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Hello everyone,
I need to move my two Oscars into a larger tank, the tank I want to put them in is 75 gallons and right now there are two Silver Dollar fish in the tank both Silver Dollar fish are about 6 inches each. My two Oscars are about 4 inches each. The Silver Dollar fish has been in that same tank for about 2 years now and doing very well, no problems.  What I need to know is what is the procedure for moving the fish from one tank to another. Of course when you buy fish from a store they come in a plastic contain and you let them float on top of the tank water that you want to put them in for a while then add them to the tank. But what about moving them from one tank to another? should I add some of the Oscars water from their tank into the Silver Dollar tank? Should I put the Oscars in something and let them float on top of the tank water like you do when you bring home new fish?    Need some help with this one.

That's way too many fish in a 75 gallon tank. That's enough for 1 Oscar.

If both tanks are in your house, then the temp and water params should be pretty similar.  Just to be sure, check temps in each tank, as well as pH.  If they're pretty much the same, you don't need to go through a huge ritual -- just move them.

On the other hand, if they're more than a couple of degrees different in temp, and/or the pH is significantly different, you'll need to either

a)  Put them in a bucket with a small amount of the old tank water, then SLOWLY add water from the new tank until that's the majority of the water, after which you can transfer the fish (not the water) into the new tank.

or

b)  Do a series of large water changes in both tanks over a few days until the pH reading is about the same, then just move the fish.

I prefer the 2nd method, as I think it stresses the fish less.

If you test both tanks with a master test kit and they are very close on levels, as well as temp, then you won't need to do anything special, just move them, like Dan said.

what amy is referring to is that a general rule for Oscars is as follows:  a single O needs a bare minimum of 55 gallons with 75 being much more accommidating.  So using that rule, 110 for two, 150 being better.  There are aquarists that can pull off smaller tanks, but they will most likely tell you it takes supreme effort on you to maintain water quality, and a bit of luck with friendly Os that don't get territorial.

With that being said, you said you are moving them to the bigger tank and that is great.  Well, is it possible to move the silver dollars to the other tank?  The two Os would work much better by themselves in that 75 when adult.  I know it may seem like we are exaggerating, but honestly we are not.  When fed well, and water quality is pristine, these fish grow from 1-2" a month.  If in the proper size tank they grow to around 12-14" SL ...  that doesn't include the tail, with tail, it could end up being 16-18" each, and two to three inches wide!!!  This is why most are starting to believe 55s aren't big enough now, they are only 12" wide, and Os are swimmers, so you don't want to shorten the tank to add width.  Two Os get along better in a 6ft tank.  I am personally working on getting a 96 gallon bow-front for my O who is currently in a 55.  he has grown an inch in two weeks, and found out he had ich, so that didn't even slow his growth down.  He is about 3.5" TL 2.5" SL.

Now, I do think you can pull off the 75 with your two, but the SDs will most likely make water changes horrendously frequent as the Os get up in size.  I am guessing 50% or more every other day minimum.  With just the two Os as adults, it may be only twice a week.  It is easier to stretch out if you get all the uneaten food and do a quick gravel sweep each day to pick up waste and expelled food.  It is much quicker and easier to change one bucket daily to extend the big change to once a week.  Just do those nitrate tests to keep it under 20 ppm, or better under 10 ppm!!!  0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and low nitrates are the key to healthy, happy, long-lived fish.

Thanks for the replies.
I should have also stated that I know the Oscars will have to be moved again in the future,I know that 75 gallon tank is not going to be big enough but it's bigger that what they are in now. I have two empty 55 gallon tanks just sitting on my front porch waiting to be used but my thinking is wait until my Oscars are bigger. They are not that big right now so why put them into that big tank. I was even told to leave the Silver Dollar fish alone and to set up both 55 gallon tanks and put one Oscar in each tank but then my thinking is they'll be lonely. So I think I'll just leave my Silver Dollar fish alone and set up one of the 55 gallon tanks for now and use it for the two Oscars with plans to move them again into a larger tank within about 5 months or so I don't want them alone. Maybe the 150 gallon tank will be my next tank like suggested.
I also noticed my Oscars color get dark and pretty at times and then I'll notice the color is light and dull, what's going on with that do anyone know? 
Thanks for all of the help

They change color with moods.  I think it is a quite interesting attribute.  My little guy looks all black sometimes, black with bright orange stripes, or sometimes super pale almost white olive color, but those stripes on his belly are always pure white.  Other than mood/energy levels, the contents of the food can help them develop brighter colors too, but that doesn't seem the cause of your changes :wink: .  Fish with blue color need a different color enhancer than the red/orange ones.

Like I said, you could pull off the 75, and there is a 'chance' you could pull off one 55 (with maintenance and luck), I believe Mark Stone either has, or did have a 55 with two Oscars from reading a post in a thread somewhere, so he would be the one to ask about how much extra work it is to keep them healthy.

I think you might be better off keeping them together.  These fish do get attached and lonely/miss their mate.  I would say that is more an issue if they sleep and swim together most of the time.  A good way to lessen the chances of trouble in a smaller tank is little or no decorations and substrate, and I hear even keeping the back of the tank open so they can see out.  This way they have the perception of a bigger tank, plus more water from less stuff, and fill the tank as high as possible.  Maybe some tall plants at one end for one to hide at if the other gets aggressive.  They would LOVE a 150 if you decided and could afford that route.  It would be like a mansion to them when they first switched.  I think you will do fine, you show you care and have a heart.

Keeping two Oscars in a 55 can be done if you're very, very disciplined maintaining water quality and if you keep a mind on what's going on outside of the tank. Fish don't know they're in an aquarium -- they don't even know that there's such a thing as "aquarium". They're just being fish. So if you place your tank in a spot where they can see clearly into a large room, and if the lighting in their aquarium is dim enough, they'll grow and live to be old grey-headed Oscars. However, if you're not ready to be really picky about temperature/nitrite/nitrate/ammonia/disease prevention/lighting/etc./etc./etc/ then I would suggest larger aquariums for Oscar pairs. --Mark