young Oscar and Pleco....I'm considering potential tank mates

[y2blade]

I will be moving my Oscar and pleco into a new tank in a few weeks once cycling has finished

I have had Oscars before but never kept them with other breeds of fish (apart from pleco's)

what other species should I be looking at?

thank you all in advance

[rich311k]

What size tank is it moving into?

[y2blade]

48x18x18"
255litres (if I did the maths correctly (blush) )

[y2blade]

any suggestions please?
:goldfish: :fish:
or should I just stick with the two I have?

[MCHRKiller]

For a tank that size an Oscar would be best kept alone or with 1 other fish. I would stick to a smaller species of pleco instead of a common or something which grows well over a foot. Stick to a species of pleco growing between 6-9" instead. You could also go with a female convict, they make great Oscar companions. :22:

[Lady Hobbs]

I agree. One Oscar is fine in that tank alone. You may want one or two featherfins but I would think nothing else.

[y2blade]

thanks for the replies guys/girls.


thumbs2:

[y2blade]

from reading around on the internet I'm beginning to think maybe my new tank is not big enough for Oscar in the long run (from what I'd read in an old Oscar keeping book, a 4ft tank would be ideal.....obviously opinions change over time) so considering giving him to a new home and maybe go down the Cichlid community or dwarf Cichlid community route

really unsure now as don't want to keep the Oscar in a tank that is ultimately not big enough for him


I have a few weeks until my new tank will finish its fishless cycle, so have some time to weigh-up the options

[Lady Hobbs]

4 ft tanks that are 12" wide is what the problem is because the fish can hardly turn around in that width if he's 12" in length himself. You're tank is 18" so it should not be a problem if you are literally insisting on an Oscar.

But I agree that there are some super nice cichlids out there that don't need a whole tank to themselves and can have a few friends. A nice cichlid is a Severum, for one.

[y2blade]

4 ft tanks that are 12" wide is what the problem is because the fish can hardly turn around in that width if he's 12" in length himself. You're tank is 18" so it should not be a problem if you are literally insisting on an Oscar.

But I agree that there are some super nice cichlids out there that don't need a whole tank to themselves and can have a few friends. A nice cichlid is a Severum, for one.

thanks for the reply :ssmile:

I'm not insisting on a Oscar at all.....I have a young one in my established tank, he is about 5"-6" at the moment.....the intention was to move him to the new tank (48x18x18" mentioned above)

I'm just weighing-up the options and trying to find out what is best for my young Oscar

[Sandz]

...you have a 4ft tank... 48in=4ft... CONFUSED...

[y2blade]

...you have a 4ft tank... 48in=4ft... CONFUSED...


That is correct

why the confusion?

[y2blade]

My otherhalf took my young Oscar to Maidenhead aquatics today :scry:

shame he went, but it was best for him


I'm going for Community with a handfull of Dwarf Cichlids