Oscar tank setup.

[Toth]

Hey everyone,

I am currently in the process of acquiring either a 125g or 225g tank for my two Oscars, 1 Tiger, 1 Red, and I would like to know what the best kind of setup is.

1, What is the best temperature for them in terms of growth rate and overall happiness?

2, What is the best kind of filtration setup for a tank of either of those sizes?

3, Should I use, Gravel, Slate, sand, or something else to decorate the bottom of the tank?

4, In terms of live food for my little buddies, what would be the best in terms of nutrition?

5, What could be a good tank mate for them?

I am new to Chiclids so there is obvious reason behind these questions . I am used to Japanese Koi, I had about 15 of them in a 30 thousand gallon pond my father and I made when I was around 15.

 

[Ficious]

oscars are happy in both ends of their temperature range. some prefer to keep them around 78 to help aid in fighting of diseases and parasites, but lose the high oxygen that cold water holds. i keep mine at 70 degrees, sometimes drops to 68, and he seems happy.

the substrate is up to you but pry wana stick to gravel because it will be moved and moved a lot.

tank mates would be any medium/large semi agressive cichlids. or a nice school of large rainbowsfish, pacus, silverdollars...etc

filtration is a must. keep that water movin! a large cannister filter with 2 large hobs and youll be ok. 2 canister filters would be better??

dont know about the feeders...some people say store bought arent nutritional. i think if you buy a crap ton and feed them a lot for a couple weeks, theyd have some nutritonal value? i use to quarantine mine for a few weeks and fed them beefheart.

good luck, since youre getting a big tank, have you ever heard of managuense?

 

[Joergemathew]

Hey everyone,

I am currently in the process of acquiring either a 125g or 225g tank for my two Oscars, 1 Tiger, 1 Red, and I would like to know what the best kind of setup is.

1, What is the best temperature for them in terms of growth rate and overall happiness?
28'C
2, What is the best kind of filtration setup for a tank of either of those sizes?
a powerfulfilter bcoz they are vessy messy
3, Should I use, Gravel, Slate, sand, or something else to decorate the bottom of the tank?
IMO Gravel
4, In terms of live food for my little buddies, what would be the best in terms of nutrition?
feeder Guppies / shrimp ,blood worms
5, What could be a good tank mate for them?
Firemouth,Salvani,Severum,
I am new to Chiclids so there is obvious reason behind these questions . I am used to Japanese Koi, I had about 15 of them in a 30 thousand gallon pond my father and I made when I was around 15.[/QUOTE]

 

[Sarah88]

good luck, since youre getting a big tank, have you ever heard of managuense?

COME TO THE DARK SIDE haha no but really managuense are awesome and i will totally be getting at least one eventually, maybe if the Op gets one thats smaller than the Os but not to small to be eaten then it will grow up with the Os being dominant and might be ok with them but then again a jag could end up growing up and hate them and want the tank to itself.....

 

[steelshade]

Live food is good but feeder fish are bad for oscars.

 

[fishy12]

Well i wld persoanlly do the 125 if u only do 2 oscars the 225 is a waste unless ur gonna add more fish. I got 2 rlly like them gr8t personality and fun to watch. Mine kinda play a fish game of tag. And i feed freeze dried krill

 

[rED O]

COME TO THE DARK SIDE haha no but really managuense are awesome and i will totally be getting at least one eventually, maybe if the Op gets one thats smaller than the Os but not to small to be eaten then it will grow up with the Os being dominant and might be ok with them but then again a jag could end up growing up and hate them and want the tank to itself.....

I have a large jag and oscars in my tank no problem.

For filtration for the 225, I would get a Fluval FX5. Thats a nice canister for messy oscars.

as for temperature, I keep my tank at 78 f /26 c

substrate, its up to you. I would get a fine gravel for them to dig.

As for live food, I would feed it on the occasion. Don't buy gold fish form a pet store, or any feeders they would sell. The best thing to do for feeding live fish is to grow up your own fish. I would get a 20 gallon to breed some type of livebearer.

Tank mates, I would think a really nice pleco would be cool. Like a L025. I always wanted a scarlet pleco.

In a 225 you will have lots of room. 125 gallon, I would just have the two oscars and some type of dither.

good luck

 

[Toth]

Would a red arowana be a good choice to put in with my Oscars? and would that work in the 125 with the 3 of them or would the 225 be a necessity if i put a red arowana in?

 

[rED O]

I would say the minimum for any arowana should be 230 gallons.
If you just did the red in the 225 and no oscars that would work.

 

[Toth]

Sounds good. I will probably pass on the Aro then. I was also thinking of getting another red devil for the tank, but the last devil i put in the tank was killed by my big Oscar Scar within the week would you advise trying another devil? Scar is the meanest fish I have ever seen haha.