Oscar vs. Flowerhorn -- opinions please!

[punchiechip]

Hi everyone! Long time listener, first time caller.

I have an empty 75g I'm debating what to do with it. The plan is a solitary fish, however I can't decide between the oscar (which has been on my wish list for at least 20 years) or a flowerhorn (which I only recently discovered but they definitely moved immediately to the top of the "fish I'd like to own" list).

What are the pros/cons of each? I'd love opinions on which is the "better" fish and why! (no wrong answers!)

Also, the flowerhorn would 100% be by itself, but could I get away with adding something smaller (not "food" small but like a few inches, like acaras for example) with the oscar or are they equally as aggressive/territorial as the FH? I'm also not opposed to 2 oscars if that tank size is adequate and that's doable (if purchased together as juvies -- but also is that even a good idea, behavior-wise?).

Filtration will likely be 2 HOB'S of 100g capacity each in either corner. I might also throw in an airstone or sponge filter just for extra aeration.

And yes I know I can research some of this but nothing beats first had experience! Thanks for all of the input!

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

Hi everyone! Long time listener, first time caller.

I have an empty 75g I'm debating what to do with it. The plan is a solitary fish, however I can't decide between the oscar (which has been on my wish list for at least 20 years) or a flowerhorn (which I only recently discovered but they definitely moved immediately to the top of the "fish I'd like to own" list).

What are the pros/cons of each? I'd love opinions on which is the "better" fish and why! (no wrong answers!)

Also, the flowerhorn would 100% be by itself, but could I get away with adding something smaller with the oscar or are they equally as aggressive/territorial as the FH? I'm also not opposed to 2 oscars if that tank size is adequate and that's doable (if purchased together as juvies -- but also is that even a good idea, behavior-wise?).

Filtration will likely be 2 HOB'S of 100g capacity each in either corner. I might also throw in an airstone or sponge filter just for extra aeration.

And yes I know I can research some of this but nothing beats first had experience! Thanks for all of the input!

First, welcome to the fun group! As for your question, if I'm going to be honest, neither fish works well in the 75 long term. Both fish get really large, and even if they are the only fish in the tank, it really isn't enough room long term. I think you would be better off trying a different fish for a wet pet unless you have a tank ready to be used as the permanent home. If you don't believe me, check out FINWIN's Oscar Brick. He takes up every inch of the tank (I believe 220 gallon) she has him in. Jack Dempseys might be a better option, but even they need a larger tank (the electric Blue JD would be better since they are smaller).

Which fish is better? Well...I personally am on the side of the Oscars. I kept a juvenile for a while, and it really was a wet pet—a very endearing little thing, messy as all hell, but certainly endearing. I've never seen someone describe a flowerhorn as endearing, so if you want something that is legit a wet pet, then the Oscar is the best way to go. However, Oscars are not (to me) as brightly colored as most flowerhorns, flowerhorns have lots of colors like electric blue, black, reds, etc while Oscars tend to be limited in color choices, although they are starting to come out with more variants these days. It just depends on what you want, but again, make sure you have the actual space for either fish.

I hope this answers your question!

 

[punchiechip]

First, welcome to the fun group! As for your question, if I'm going to be honest, neither fish works well in the 75 long term. Both fish get really large, and even if they are the only fish in the tank, it really isn't enough room long term. I think you would be better off trying a different fish for a wet pet unless you have a tank ready to be used as the permanent home. If you don't believe me, check out FINWIN's Oscar Brick. He takes up every inch of the tank (I believe 220 gallon) she has him in. Jack Dempseys might be a better option, but even they need a larger tank (the electric Blue JD would be better since they are smaller).

Which fish is better? Well...I personally am on the side of the Oscars. I kept a juvenile for a while, and it really was a wet pet—a very endearing little thing, messy as all hell, but certainly endearing. I've never seen someone describe a flowerhorn as endearing, so if you want something that is legit a wet pet, then the Oscar is the best way to go. However, Oscars are not (to me) as brightly colored as most flowerhorns, flowerhorns have lots of colors like electric blue, black, reds, etc while Oscars tend to be limited in color choices, although they are starting to come out with more variants these days. It just depends on what you want, but again, make sure you have the actual space for either fish.

I hope this answers your question!

Actually this helps quite a bit! I actually have a EBJD and some tiger barbs in a 29 for grow out. Maybe I'll just save this tank for them (rather than the 55g plan) and get 100g for the single fish. Would that work? I know "bigger is better" but it'll really be which size tank (100 vs. something a little bigger) I can get my hands on at a decent price...

For the FH I love the blue "pearling" with the red background. Their color is my main appeal for me, and also their aggressive "I'm going to get you through this glass" bravado. They remind me of my very ornery goose who tries to attack my van when I drive past him, as if that's a battle he could possibly win.

With the oscars, I love the traditional glowing ember against black look. They're beautiful, but for them their appeal to me is watching them swim and their fins sway. The first time I saw one was in a Chinese restaurant in my teens where and enormous fellow was kept in a tank probably about 30 gallons or less. He was a stunner!

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

Actually this helps quite a bit! I actually have a EBJD and some tiger barbs in a 29 for grow out. Maybe I'll just save this tank for them (rather than the 55g plan) and get 100g for the single fish. Would that work? I know "bigger is better" but it'll really be which size tank (100 vs. something a little bigger) I can get my hands on at a decent price...

For the FH I love the blue "pearling" with the red background. Their color is my main appeal for me, and also their aggressive "I'm going to get you through this glass" bravado. They remind me of my very ornery goose who tries to attack my van when I drive past him, as if that's a battle he could possibly win.

With the oscars, I love the traditional glowing ember against black look. They're beautiful, but for them their appeal to me is watching them swim and their fins sway. The first time I saw one was in a Chinese restaurant in my teens where and enormous fellow was kept in a tank probably about 30 gallons or less. He was a stunner!

Yes the EBJD and Tiger Barbs would love the 75! 100 would be ok, but here is a thread on Oscar tank size to help: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/best-tank-size-for-a-full-grown-oscar.738395/

 

[Krismo962]

Oscars are way hardier than FH(they have very weak immune systems because of how inbred they are).FH are more personable than oscars ime,they're also very territorial and probably won't tolerate any active fish,mine even went after bichirs.

 

[Deadeye]

Welcome to the forum!
Definitely no Oscar in a 75. They just get too big.
Plenty of people keep flowerhorns in 75 gallons, it doesn’t necessarily make it “right,” but it is accepted as the standard for that fish.
Given that the ebjd will eventually outgrow the 29, I think that upgrading it is the best option.

 

[punchiechip]

Thanks y'all, keep the opinions coming please I've already talked hubby into upgrading the non-existent fish to a 100 lol; the 75 will be reserved for the EBJD & friends.

 

[tlindsey]

Hi everyone! Long time listener, first time caller.

I have an empty 75g I'm debating what to do with it. The plan is a solitary fish, however I can't decide between the oscar (which has been on my wish list for at least 20 years) or a flowerhorn (which I only recently discovered but they definitely moved immediately to the top of the "fish I'd like to own" list).

What are the pros/cons of each? I'd love opinions on which is the "better" fish and why! (no wrong answers!)

Also, the flowerhorn would 100% be by itself, but could I get away with adding something smaller (not "food" small but like a few inches, like acaras for example) with the oscar or are they equally as aggressive/territorial as the FH? I'm also not opposed to 2 oscars if that tank size is adequate and that's doable (if purchased together as juvies -- but also is that even a good idea, behavior-wise?).

Filtration will likely be 2 HOB'S of 100g capacity each in either corner. I might also throw in an airstone or sponge filter just for extra aeration.

And yes I know I can research some of this but nothing beats first had experience! Thanks for all of the input!

Welcome aboard

 

[Trouser Cough]

Thanks y'all, keep the opinions coming please

I'll toss an opinion out on the table that was partially formed by my experience over the years and refined by a member of this forum. The FH I had (which has since been donated to others more appreciative) had beautiful coloring, did not play particularly well w/ others, and was a pig. He would hang out near wherever you were dropping food into the tank and other significantly larger fish would not come over to get their share. The FH didn't do much and ate everything he could fit in his head so forcing flow into the tank was a concern as they are known to have some genetic weaknesses and one of them for FH results in constipation. I thought a higher level of exercise and effort might help keep his pipes clean.

Mine was called a Fireman's Dream. Orange, easy to look at, and in the end seemed to me that though some feel a special attraction for FH's; I ultimately did not share that.

An Oscar? Meaty goofball that is found in the wild and typically has few if any DNA problems compared to a FH.

I might be reading the cards incorrectly but it looks to me like the Asian fish keeping community I've met seem to like FH a lot which doesn't surprise me in that they occasionally ascribe benefits to having certain fish around (like Arowana) that are clearly cultural. I'd be interested in hearing what specifically they see in FH but as for me; I'll happily never have another.

 

[dmyersWv]

From a health stand point Oscar over Flowerhorns every time. If you like the flowerhorn, have you checked out any of the amphilophus species. Lots of options and similar personalities. Trimaculatus are great wet pets. But you would need at least a 125 for a single at adult size.