tank size

Astronotus Ocellatus - The World's most Popular Cichlid

tank size

Postby longlivehavoc on Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:48 pm

what would be a good size for two 7 in oscars?
longlivehavoc
Wriggler
Wriggler
 
Posts: 56
Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:41 pm

tank size

Postby tug on Fri Apr 07, 2006 12:25 am

120 gal.:D
User avatar
tug
Cichlid Member
Cichlid Member
 
Posts: 209
Joined: Sun Feb 20, 2005 2:32 am
Location: Wyoming

Re: tank size

Postby Mark Stone on Sat Apr 08, 2006 1:28 pm

Originally posted by longlivehavoc
what would be a good size for two 7 in oscars?
That depends completely on how detail oriented you are. (No kidding --) Consensus here and at other forums is that you would need about 100 gal (or more) for a pair of Oscars, and to be on the safe side that's my recommendation, too. But ask yourself a couple of questions: Are you the type of person that is consumed by the aquaria hobby? Do you sit in front of your aquarium and watch just like others watch TV? Do you test water, feed carefully, watch temperature, talk about your aquarium/fish to the point that you are losing friends? Do you study and understand the interesting Oscar personality and how they respond to stress? Are you willing to do weekly partials? Are you even willing to re-arrange the room furniture to lower your Oscars' stress? Then you can keep your two Oscars in a 55. Are you an average aquarist, keeping an aquarium for decoration? Do you do regular maintenance, but do not live for your aquarium? Do you like your fish, but there's a lot of other priorities that keep you away from time to time? Then you need 100 gallons or more. If you have any doubt at all, go the 100 route. I would think 99 per cent of fishkeepers should go the 100 route. You just need to be honest with yourself. I keep two pairs in two 55s, but only recommend it to ppl that are willing to do the careful work. So, if you die in a car crash tonight and you are absolutely certain that the obituary in the newspaper would start with the phrase:
Longlivehavoc, a local respected fishkeeper, died . . .
. . .then get a 55. Otherwise, go the 100+ gallon route or switch to Convicts:D

--Mark:cool:
User avatar
Mark Stone
Administrator
Administrator
 
Posts: 1055
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 9:30 am

tank size

Postby longlivehavoc on Sat Apr 08, 2006 4:43 pm

thanks its funny that you mention the part about losing friends because i talk about fish too much. i havent lost any friends but i do get on there nerves.
longlivehavoc
Wriggler
Wriggler
 
Posts: 56
Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:41 pm

tank size

Postby Mark Stone on Sun Apr 09, 2006 3:30 am

Originally posted by longlivehavoc
thanks its funny that you mention the part about losing friends because i talk about fish too much. i havent lost any friends but i do get on there nerves.
:thumbsup: -----:cool:
User avatar
Mark Stone
Administrator
Administrator
 
Posts: 1055
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 9:30 am

tank size

Postby DanRad on Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:16 pm

One thing Mark fails to point out in his otherwise fine analysis is how much more fun large tanks are to care for. Really! Once you get to 100 gallons or so, you realize that buckets and gallon jugs of aged water are just not as clever and carefree a solution as you once thought them. So you get a python and life becomes less stressful again! As with all boons however, there is a dark side to larger tanks. The temptation is always there to add just one more fish. For instance, a testimonial from someone we’ll call Bill: “My Oscars get along great in this 150 gallon tank, and even with the 18” pleco there seems to be plenty of room, so maybe (if I get a small one) I could put a Great White in there just to see how they get along. Oh, right – saltwater! Well maybe an immature tarpon!” So you get your new fish, and it turns out that your Oscars don’t welcome him with open arms, plus he really needs a slightly larger tank – say around the size of the Gulf of Mexico. So now you find yourself with 2 large aquariums, one of which has only the one fish, so you think “hmmm, I wonder what would make a good companion for Moby?” I’m convinced that this is how Dr. No came to live on that cay down in the Caribbean with the viewing glass and lights built into the island wall, and why he was really mining guano – to finance his aquarium hobby!
User avatar
DanRad
Senior Cichlidfish Staff
Senior Cichlidfish Staff
 
Posts: 970
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2003 10:51 pm
Location: NYC

tank size

Postby Mark Stone on Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:00 am

Originally posted by DanRad
. . .how much more fun large tanks are to care for. . .
Also, although at first thought it may not make sense, larger aquariums are easier to care for. They take less time and less effort to maintain simply because the larger environment is more stable. Temperature changes, changes in water quality, etc. happen more gradually in a 100 than in a 55. The environment is not as fragile. --Mark:cool:
User avatar
Mark Stone
Administrator
Administrator
 
Posts: 1055
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 9:30 am

tank size

Postby tomiosis on Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:14 pm

thanks mark...u made my day! I've been waiting months to hear someone say that. I have 1 "O" and a med plec in a 55, and u probobly WOULD believe the griefe I get over it. I keep sayin...If u love the labor..it's not a problem, but who listens.
User avatar
tomiosis
Egghead
Egghead
 
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Mar 04, 2006 3:04 am

tank size

Postby Mark Stone on Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:37 am

Originally posted by tomiosis
thanks mark...u made my day! I've been waiting months to hear someone say that. I have 1 "O" and a med plec in a 55, and u probobly WOULD believe the griefe I get over it. I keep sayin...If u love the labor..it's not a problem, but who listens.
Before the introduction of silicone aquarium sealant in the 1960s, aquariums larger than 30 gallons were very rare and expensive. Oscars were kept in 20 and 30 gallon homes very successfully for decades before 55s and larger became so common and relatively inexpensive. As a matter of fact, I have a book where Herbert Axelrod, one of the most respected ictheologists (if not the most respected) of all time suggests that you move your Oscars to a "large" 30 gallon tank for breeding! Now that 55s and larger are readily available, there's no reason to keep such large fish in small aquaria any longer -- makes life more difficult -- but it's an interesting historical note. Once again, though, I recommend 100+ gallons for Oscars pairs (although I keep mine in 55s) because I don't think there are very many people willing to sacrifice the time and energy it takes to 1.) maintain the water, and 2.) understand the Oscar personality enough to be able to keep them in 55s. --Mark:cool:
User avatar
Mark Stone
Administrator
Administrator
 
Posts: 1055
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 9:30 am

re:

Postby giankrlo on Mon May 01, 2006 1:25 am

hi to everyone, im new in here.... and im happy to be part of a good fishsite!!!:D

well the thing is i have a 55 gallon with an oscar and i want to get another one for a pair, i really care about my fish... i do talk about them with my friends and they tell i should work in a petshop:D

well i want the pair to have babys!!! but what do you think???
giankrlo
Egghead
Egghead
 
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon May 01, 2006 1:10 am

Re: tank size

Postby panasonic on Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:04 pm

Originally posted by longlivehavoc
what would be a good size for two 7 in oscars?


ya i 100 gal + tank is god size
panasonic
Egghead
Egghead
 
Posts: 9
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:02 pm


Return to OSCARS


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests

cron