I can tell you that 10-15 years ago, many believed 55g was large enough to house 1 oscar. You can see this from many articles written at the time.
As people grow to understand the needs of larger fish (10"+), so do the size of the aquariums.
tank mate for oscar in 75g
- Thread starter OscarDaddy69
- Start date
As people grow to understand the needs of larger fish (10"+), so do the size of the aquariums.
I've only ever found 75 and under and the occasional 180 for $800 or $400, can't remember which...
But Craigslist for the most part is a good way to get used tanks. Especially if you live around a military base! Somebody gets sent there, they buy a new tank, then they have to sell it quickly because they have to move to another base or something. Not trying to encourage low balling our military members but they have to get rid of that tank fast so they'd be more open to a lower price if it gets it gone... Just sayin'.
But Craigslist for the most part is a good way to get used tanks. Especially if you live around a military base! Somebody gets sent there, they buy a new tank, then they have to sell it quickly because they have to move to another base or something. Not trying to encourage low balling our military members but they have to get rid of that tank fast so they'd be more open to a lower price if it gets it gone... Just sayin'.
I agree with Stanzzzz7, a 75 gal is too small for an adult oscar alone, so adding another fish IMO is not a good idea.
I've found great deals in tanks secondhand , I got a 55 talk with stand lights, and pumps plants food for £12 and a 80 gallon for £30, there are some great deals out there just got to look for them, I got my 135 for £150 on its own which imo was over priced, just got to look for the right deals
Let me ask you two,
Stanzzzz7
and
duanes
a question.
Let's say that someone was able to keep the water absolutely perfect with an adult oscar in adult 75 gallon. It no longer becomes an issue about waste production. Let's ignore the size issue.
Now, the oscar uses the top part of the tank mostly so why not add a bottom dweller such as a catfish? They don't use the same areas about 90% of the time I reckon so on paper it would work out well if you could find a catfish that would be able to live with able oscar and didn't add a lot to the bioload.
I get that most of the people that say a 75 is too small for an oscar are talking about size wize but if you already have the oscar and won't give it away or move it to a different tank and the water tests perfectly, then why not add a fish that doesn't use the same part of the tank as it?
What I'm getting at is that I don't see why you couldn't stock opposite levels of the tank.
Stanzzzz7
and
duanes
a question.Let's say that someone was able to keep the water absolutely perfect with an adult oscar in adult 75 gallon. It no longer becomes an issue about waste production. Let's ignore the size issue.
Now, the oscar uses the top part of the tank mostly so why not add a bottom dweller such as a catfish? They don't use the same areas about 90% of the time I reckon so on paper it would work out well if you could find a catfish that would be able to live with able oscar and didn't add a lot to the bioload.
I get that most of the people that say a 75 is too small for an oscar are talking about size wize but if you already have the oscar and won't give it away or move it to a different tank and the water tests perfectly, then why not add a fish that doesn't use the same part of the tank as it?
What I'm getting at is that I don't see why you couldn't stock opposite levels of the tank.
i agree with that point you made, if you can keep the water clean and there is enough swimming space then add more fish but I think they disagreed more on tank size th an bio load but fair pointLet me ask you two,
Let's say that someone was able to keep the water absolutely perfect with an adult oscar in adult 75 gallon. It no longer becomes an issue about waste production. Let's ignore the size issue.
Now, the oscar uses the top part of the tank mostly so why not add a bottom dweller such as a catfish? They don't use the same areas about 90% of the time I reckon so on paper it would work out well if you could find a catfish that would be able to live with able oscar and didn't add a lot to the bioload.
I get that most of the people that say a 75 is too small for an oscar are talking about size wize but if you already have the oscar and won't give it away or move it to a different tank and the water tests perfectly, then why not add a fish that doesn't use the same part of the tank as it?
What I'm getting at is that I don't see why you couldn't stock opposite levels of the tank.
While i agree on your estimate, id also say that the 70-80% in question probably never kept an adult oscar successfully in a 75.
My view on this, and it is only my view,not persecution. Is an Oscar is a far too intelligent a creature to live out its days in 75 gallons of water.
My first instinct on this is never about the water quality. Its more to do with it's general environment.
An adult Oscar virtually fills a 75 with very little room for rocks and driftwood or other items of stimulation.
They just seem to hang in suspended animation like they have been put on a life sentence.
Stimulation is important to intelligent fish like Oscars, lack of it has been proved to have a detrimental effect on the health of the fish.
Exercise is also a problem, fish need exercise. A poor old Oscar can't swim at any where near full speed in a 75.
On a personal level, I pity Oscars in 75 gallons. I look at them and think, you poor bastard stuck in there for the rest of your days. Sorry but I can't help it.
Give an Oscar a large tank and you get a different animal entirely. Ask anyone on here who has upgraded their Oscar tank.
As for what about the Oscars that are already in 75s?
Well just because they are already there, doesn't mean we should write a post saying that's cool add a catfish.
By the way I have kept Lima shovel nose my experience is they occupy the middle of the water column as much as the bottom, so would infact share the same space in the water column as an Oscar.
This debate will never be resolved so its best to say our piece and move on.
I will say though, sometimes empathy for the fish is as important as concerns of biolode..
My first instinct on this is never about the water quality. Its more to do with it's general environment.
An adult Oscar virtually fills a 75 with very little room for rocks and driftwood or other items of stimulation.
They just seem to hang in suspended animation like they have been put on a life sentence.
Stimulation is important to intelligent fish like Oscars, lack of it has been proved to have a detrimental effect on the health of the fish.
Exercise is also a problem, fish need exercise. A poor old Oscar can't swim at any where near full speed in a 75.
On a personal level, I pity Oscars in 75 gallons. I look at them and think, you poor bastard stuck in there for the rest of your days. Sorry but I can't help it.
Give an Oscar a large tank and you get a different animal entirely. Ask anyone on here who has upgraded their Oscar tank.
As for what about the Oscars that are already in 75s?
Well just because they are already there, doesn't mean we should write a post saying that's cool add a catfish.
By the way I have kept Lima shovel nose my experience is they occupy the middle of the water column as much as the bottom, so would infact share the same space in the water column as an Oscar.
This debate will never be resolved so its best to say our piece and move on.
I will say though, sometimes empathy for the fish is as important as concerns of biolode..
