New Tank Set-Up?

Question

I was thinking on putting 3 Oscars, 3 Neon Tetras, and 2 Zebra Danios in a 20 Long tank.

Oscars are about 5 inches long.

Your input would be very thankful.

Yeah but the lady at the Pet Store that the fish would go very well together, Like a cat and cat nip...

The lady said that the 20 Long would be perfect for the fish that I was getting even when the Oscars are full grown (Oscars get about a max size of 4 inches)!!!

I meant Max of 5 inches.. Sorry

Answer 1

"SALES" lady is the key term in your question. Oscars that are about 3-4 inches will eat rosy-red minnows as feeders (1 1/2 to 2 inches long). They'll also get to around 14 inches (each) as adults and need a 75 or larger tank (each).

Skip the oscars, and you'll be fine, but the neons are schooling and should have 5-6 as a very minimum number. Same with the danios.

Answer 2

The lady at the pet store is full of ---- well, something. The adult size of an Oscar can be well over a foot,10" for sure.
If those fish go so well together make her demonstrate by putting the Oscars in the same tank as the Neons and Danios while they are still store property. The next morning the only thing in the tank will be well fed Oscars! Do a little research,Oscars will eat anything that they can get into their mouths. It's not that they are bad fish,they are predators.
In a 20 gallon tank, on a diet of Danios and Neons they would quickly grow too large for this size tank. A single Oscar really needs a minimum tank of 55 gallons.
I'd expect the fish seller to tell you that a fish will only get as large as the tank will allow,and on the surface this is true,however this is due to the fish being cruelly stunted for lack of clean water and growing space. It is not a benign phenomenon,it's just cruel.
Please,don't take my word for it,do some research into the requirements of all of these fishes and you will see for yourself.

Answer 3

The other fish wont be around long with the oscars in there. I wouldnt put 3 oscars in a 20g tank unless they are very small and you plan on upgrading to a bigger tank in the next 1-2 months. Oscars grow fast and get very big! I have 2 in a 55 g tank for now. They are still pretty small though. The guidelines say 1 fish per gallon of water or 1 inch of fish per gallon of water. I would buy a much larger tank for the oscars is you already have them. If not dont buy them untill you can get a large tank. Oscars love live food and at 5 in long they should be eating feeder fish. If you put the other fish in with them thats what they will become, feeder fish. Hope I could help

EDIT: sorry but they lady at the pet store was just tring to make a sell! Oscars get bigger than 5in. I have seen them as long as 10 inches. And thats not even a huge one. If you really want oscars Id suggest going to google.com and looking up oscar fish. You shouldnt always trust what the pet store says. Most of the people that work there are only trained a few days in each department and are put out on the floor with out the proper knowledge of fish keeping

Answer 4

If I were you, I'd call the store and demand to speak with the owner. The saleswoman you spoke with is setting you up for disaster. Whether she realizes it or not is another matter. The store owner needs to be aware that his/her staff is giving bad advice to [potential] customers and if they know what's good for them, they'll hire more knowledgable staff members or incorporate a comprehensive study course for all new hires before letting them loose on the sales floor.

I hope you haven't purchased these fish yet because this set up just won't work out. If you take the oscars out of the equation, it would be a lovely tank. Perhaps live plants and more neons and danios.

If you still want oscars, invest in a large tank for them and any tankmates will have to be bigger than bite-size for the oscars. In all likelihood, it would end up being an oscar-only tank. Oscars are great fish, but they're not community fish.

Answer 5

VERY bad move!! Oscars will eat anything they can fit in their mouths. Three neons are probably okay with the danios, but since the neons are schooling fish, I wouldn't recommend less than six or eight. Also, I think the ratio of fish to tank size would be very off kilter with those large Oscars. Skip the Oscars and just put in the danios and the neons.

Answer 6

oscars need 55 gallonsper fish. most say even more than that. so unless you have a 150 gallon tank then dont put them in there.

if you like neons do a school of 10 and about 5 zebra danios, maybe a few cory catfish for the bottom. and thats about max.

Answer 7

The oscars will eat all the other fish and then they will out grow the tank. you need about 70 gallons or more for 3 oscars.

Answer 8

All oscars grow 12"+, the lady at the pet store lied to you so she could make money. Keeping 1 oscar in a 20gl is very cruel, do your research next time so you don't get fooled.

Answer 9

u mean 15 inches. i feed my Oscars danios and neons

Answer 10

The Oscars cant be mixed with other fish. They will eat them.