Multiple Oscars in Large Tank

[Gershom]

Ok, ok, you guys have beaten me into submission. I give up!

But to be fair, I didn’t make any recommendations about other people’s fish stocking densities. All I did was describe a situation that worked for me, given luck and the right circumstances. And I had fun with it, and sold juveniles from both pairs. I used to have a photo of the 4 oscars, both pairs guarding eggs, but can’t find it.

As far as I remember I have never made recommendations about how people should stock their tanks, on this or any other forum. Because I don’t know everything, and it isn’t my business anyway. I leave those recommendations to people who do know everything, and make it their business.

I’m going to mind my own business, go kick some puppies maybe.

 

[duanes]

When folks come asking for opinions and experience, I think it’s best that one provides info that they know offers the best chance at success. Not what might work, maybe, sometimes, under certain favourable circumstances.

I agree.
This is why I encourage aquarists to choose species that fit with their own tap water, and to go overboard on water changes, and only choose fish that fit into the size aquarium available.
Although many advanced aquarists have strategies that allow them to bend rules and water parameter rules somewhat,
most new aquarists can't do that, and end up with chronic disease fish, if water parameters aren't right, and dead fish if proper water parameters aren't met, or if tanks are too small, and if species that don't belong together and are combined.

And in response to the OPs question, you can probably have multiple oscars in a 300, if the water parameters are right, if you are willing to do multiple water changes per week, and if you have hospital tanks to sequester the injured.

 

[jjohnwm]

There's nothing wrong with having an opinion, especially when it is based upon logical thought and analysis of available information and one's own experience. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with presenting that opinion when someone asks for it, which is precisely the point of this thread. But having and voicing one's opinion does not mean that one is opinionated, as long as long as one is willing to hear and consider the opinions of others.

I don't think anyone here is being opinionated...but of course, that's merely my opinion...

I will say that keeping and breeding fish is not the same thing as maintaining them on a longterm basis. There are many fish that will reach sexual maturity in a small tank and reproduce successfully in such an environment...but they do it while still at a very small size compared to their potential full growth. It's easy to keep the tank clean and healthy at that point. A few years later, just keeping them alive in that same tank, now overwhelmed without frequent and large water changes, is an entirely different matter.

 

[Gershom]

When folks come asking for opinions and experience, I think it’s best that one provides info that they know offers the best chance at success. Not what might work, maybe, sometimes, under certain favourable circumstances.

Since I have repeatedly admitted that my experience was short term and probably would not work well long term, and pointed out that I was NOT offering advice, this suggestion is essentially saying not to tell terrible stories like I did. It doesn’t meet your approval and you don’t want to hear it.
And Duane agrees with you. Who am I supposed to send my submission to for disapproval, instead of posting it?

 

[12 Volt Man]

I would like to add that there a literally dozens of reasons given for what causes hole in head disease and no real proof that shows any of it is 100 percent valid on its own.

been in the hobby since the 80s and I've seen multiple causes touted such as but not limited to:

mineral deficiency
use of activated carbon
hexamita protozoa
high nitrates
ammonia
general stress
genetic factors

certain fish like Discus, Oscars and geophagus especially seem to get it no matter how clean you keep your tank.
yet some of them never get it.

New aquarists read about and think oh I'll just treat the water to kill the hexamita but its not that simple.