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by **wemery12** on Sun Jan 22, 2006 12:57 am

could like a freshwater eel or anything like that go into a 55 with 2 oscars?

by **Thorsmom** on Sun Jan 22, 2006 8:51 am

Nope. Unfortunately, the 55 gallon tank is not even big enough for the 2 Oscars. They require at least 55 gallons EACH, when full grown. If you can acquire a bigger tank, say, 180+, you might be able to get away with it. Not sure how O's will deal with an eel, O's are territorial, but maybe someone on this site will tell you that. I do know they will tell you that your tank is too small for the O's. In order to keep them healthy and happy, they need room to grow and swim. Hope this helps.....

by **DanRad** on Sun Jan 22, 2006 10:44 pm

We had quite a lively discussion on this tank size subject not too long ago. Can't seem to find it now, and have some doubts about re-opening it. Gist was that a lot of us disagree on the minimum tank size issue. My view is that you can successfully keep two oscars in a 55g IF you keep your water parameters in good shape. How that is best accomplished was a whole 'nother discussion. Main thing is to be sure nitrates stay <= 20ppm. Feeding, filtration, and water changes all play into this. Naturally the two fish need to get along -- never a given with oscars.

As to keeping an eel in there as well, unless it is a big one the O's would probably try to add it to their dinner menu. If it's big enough not to be eaten, it would likely push your water params over the edge in that size tank, and the O's might kill it anyway, just because they don't like it, or feel it shouldn't be in their territory.

by **tug** on Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:14 am

One more comment on the eel. It's not a good idea to house soft flesh fish (eels) with large cichlids. Oscars don't have front teeth like other cichlids but their lips are very hard. Any dispute between the two would result in a very unhappy eel. It's not a real good idea in my opnion, even in a larger tank.

Most eels do better in Brackish set-ups anyway. Unless your talking about the small ones (tire tracks). Small eel, big cichlid....not good friends!:D

by **Mark Stone** on Mon Jan 23, 2006 11:46 am

Originally posted by DanRad
We had quite a lively discussion on this tank size subject not too long ago. Can't seem to find it now, and have some doubts about re-opening it.

Yes, that was quite a discussion . . .

Gist was that a lot of us disagree on the minimum tank size issue. My view is that you can successfully keep two oscars in a 55g IF you keep your water parameters in good shape. How that is best accomplished was a whole 'nother discussion. Main thing is to be sure nitrates stay <= 20ppm. Feeding, filtration, and water changes all play into this. Naturally the two fish need to get along -- never a given with oscars.

Nothing is ever a given with Oscars. As far as personalities, tendencies, whether they are "aggressive" or "territorial" or not, we're seeing that individual Oscars love to act just like they shouldn't. For example, we universally suggest that UGFs are not good for Oscars, because they like to nose around in the gravel; but many Oscars I've kept leave the gravel alone. Oscars breaking heaters? Some do, some don't. Aggressiveness? Most Oscars I've kept are not aggressive or territorial at all, but a few have been -- they just like to keep us guessing. How will an Oscar treat an eel? We will all have different opinions, but in reality it's up to the Oscar; he's a grown-up and able to make his own decisions. Two Oscars in a 55? A century (one hunnert years) of experience teaches us that it can be done safely and successfully, but about 7 years of internet discussions have concluded that it cannot be done unless you are unspeakeably cruel. Oscars are the only tropical species demonstrated to be more intelligent than the fishkeeper. So, give every Oscar the benefit of the doubt; In this busy world, where we can't linger over our aquaria like we used to, go for aquariums that are as large as possible; know that any tankmate is a possible meal or enemy, so it's safest to not give Oscars "tankmates"; and, finally, no matter how inexperienced you are, you already know as much as the "experts". The "Oscar Personality" sees to that.

As to keeping an eel in there as well, unless it is a big one the O's would probably try to add it to their dinner menu. If it's big enough not to be eaten, it would likely push your water params over the edge in that size tank, and the O's might kill it anyway, just because they don't like it, or feel it shouldn't be in their territory.

by **Tank** on Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:05 pm

I would have to say that it probably isn't such a good idea in a 55 just because of the limited floor space if you had a 120 or more or at least a tank that was 5' long and 18" wide. Then you could put in some large rocks in a pile or 2 that your O's couldn't knock over and your eel could hide in if he needs to.

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