Setting up a new Oscar tank...

[that fishy feeling]

My uncle is giving me a 55gal aquarium which already has a 3 year old tiger oscar, a huge pleco, and a red belly piranah... i dont know if the piranah should be there but its been doing well for about two years so i will keep the three fish that he's also giving me. He will give me all equipment required but i want to know what other cichlids I can put in the tank. i will also be buying another oscar so take that into consideration too.

[Brhino]

I would not add any more fish to that tank. It's already too small for any of those fish individually, to say nothing of the three of them together.

[Cliff]

+1 to the above

I certainly would not add a second oscar to your tank. They can often grow to longer than a foot. I have seen them around 14" from tail to nose. That is wider than a standard 55 gallon tank

I would suggest rehoming those fish and finding some smaller fish that you would like which would work in a 55 gallon tank.

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[gm72]

Agreed. I wouldn't hold those fish in less than a 90 gallon.

[Aeonflame]

Agreed. A 55 is completely unsuitable for any of those fish.

[that fishy feeling]

the oscar has lived there comfortbly for 3 years and is very small for a tiger oscar (about 11in. oposed to the regular for his age which is 16in)... the piranah is 2 years and pretty small so i will keep them for now and move them if required in the future. i wont buy another oscar but i still want to know if there are any other cichlids that would work in the tank without crowding it

[850R]

i wont buy another oscar but i still want to know if there are any other cichlids that would work in the tank without crowding itNo, As previously mentioned this tank is overstocked already. This rules out any further additions.

[carl87gt]

the oscar has lived there comfortbly for 3 years and is very small for a tiger oscar (about 11in. oposed to the regular for his age which is 16in)... the piranah is 2 years and pretty small so i will keep them for now and move them if required in the future. i wont buy another oscar but i still want to know if there are any other cichlids that would work in the tank without crowding it

I have a 9-10 inch Oscar in my 75 gal and just bought a 120 gallon because I felt that tank was getting too small for him. He is the only fish in my tank. Listen to the advice everyone is giving you. That tank is already crowed - don't get any more fish for that tank. You will likely start seeing some serious aggressive behaviors if you add more fish (really surprised you aren't now)

[Cliff]

the oscar has lived there comfortbly for 3 years and is very small for a tiger oscar (about 11in. oposed to the regular for his age which is 16in)... the piranah is 2 years and pretty small so i will keep them for now and move them if required in the future. i wont buy another oscar but i still want to know if there are any other cichlids that would work in the tank without crowding it

What is most likely happening is your fish is becomig stunted.

If you google that you might better understand were everyone`s advice is coming from

[xDIRTYSOUTHx]

What is most likely happening is your fish is becomig stunted.

If you google that you might better understand were everyone`s advice is coming from

Agreed. Many fish stay smaller than their normal size when in small tanks. That's not a good thing btw.