or bigger than the oscars. And that is still no guarantee with aggressive oscars!