How fast does it take Oscars to grow?

Question

About 6 months ago I bought 2 oscars. One looks like a tiger oscar and one looks like a albino oscar. The albino has grown 4 times it's original size while the other one has barely grown at all. They both seem healthy. I put in a tank seperater because the albino was chasing the little one. I just want to know how long it takes for this little guy to catch up with the other one. Any suggestions.

The tank is a 55 gallon. The last person to own it raised two oscars from babies in it to adulthood. When I bought it from him there was only 1 oscar left. I hand feed them both and the little guy even has guppies on his side. He has eaten some of them.

I tell you how aggresive my albino is. He ate my pleco who was 4 times bigger then the albino.

Answer 1

What size tank are they in? Often times if two oscars are kept in to small of a tank the Dominant oscar will continue to grow but the passive oscar will stunt and slowly begin to die. For 2 oscars you'll need at least 75 gallons but more is always better.

Answer 2

The tiger has not grown because the albino became the dominant fish in the tank. Two is not a good number for oscars, you should really buy 6-8. That way the agression is spread out and one fish does not suffer. With two, one will always become the agressive dominant fish.

It did not let the tiger eat when you fed them and the only food it got were the scraps that the albino missed. Now that one is much bigger than the other, they can never be housed together again because the albino will kill the tiger.

Even though there is a partition, the dominant fish is releasing hormones into the water that will prevent the smaller one from ever catching up in the size department. The only way to get the smaller one to grow is to put him in a separate tank. One oscar needs a 55 gallon tank to be housed properly.

An oscar will grow about an inch a month (up to about 15 inches) if it is fed the proper diet and regular weekly water changes of 30-40% are done religiously. They are dirtier than normal fish and put a larger than usual bio-load on any system.

Oscars are carnivores and need a high protein (around 40-45%) diet. Do not start them on live feeder fish, the feeders are known for bringing parasites and diseases into home aquariums.

I kept five oscars in a 125 gallon tank for a few years and fed them high quality, high protein dog food pellets. They were quite happy and healthy the whole time I owned them. Oscars can live up to 15 years and beyond with good care.

They are prone to HITH (hole in the head) disease if you don't keep their water fresh and clean and give them good quality food.

They are trainable and can be touched, petted and hand fed if you take your time teaching them and don't make quick moves while touching and feeding them.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Dont listen to theres people when they say a oscars need so much space. People say one oscar needs 55-75 gallons, but this is a load of crap. I have been able to successfully been able to have two oscars in a 29 gallon aquarium who have been able to live long, healthy lives. I have done this multiple times, with jack dempsys too.The trick is you must make sure you have a female and male before anything. This is hard to tell but you must make sure! It sounds like you oscars are both males, but when they are large enough to where they cant eat eachother, you have to see if they can be around each other. Try feeding the little guy brine shrimp. This has a much higher protein level and will make him grow faster. Now it sounds like your albino is actually growing more abnormally than the tiger. Six months they should grow 2-3 times their size and with females it is even slower. My tiger oscar is just over 12 months and has grown about 5 times his original size. I have had my albino for about 4 months and has grown about twice her size. It all really depends on how much food they get. Make sure you dont over feed them. A young oscar only needs about 4 pieces of brine shrimp per day. Do not overfeed, they will not stop!! And once the tiger is big enough, REMOVE THE DIVIDER!! This is one of the worst things you can have in a cichlid tank. Hope these tips help!!

Answer 4

Tiger Oscar Growth Rate

Answer 5

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RE:
How fast does it take Oscars to grow?
About 6 months ago I bought 2 oscars. One looks like a tiger oscar and one looks like a albino oscar. The albino has grown 4 times it's original size while the other one has barely grown at all. They both seem healthy. I put in a tank seperater because the albino was chasing the little one. I...

Answer 6

Oscars grow very quickly,but the difference in growth rates may have to do with the length of time the fish were in the cramped tanks in the pet store,the smaller one may be the older of the two, but stunted. This would account for the slower growth rate. The divider is probably a good idea especially until the little one starts growing,but it will only be a temporary solution,because one of them will eventually knock it down. I hope you have a very large tank,70 or 80 gallons is about the minimum for two adult Oscars. Good luck,PeeTee

Answer 7

They grow fast, but you should be ok till October. Only thing, they put out a lot of waste, and are very messy eaters. Don't overfeed them, and you need to do water changes geez, I'd say every 3-4 days of at least 25-30%. The tanks too small for them, as you're obviously aware, and the ammonia & nitrates will build up quickly. Another thing you'll need to watch until you get the bigger tank, they may start getting aggressive with one another because of the lack of space. Just keep an eye on them. One last thing, you didn't mention it but I know most people like to do it, don't feed them live fish. 1. Live fish can spread diseases to them, because they're usually "feeder goldfish", and not as well cared for. 2. It doesn't provide the right nutrients for them. 3. It's messier then pellets-causing the tank to be dirtier. 4. If you ever decide to switch to a different food, they're very likely to not accept that, because they like the fish. So stick to pellets, flakes, blood worms, beef heart, worms, crickets, etc. Make sure to vary their diet. Good luck!

Answer 8

Both fish are the same species. For the same reason that one puppy is always the "pick of the litter," one fish will lawys be larger or smaller than its brethren in the clutch.

Oscars, like most CA/SA cichlids, will grow like wildfire. If one is smaller, feed him more often during the day, maybe introduce a powerhead to make him work a little. Ultimately genes will determine the outcome.

Answer 9

They usually grow very fast. 1 will easily outgrow a 30 gallon in about 1 month and a half. By the time they are 2 1/2 -3 months old you need 50 gallons for each fish.

Maybe the tank is too small and maybe that's why one isn't growing as fast?

Answer 10

how big of a tank do ya got, i have 5 tanks of fish and learned all on my own about how to raise em , and i learned quickly that you gotta have plenty room for them to grow, try a larger aquarium.