If you do go Oscar, check out the wild types, a member here has some beautiful ones, much prettier than any line bred coloration in my opinion,
Ansorgii
has threads on them
Ansorgii
has threads on themOscar vs. Flowerhorn -- opinions please!
- Thread starter punchiechip
- Start date
punchiechip
,Good input from everywhere here! A female flowerhorn can get pretty big but might work better in a 75. They're underrated and colorful too! For an Oscar you'd want to go 6'. It takes my oscar 4 feet just to stop at full speed. Maybe 5' but only if it's boxy asf...like a funky 4' x 2 'x5 'custom build cubeish.
My red oscar Brick is currently 5 y.o. I'd run out of adjectives to describe his personality, but he's loads of fun when he isn't cranky. His size is 3.5" W x ~7"H x 15"L. Estimated weight 2-3 lbs. Be prepared for water changes and monstrous turds unless you have great filtration and water movement. Best thing I did recently was add real plants. It can work with O's but there's a method to it.
I think because FHs have to be isolated there isn't as much chance of seeing their full personality because they can only interact with one source. Most Oscars can have at least one tankmate so you see their range better. One thing about oscars rarely mentioned is that they will use all levels to swim in, so the need for space is crucial in addition to water volume.
Here's Brick...isolated current shot and in the 225:
+1 and I’m pretty sure Steve at exoticfishshop gets them regularlyIf you do go Oscar, check out the wild types, a member here has some beautiful ones, much prettier than any line bred coloration in my opinion,
Hey Punchichip,
This is my first post here. I decided to join, after reading posts I want to reply to for quite awhile. Yours fit that bill, so here goes:
I would vote Oscar as well. I have a decent sized footlong Oscar. He was in a 125 for awhile. I recently upgraded the tank to a 180. Granted, it is the same 6 foot width, but I noticed an immediate appreciation for the added width. He seems to utilize all of it, and shows what I perceive to be actual enjoyment, along with just being less moody. (Oscars WILL let you know how they feel.) I wish I had upgraded his tank sooner, and I'd almost say that a 180 may be the smallest tank I'd put an Oscar in going forward.
I know you mentioned Acaras. I have an EBA in with him, and they get along just fine. Your mileage may vary. Good luck!
This is my first post here. I decided to join, after reading posts I want to reply to for quite awhile. Yours fit that bill, so here goes:
I would vote Oscar as well. I have a decent sized footlong Oscar. He was in a 125 for awhile. I recently upgraded the tank to a 180. Granted, it is the same 6 foot width, but I noticed an immediate appreciation for the added width. He seems to utilize all of it, and shows what I perceive to be actual enjoyment, along with just being less moody. (Oscars WILL let you know how they feel.) I wish I had upgraded his tank sooner, and I'd almost say that a 180 may be the smallest tank I'd put an Oscar in going forward.
I know you mentioned Acaras. I have an EBA in with him, and they get along just fine. Your mileage may vary. Good luck!
Welcome aboard
Great advice.
Thanks for the warm welcome! I have been lurking beneath the surface for quite awhile...haha. I actually started up my tanks a few years back as something to interest my very young son. I wound up going down the rabbit hole myself.
I started with mollies and platies, and "inherited" an axolotl. (separate tank, of course.)
I also started taking care of a tank at my old job, which was BADLY neglected for years. The only fish in it was a senior banded leporinus. He was about 8 years old at the time. I have no idea how he survived the neglect. Nitrates were roughly 500ppm, and PH was around 4.5-5.0. I think it was the definition of Old Tank Syndrome....but he survived. I slowly did daily small waterchanges over the course of 2 weeks to get him used to fresh, clean water.
Long story short, I got an adult Oscar to be his tankmate. The Leporinus was NOT having it, and nearly killed the Oscar within the first few hours. I didn't think the O was going to make it. I took him home, threw him in a 20 gallon hospital tank, with salt and water changes 2x daily. He started swimming 2 days later, and eating about 5 days later.
I had an empty 125 which was going to be a planted livebearer tank. Needless to say, plans changed. I became a true Oscar-lover, and he now resides in a 180.
(And the ol' timer Banded Leporinus is still kicking at age 11 or 12....as the sole resident of his tank at my old job. I visit him weekly.)
Sorry to derail a great thread...but I have to vote Oscar!
I started with mollies and platies, and "inherited" an axolotl. (separate tank, of course.)
I also started taking care of a tank at my old job, which was BADLY neglected for years. The only fish in it was a senior banded leporinus. He was about 8 years old at the time. I have no idea how he survived the neglect. Nitrates were roughly 500ppm, and PH was around 4.5-5.0. I think it was the definition of Old Tank Syndrome....but he survived. I slowly did daily small waterchanges over the course of 2 weeks to get him used to fresh, clean water.
Long story short, I got an adult Oscar to be his tankmate. The Leporinus was NOT having it, and nearly killed the Oscar within the first few hours. I didn't think the O was going to make it. I took him home, threw him in a 20 gallon hospital tank, with salt and water changes 2x daily. He started swimming 2 days later, and eating about 5 days later.
I had an empty 125 which was going to be a planted livebearer tank. Needless to say, plans changed. I became a true Oscar-lover, and he now resides in a 180.
(And the ol' timer Banded Leporinus is still kicking at age 11 or 12....as the sole resident of his tank at my old job. I visit him weekly.)
Sorry to derail a great thread...but I have to vote Oscar!
Welcome to the forum!
I have to agree on the leporinus. Only fish I’ve ever had that seemingly kills for sport. Pretty much anything around his size is deemed a competitor to be removed.
Such a beautiful fish though, and tough as nails. Mine survived the abuse I put him through early on when I thought of water changes as optional and that a piranha would enjoy tankmates in a 55 (and the lep still won).
I vote Oscar for all the reasons mentioned. Better health wise, fun wise, wet pet, all of it.
I wouldn't put a Oscar in anything less than a 6ft tank and that's solo, with a Ornatus catfish. No other cichlids, just to much trouble to find two fish that can tolerate each other besides breeding pairs, and even they are hit or miss.
This is Toni, I raised her for a year and got 12 out of her.
Her friend is Wiskers, he is a Pimelodus ornatus. Never had any issues with the pair. Just advise to get a bigger ornatus to start with, The O will outgrow it big time.
I wouldn't put a Oscar in anything less than a 6ft tank and that's solo, with a Ornatus catfish. No other cichlids, just to much trouble to find two fish that can tolerate each other besides breeding pairs, and even they are hit or miss.
This is Toni, I raised her for a year and got 12 out of her.
Her friend is Wiskers, he is a Pimelodus ornatus. Never had any issues with the pair. Just advise to get a bigger ornatus to start with, The O will outgrow it big time.
Ornatus are like a combo catfish, at times sedimentary and at times patrol the tank. They can be a single or in a group like Pictus.
Welcome to the fun group! As tlinsdey said, great info!
