Wilson - 2014-03-12 Okay well I have a 100 gal fish tank with a 7-8 in tiger Oscar and a breeding pair of jaguar cichlids, a gar and a convict and a red tail catfish. The Oscar ran the tank until about a few days ago I started to see that the Oscar was acting different. He didn't swim much anymore which he was very active before. The male jaguar and he will flare out at each other, never fight but now the Oscar is just acting terrified. Should I get rid of the female jaguar to calm Jim down? Or what should I do? Also my baby Jack Dempsey which was active at all times stop being active? What's going on? :/
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Jasmine Brough Hinesley - 2014-03-13 Hmm, maybe your tankmates are just starting to become more aggressive and territorial. As they get older and/or ready to mate they sometimes will become more aggressive. It might be a good idea to remove the one jaguar cichlid and see how the other fish react. Maybe that will change the dynamics of the tank in a positive way. Are there plenty of hiding places as well? I would make sure there are lots of plants and other distractions where the fish can go.
Bryan - 2014-04-11 Your tank is WAY overstocked. An Oscar, gar, and red tail catfish are going to get HUGE.
Rick McCloy - 2014-10-19 I suspect that your problem comes down to your mannies now breeding, which greatly increases both their territoriality, and level of aggression. This will happen later with your J.D.s as well, if they form a pair. You will have to address it by keeping any breeding pairs in separate tanks of adequate size; your jaguars will need alot more space than will a pair of JDs. Although much smaller than I would like, I suggest that you keep the mannie pair in their current tank, and keep the oscar, and only one JD in a tank of about 135g. You can add one of the smaller plecs to this, or 2-3 striped raphael cats, which are basically indestructible, and remain at a manageable size.----rick
some fish lover! - 2009-11-28 I have two oscars, two red belly pacus, two jack dempseys, one black banded leporinus, one pufferfish, and one pleco in a ten gallon tank and they are doing fine! The oscars will eat anything that can fit in their mouth. Happy fish keeping!
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Dsgsd - 2011-11-11 I sincerely hope you have something along the lines of a 900 gallon tank for when EVERY SINGLE FISH IN THAT TANK OUTGROWS IT!
Trevor - 2014-08-09 Please tell me that you're joking.
Pascal - 2009-06-02 I have always loved oscars since I was a young boy. My first oscar was a wild one caught in Miami FL. I was fishing with my brother and I caught a two inch baby with a net. I yelled to my brother "I caught a Oscar" I didn't know they had them in cannals in DADE COUNTY in 1984. I kept it in a bucket till I was to return to New York two days later. To make a long story short. I kept Tucco for 12 year and he grew to thirteen inches and lived in a 29gl, 55gl, 75gl tank. He was not all that colorful but full of sponk. He never bit me nor did he have any tankmates but everyday after school and work he would be so happy to see me or the food I was to give him and this went on for years, even when I moved out of my parents home. He never got sick cause I never fed him live foods only cichlid pellets or sticks. Oscars are a wonderful pet if you are willing to give them what they need and don't fall for the "they got to eat gold fish" thing. Tell the truth I always wanted to give Tucco goldfish but I was always scared he would get some sickness and I would lose my pet. I would get teased by my brother about this but tucco was mine and I raised him and he was my responsibility. I chose to take Him from his home in FL and bring him to NYC in a cooler even though my Dad said "he would die before we even got to VA". Tucco proved him very wrong. All in All if you have the time to raise an Oscar, wild or store bought, do it right. Feed it, water changes, stay away from live foods. You will have a very healthy pet and one that will in my opinion love you dearly for it. Oh and Tucco never had HITHD or any other sickness. Just fat and happy. R.I.P. Tucco. you are truly missed buddy.
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Tom Odell - 2011-03-01 Wow..... you are so lucky, living in the states. In the uk, we get carp, carp and you guessed it.... carp. I'd love to be able to catch fish and be able to take them home. Thanks' Tom :)
Carol Watch\r\n - 2011-07-18 This piece of info is very useful for me, thank you!
ALEX - 2014-01-29 A good real story to read I loss my first Oscar after he gone blind after few months I feed him than dies second Oscar is one year old and 8 inches when I bought only one inch are this right growth
Callum - 2008-11-12 I've had an oscar for a few years now. They are a great fish with great personalities. I have a few tanks and my Oscar is my favourite. I find they aren't as hardy as other cichlids but with regular maitenance and a varied diet they are relatively easy to keep. Good tank mates are plecos, Silver Dollars and some cichlids. I recommend an oscar to anyone. They have a great personality.
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damien - 2013-02-20 what kind of large cichlids are a good mix with a oscar
Jeremy Roche - 2013-02-20 Really depends on your oscars personality. They really vary more then most fish. I have housed them with dempseys, firemouths, arowanas, and gars. Tons of other options depending on fish. Remember a huge tank is needed with a great deal of filtration.
Jordan - 2013-12-11 I've got (1)12inch Male tiger Oscar, (1)11inch female albino tiger Oscar(both these oscars are a breeding pair), (1)5inch Male Tiger Oscar, (2)3inch male/female Frontosa's, (1)6inch Male jack dempsey, (1)5inch Male Electric Blue Jack Dempsey, (1)4inch Male Venustus, (1)4inch Male Red Zebra, (1)6inch Male Green Terror, and last but not least 3 plecos roughly 10inches a piece, and after all these fish they all get along very well only time any of them get aggressive is when the two mating oscars lay eggs at which point they are constantly chasing both jack dempsey's away they are all in a 500gal custom built octagon tank in my man cave/party room and have 2 fluval G6 external filters on opposite sides of the tank.
Carry - 2005-12-10 First let me say they are fast growing, aggressive, need lots of water changes, alot of filteration, and are messy. My 9'' oscar has waste the size of deer poop. It's crazy. They love to eat. They can and will jump out of the water to get food. That includes your hand if its above the water line. I've owned probably a little over a dozen oscars total. I have 4 right now. I feed mine earth worms, pellets, frozen brine shimp, freeze dried blood worms, algae wafers, shrimp pellets,beef heart, guppies, and freeze dried tubifex worms. I'd like to srart my own culture of either blood worms, white worms, or brine shrimp someday. I think all my fish will benefit from that. That being said I never feed feeders from local or chain fish stores because of the disease feeders have that can be passed onto my fish. It's not worth loosing an 12in oscar to watch him eat feeders. I do breed my own guppies and feed those sometimes. When you breed your own it ensures you have the control over the quality of feeder you are providing. I mean, look at the feeder tanks in the stores. They are always overcrowded, nasty, and have dead fish floating around at the top. Do you really want to expose a 12'' oscar to that that you've took the one year or so to raise? Seems like a waste.
DAN - 2012-11-07 My oscar has a swollen red nostril. What can I do to help reduce the swelling. Any info would be gratefully accepted.
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Charlie Roche - 2012-11-07 This might be one of the dumbest things I have ever written but I had a bird that had two really big and very red nostrils. It's bird friend somehow had sat there and shoved seeds up the birds nostrils. I thought inflmation, infection - whole bunch of things but when I looked, there were a bunch of seeds stuck up the nostril. Is there a way you can see if there is anything in your Oscars nostril. I told you it might be dumb but just thought I'd try and help.
Jeremy Roche - 2012-11-09 Usually not a huge issue if it isn't effecting diet and mood. Could be a tumor or injury. Does the fish hit the glass often? All the water levels normal? I a tumor a little iodine added everyday can help.
I am planning to have 2 Oscar , 2 parrot , 1 arwana.
My tank is 400 litres or 88 Gallons capacity Dim: 1500 x 430 x 640 mm Tank: 60 inches x 18 inches x 58 inches. I have good filtration system is the size of thank can host these fishes!!
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Charlie Roche - 2012-02-24 No, your tank won't be large enough. Recommended is 100 gallon for 1 adult Oscar.
Jeremy Roche - 2012-02-26 Becareful with the Arowanna. They get big and will eat anyting they can get a hold of. They will out grow that tank quickly.
Anonymous - 2012-11-16 Get rid of the arowana on one of the oscars and you will be fine.
Jeremy Roche - 2012-11-16 The arawana would be pushing it. This would work while they are all small but these fish get large and the Arowana get very long.
J.stephen - 2013-01-03 i bought one wild oscar(4inches) to my tank. it was very active when saw in the shop. but it is not active when i introduced into my tank. it is staying always at bottom of the tank for over 7 days. when i am feeding him earthworms, he is ok. but later settling down again at bottom. what should i do to made him active?
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Jeremy Roche - 2013-01-04 Oscars will do this when they are introduced to new surroundings. The stress of the change will go away and it will begin to swim around more. Water quality close to the same as tank it was removed from?
j.stephen - 2013-01-05 i really dont know sir. is there any problem because of this? if so, what should i do?
Jeremy Roche - 2013-01-05 Oscar will adapt easily. If you start with temp and pH close to same it is an easier transition, but doesnt have to be.
A classic in every sense of the term, the Oscar Cichlid has long been heralded as one of the most spectactular and iconic of the aquarium fish!
Okay well I have a 100 gal fish tank with a 7-8 in tiger Oscar and a breeding pair of jaguar cichlids, a gar and a convict and a red tail catfish. The Oscar ran the tank until about a few days ago I started to see that the Oscar was acting different. He didn't swim much anymore which he was very active before. The male jaguar and he will flare out at each other, never fight but now the Oscar is just acting terrified. Should I get rid of the female jaguar to calm Jim down? Or what should I do? Also my baby Jack Dempsey which was active at all times stop being active? What's going on? :/
Hmm, maybe your tankmates are just starting to become more aggressive and territorial. As they get older and/or ready to mate they sometimes will become more aggressive. It might be a good idea to remove the one jaguar cichlid and see how the other fish react. Maybe that will change the dynamics of the tank in a positive way. Are there plenty of hiding places as well? I would make sure there are lots of plants and other distractions where the fish can go.
Your tank is WAY overstocked. An Oscar, gar, and red tail catfish are going to get HUGE.
I suspect that your problem comes down to your mannies now breeding, which greatly increases both their territoriality, and level of aggression. This will happen later with your J.D.s as well, if they form a pair. You will have to address it by keeping any breeding pairs in separate tanks of adequate size; your jaguars will need alot more space than will a pair of JDs. Although much smaller than I would like, I suggest that you keep the mannie pair in their current tank, and keep the oscar, and only one JD in a tank of about 135g. You can add one of the smaller plecs to this, or 2-3 striped raphael cats, which are basically indestructible, and remain at a manageable size.----rick
I have two oscars, two red belly pacus, two jack dempseys, one black banded leporinus, one pufferfish, and one pleco in a ten gallon tank and they are doing fine! The oscars will eat anything that can fit in their mouth. Happy fish keeping!
I sincerely hope you have something along the lines of a 900 gallon tank for when EVERY SINGLE FISH IN THAT TANK OUTGROWS IT!
Please tell me that you're joking.
I have always loved oscars since I was a young boy. My first oscar was a wild one caught in Miami FL. I was fishing with my brother and I caught a two inch baby with a net. I yelled to my brother "I caught a Oscar" I didn't know they had them in cannals in DADE COUNTY in 1984. I kept it in a bucket till I was to return to New York two days later. To make a long story short. I kept Tucco for 12 year and he grew to thirteen inches and lived in a 29gl, 55gl, 75gl tank. He was not all that colorful but full of sponk. He never bit me nor did he have any tankmates but everyday after school and work he would be so happy to see me or the food I was to give him and this went on for years, even when I moved out of my parents home. He never got sick cause I never fed him live foods only cichlid pellets or sticks. Oscars are a wonderful pet if you are willing to give them what they need and don't fall for the "they got to eat gold fish" thing. Tell the truth I always wanted to give Tucco goldfish but I was always scared he would get some sickness and I would lose my pet. I would get teased by my brother about this but tucco was mine and I raised him and he was my responsibility. I chose to take Him from his home in FL and bring him to NYC in a cooler even though my Dad said "he would die before we even got to VA". Tucco proved him very wrong. All in All if you have the time to raise an Oscar, wild or store bought, do it right. Feed it, water changes, stay away from live foods. You will have a very healthy pet and one that will in my opinion love you dearly for it. Oh and Tucco never had HITHD or any other sickness. Just fat and happy. R.I.P. Tucco. you are truly missed buddy.
Wow..... you are so lucky, living in the states. In the uk, we get carp, carp and you guessed it.... carp. I'd love to be able to catch fish and be able to take them home.
Thanks'
Tom :)
This piece of info is very useful for me, thank you!
A good real story to read I loss my first Oscar after he gone blind after few months I feed him than dies second Oscar is one year old and 8 inches when I bought only one inch are this right growth
I've had an oscar for a few years now. They are a great fish with great personalities. I have a few tanks and my Oscar is my favourite. I find they aren't as hardy as other cichlids but with regular maitenance and a varied diet they are relatively easy to keep. Good tank mates are plecos, Silver Dollars and some cichlids. I recommend an oscar to anyone. They have a great personality.
what kind of large cichlids are a good mix with a oscar
Really depends on your oscars personality. They really vary more then most fish. I have housed them with dempseys, firemouths, arowanas, and gars. Tons of other options depending on fish. Remember a huge tank is needed with a great deal of filtration.
I've got (1)12inch Male tiger Oscar, (1)11inch female albino tiger Oscar(both these oscars are a breeding pair), (1)5inch Male Tiger Oscar, (2)3inch male/female Frontosa's, (1)6inch Male jack dempsey, (1)5inch Male Electric Blue Jack Dempsey, (1)4inch Male Venustus, (1)4inch Male Red Zebra, (1)6inch Male Green Terror, and last but not least 3 plecos roughly 10inches a piece, and after all these fish they all get along very well only time any of them get aggressive is when the two mating oscars lay eggs at which point they are constantly chasing both jack dempsey's away they are all in a 500gal custom built octagon tank in my man cave/party room and have 2 fluval G6 external filters on opposite sides of the tank.
First let me say they are fast growing, aggressive, need lots of water changes, alot of filteration, and are messy. My 9'' oscar has waste the size of deer poop. It's crazy. They love to eat. They can and will jump out of the water to get food. That includes your hand if its above the water line. I've owned probably a little over a dozen oscars total. I have 4 right now. I feed mine earth worms, pellets, frozen brine shimp, freeze dried blood worms, algae wafers, shrimp pellets,beef heart, guppies, and freeze dried tubifex worms. I'd like to srart my own culture of either blood worms, white worms, or brine shrimp someday. I think all my fish will benefit from that. That being said I never feed feeders from local or chain fish stores because of the disease feeders have that can be passed onto my fish. It's not worth loosing an 12in oscar to watch him eat feeders. I do breed my own guppies and feed those sometimes. When you breed your own it ensures you have the control over the quality of feeder you are providing. I mean, look at the feeder tanks in the stores. They are always overcrowded, nasty, and have dead fish floating around at the top. Do you really want to expose a 12'' oscar to that that you've took the one year or so to raise? Seems like a waste.
My oscar has a swollen red nostril. What can I do to help reduce the swelling. Any info would be gratefully accepted.
This might be one of the dumbest things I have ever written but I had a bird that had two really big and very red nostrils. It's bird friend somehow had sat there and shoved seeds up the birds nostrils. I thought inflmation, infection - whole bunch of things but when I looked, there were a bunch of seeds stuck up the nostril. Is there a way you can see if there is anything in your Oscars nostril. I told you it might be dumb but just thought I'd try and help.
Usually not a huge issue if it isn't effecting diet and mood. Could be a tumor or injury. Does the fish hit the glass often? All the water levels normal? I a tumor a little iodine added everyday can help.
This is a great helpful site... Thanks!
Alan
Hi ,
I am planning to have 2 Oscar , 2 parrot , 1 arwana.
My tank is 400 litres or 88 Gallons capacity
Dim: 1500 x 430 x 640 mm
Tank: 60 inches x 18 inches x 58 inches. I have good filtration system is the size of thank can host these fishes!!
No, your tank won't be large enough. Recommended is 100 gallon for 1 adult Oscar.
Becareful with the Arowanna. They get big and will eat anyting they can get a hold of. They will out grow that tank quickly.
Get rid of the arowana on one of the oscars and you will be fine.
The arawana would be pushing it. This would work while they are all small but these fish get large and the Arowana get very long.
i bought one wild oscar(4inches) to my tank. it was very active when saw in the shop. but it is not active when i introduced into my tank. it is staying always at bottom of the tank for over 7 days. when i am feeding him earthworms, he is ok. but later settling down again at bottom. what should i do to made him active?
Oscars will do this when they are introduced to new surroundings. The stress of the change will go away and it will begin to swim around more. Water quality close to the same as tank it was removed from?
i really dont know sir. is there any problem because of this? if so, what should i do?
Oscar will adapt easily. If you start with temp and pH close to same it is an easier transition, but doesnt have to be.
I had my oscar fish for 3 years and it's 12 inches. Will he get any bigger?
Yes, the oscar will more then likely keep growing!