• We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Specific care of an Astronotus Ocellatus

Article looks good. I disagree concerning substrate and tankmates, but only on fine details not worth hashing out. What I would emphasize is that 75g is better as a bare minimum, and even that can get dicey if feeding a subadult oscar daily. I'd honestly recommend at least 90g for purposes of stability. To feed enough to keep the fish growing well, I was doing almost 90% water changes weekly to keep nitrates below twenty. The stress of such large changes was, I believe, a contributor to the tiny HITH that I caught and (with MFK's help) eliminated right away. In the 125g, I can keep the nitrates just as low with only a 30% to 50% change weekly. A much gentler experience for fishy. I only say this because of my singular experience with one oscar, so take it as such.
 
awesome info
 
knifegill;3983098; said:
Article looks good. I disagree concerning substrate and tankmates, but only on fine details not worth hashing out. What I would emphasize is that 75g is better as a bare minimum, and even that can get dicey if feeding a subadult oscar daily. I'd honestly recommend at least 90g for purposes of stability. To feed enough to keep the fish growing well, I was doing almost 90% water changes weekly to keep nitrates below twenty. The stress of such large changes was, I believe, a contributor to the tiny HITH that I caught and (with MFK's help) eliminated right away. In the 125g, I can keep the nitrates just as low with only a 30% to 50% change weekly. A much gentler experience for fishy. I only say this because of my singular experience with one oscar, so take it as such.
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I agree. The substait isn't that important, and a bigger tank is always better. I think stress of any find is a big contributor to HITH, and that can also include tank mates as well as water params.
 
My 6 Oscars are my favorite fish of all time, the only reason I'm in this hobby. It was a good article for the basics, although Tin Foil Barbs get bigger than Oscars & are schooling fish so not a good choice for tankmates. The main thing I'd stress is keeping nitrates as super low as possible to avoid HITH. Whether through extra water changes or a big enough tank that you only have to do 1 weekly water change.
 
Great article, thinking of adding one to my 350g stock tank...
 
TwistedPenguin;3985238; said:
My 6 Oscars are my favorite fish of all time, the only reason I'm in this hobby. It was a good article for the basics, although Tin Foil Barbs get bigger than Oscars & are schooling fish so not a good choice for tankmates. The main thing I'd stress is keeping nitrates as super low as possible to avoid HITH. Whether through extra water changes or a big enough tank that you only have to do 1 weekly water change.
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I agree. Tinfoil barbs are not a great choice because of their potential size. I have two currently both around 14" and I'm having a hard time getting rid of them. They are an amazing sight to see at this size, but they are also outgrowing my 125g.
 
cichlidfish;3982909; said:
Doing water changes every day makes things just as bad, because it affects the nitrogen cycle.
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I disagree. Daily water changes should have no effect on nitrifying bacteria if your filtration is adequate. 99% of beneficial bacteria should grow and live in your biological filter, not in the water column. Therefore, changing water everyday should have no ill effects. It would only keep the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels to a minimum which is desired.

Discus breeders/keepers will tell you, daily water changes are what keeps their fish in good health. I don't see why it would be any different for oscars.
 
xEchOx;3990678; said:
I disagree. Daily water changes should have no effect on nitrifying bacteria if your filtration is adequate. 99% of beneficial bacteria should grow and live in your biological filter, not in the water column. Therefore, changing water everyday should have no ill effects. It would only keep the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels to a minimum which is desired.

Discus breeders/keepers will tell you, daily water changes are what keeps their fish in good health. I don't see why it would be any different for oscars.
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The bacteria in the nitrogen cycle get disruped when doing daily water changes, so the bacteria never get a chance to reproduce. My dad is a chemical engineer who sells bacteria to waste treatment plants and that is how I know.

If you need to do water changes every day then you are over stocked....
 
cichlidfish;3991954; said:
The bacteria in the nitrogen cycle get disruped when doing daily water changes, so the bacteria never get a chance to reproduce. My dad is a chemical engineer who sells bacteria to waste treatment plants and that is how I know.

If you need to do water changes every day then you are over stocked....
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I agree. Did i recommend daily water changes?
 
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