tank mate for oscar in 75g

[duanes]

At one time, 70 to 80% of the people in the world thought it was flat, and that disease came from evil demons.
As late as the 1900s, government officials wouldn't believe malaria came from mosquitos.
Thousands died because of their unsubstantiated beliefs while building the Panama canal.
Does what someone believes make it the truth?
I consider 70 to 80% of hobbyists to be delusional about tank size for fish, that in nature, don't live in a space the size of a rut in the rut in the road, or a roadside ditch.
These large fish come from large bodies of water, with constant water change, and zero nitrate.

 

[J. H.]

That is your choice to do so.

Do you not think a 75 would be a much better home to something the size of a kribensis?
This would allow space for territory, tank mates, stimulation, exercise and the opportunity to swim out of its own urine.
You could give it a mate, the instinct to breed is very strong in cichlids. It's shaped their evolution and success.

An oscar in a 75 can have none of the above.
Ignorance is bliss so believe what you will.

This is the part that I just don't understand. The hobby has hundreds upon hundreds of species of fish to choose from.
Yet so many people choose the very largest one they can possibly cram into a 75. Why?
It makes no sense to me. I'd rather give a fish a simulation of a home from home. Not solitary confinement in a tiny glass box.

This debate could be a complete waste of time, I've had this debate many times.
Maybe a newbie may stumble across it and think twice about the fish they are about to stock. Maybe not.
People will do what they want to do and they will take the advise that suites their own desires. I think that's happened to you my friend.

IMO kribs are a bad choice. I had a pair in my 55, but wasn't careful, and had a plant dieoff due to nutrient issues. I pulled out the dead plants, and hopefully fixed the issues, and they stopped spawning and the male killed the female right away. The tank was still planted, and had plenty of caves, btw. I do not think kribs can be kept without a lot of plants. (I also removed the BN pair that had been eating their eggs & fry, hoping to reduce stress, but it is possible that without a common enemy, the male was bored enough to kill the female.)

 

[fishhead0103666]

Well after reading all of the posts here I've gotta say, my thoughts towards oscars and the tank sizes for then have changed slightly. I won't be getting another until I have a 125 so I can hopefully see this change for myself.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

IMO kribs are a bad choice. I had a pair in my 55, but wasn't careful, and had a plant dieoff due to nutrient issues. I pulled out the dead plants, and hopefully fixed the issues, and they stopped spawning and the male killed the female right away. The tank was still planted, and had plenty of caves, btw. I do not think kribs can be kept without a lot of plants. (I also removed the BN pair that had been eating their eggs & fry, hoping to reduce stress, but it is possible that without a common enemy, the male was bored enough to kill the female.)

I actually used krbs as a size comparison My words were, "something the size of a kribensis". Size, being the operative word.
However many krbs are housed in tanks of 75gallons and under with satisfactory results.
Generally speaking fish the "Size" of a krib will do a lot better in a 75 than an oscar and a tank mate.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

I do not think kribs can be kept without a lot of plants. (I also removed the BN pair that had been eating their eggs & fry, hoping to reduce stress, but it is possible that without a common enemy, the male was bored enough to kill the female.)

More females may of helped. I often get better results with harems than pairs.
Male aggression is diluted among the numbers so not just one female gets hounded. If you add three more females you should be ok.

 

[FINWIN]

I've never heard of a captive bred oscar reaching 15 inches let alone 18 inches. Got any proof of it such as a thread of a forum? I'd honestly like to see this.

Guy named DJ Jones had a 15 incher in a 225 named King Zeus on YouTube. He died at 6 about a year ago. The videos are still up. Zeus made his silver arowana take a leap from the tank. When he bought a 9 inch GT it looked like a guppy next to the O.
Do a YouTube search on King Zeus the Oscar.

Here's some big uns...both "wild" Os. King Zeus the huge tiger oscar and Bug the giant oscar.

Giant Oscars have a certain head/body ratio and high backs from what I've seen.

 

[FINWIN]

This one scares me!

More whoppers

 

[Rocksor]

Guy named DJ Jones had a 15 incher in a 225 named King Zeus on YouTube. He died at 6 about a year ago. The videos are still up.

That's a rather young age for an oscar to die, about half it's lifespan. Did he jump out?

 

[FINWIN]

That's a rather young age for an oscar to die, about half it's lifespan. Did he jump out?

DJ was too broken up to explain what happened. He found him in the tank dead I believe. I also believe some of the food items led to his demise (he fed him both healthy and unhealthy foods). Like mice which he fed when Zeus was smaller (around 12" at the time). He was still growing at 15" so there's no telling where he would have maxed out. He cares a lot for his fish but gets too excited wanting to constantly change out big cichlids. But Zeus was his baby. I think a combination of stress, diet, and excess bioload contributed. At one time he had 20 blood parrots, the big Oscar, Silver Arowana, and his favorite flowerhorn along with a gorgeous female midas that was returned (she was starting to take over). Then he got a GT. Then he got a group of Firemouths. He was temporarily keeping a RTC for a friend (rehomed). The flowerhorn Bubbles he raised was huge but died at about 2 and had nonstop health issues. DJ was actually able to get the flowerhorn to live in a 'community' setting. I think he was around 11 or 12 inches and very thick.

Bug the Oscar is a whopping 16" at last measurement and probably only about 3 years at this point. Raised solo in large tanks with great care.

As an artist I notice porportions. You don't always need a ruler. What tips off a giant oscar? Look at the space between the eyes and compare with say a 10 to 12 incher. The eyes don't keep growing. Next, the head ratio to the body. The head will only grow to a certain point but the body gets enormous. Look at how they move and turn. Slow and ponderous. The finnage is often very large when extended (compare to head size). Also their fins are very thick, like old fingernails. They get super 'jowls'.

Its like with humans. A baby's head is 1/3 the size of the body. An adult's head is about 1/7 - 1/8 total body height. This doesn't change no matter if you're 5', 6' or 7'.