How much space does a full grown Oscar need? I will soon have a 65 gallon tank empty. Is that enough space? While shopping for a New tank at our LFS I saw an Oscar in a bottom tank where the water height is not much more than his body height and while there is some length to swim he sulks in one corner. His tank is barren, he sees people’s shoes all day. I want to rescue him but don’t know if I can offer him what he needs.
Oscar tank size
- Thread starter Ringozzy
- Start date
My personal guideline is four feet in length of swimming space, not including length of fish, and at least 10 inches of width in turning space, again not including length of fish. So for a 12 inch fish this would be a tank five feet long and at least 22 inches wide. If more fish are in the tank then I would increase the tank size even more.
I'm sure others would be ok keeping fish in smaller tanks but this is what I prefer.
I'm sure others would be ok keeping fish in smaller tanks but this is what I prefer.
Thank you! He is definitely too big for my 65 tank by that guideline, he is a big guy. I hope he gets a new home soon
I've kept an Oscar with 1 or 2 tankmates in 75 gal tanks and they seemed happy.
In my experience/opinion, they key to my success was very clean water (filtration & water changes) and having multiple other tanks to move fish around if anyone didn't get along.
One huge risk we have in fishkeeping is we buy young small fish and the tank seems empty. So we stock the tank until it seems reasonable. Then a year later that fish or all those fish grow more than we expected and the tank is a mess. We all plan on getting bigger tanks later, but rarely in life does "later" happen the way I plan it.
There are a lot of other fish that will probably be better suited for your 65 gallon. And won't come with the risks this choice will.
And... When we "rescue" a fish by buying it from a Fish Store, we are teaching that fish store that they can boost sales by improperly housing fish. Just my opinion...
In my experience/opinion, they key to my success was very clean water (filtration & water changes) and having multiple other tanks to move fish around if anyone didn't get along.
One huge risk we have in fishkeeping is we buy young small fish and the tank seems empty. So we stock the tank until it seems reasonable. Then a year later that fish or all those fish grow more than we expected and the tank is a mess. We all plan on getting bigger tanks later, but rarely in life does "later" happen the way I plan it.
There are a lot of other fish that will probably be better suited for your 65 gallon. And won't come with the risks this choice will.
And... When we "rescue" a fish by buying it from a Fish Store, we are teaching that fish store that they can boost sales by improperly housing fish. Just my opinion...
In my opinion, as I have grown one from a 1in fry to an adult, minimum adult tank size is a 6ft 125gal for a single Oscar sharing only with the likes of a catfish.
I started in a 55gal till about 8in. At that point the Oscar would just kinda lurch around. Not very active. Then I moved her into a 125gal. The difference was night and day. She became very active and sociable.
Along the way I tried to house her with other cichlids, silver dollars. The only thing that worked well was a catfish as seen above.
I started in a 55gal till about 8in. At that point the Oscar would just kinda lurch around. Not very active. Then I moved her into a 125gal. The difference was night and day. She became very active and sociable.
Along the way I tried to house her with other cichlids, silver dollars. The only thing that worked well was a catfish as seen above.
You can keep the Oscar temporary in a 65gal, but be ready for every other day water changes. As Oscar's are very messy fish as they eat and produce massive poops. A full grown Oscar's poop in as big around as a pencil, several inches long.
Look around for used tanks Offer up, Craigslist. I once got a 125gal for 1$ per gallon so $125 with stand and lights. Also several times a year Petsmart has 125gal combo's (tank, stand,lights) on sale for around $550. I bought two of these.
Look around for used tanks Offer up, Craigslist. I once got a 125gal for 1$ per gallon so $125 with stand and lights. Also several times a year Petsmart has 125gal combo's (tank, stand,lights) on sale for around $550. I bought two of these.
I’ll check out those resources. I’m already in The process of getting a new 125 for my pleco and goldfish, getting yet another tank for a a fish I don’t have yet is not an option. I just have to hope someone takes him home soon. I thought about leaving my goldfish in The 65 putting the Oscar in the new tank but it’s not fair to the 8 huge goldfish I already have. We bought 9 feeder goldfish 3 years ago, we never thought 8 of them would still be alive today 
