Oscar Cichlids - Astronotus ocellatus

by **BelieveInBlue** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 7:03 pm

Having a mini debate on my local fish forums...

I said the ideal minimum is a 75 for a single adult oscar; someone else said min = 90 (which IMHO is useless, since same footprint = basically the same tank for cichlids). And someone even said 180g, which IMO is enough for a pair + change (other cichlids, catfish, etc).

So.... who's right? or is everyone wrong?

by **Aulonocara_Freak** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 7:17 pm

IMHO a 55g would do perfect.

by **czar_wilson** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 8:40 pm

Everyone is right.
Everyone is wrong.
LOL All of the answers are going to be different. Some people would use a bare 55g, others use a 90g+. I'd like to think 90-120 for a full grown oscar, going up to a 210g or so for a full grown breeding pair. (My O is in a 90g at about 7 inches/ 5 months old)
As long as the oscar is happy, healthy, and in clean water. Good luck on this endless debate :lol:

by **TheFishGuy** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 6:10 am

1200.

by **Aulonocara_Freak** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 9:50 am

You see everyone has there own opinion and your not going to get a right one. I'm sure you know that he can't be in a 40g Breeder so IMO go with the biggest tank you can. Hey even build an indoor pond.

by **TheFishGuy** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 5:20 pm

Aulonocara_Freak wrote: Hey even build an indoor pond.

I did!

by **Aulonocara_Freak** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 5:49 pm

TheFishGuy, no kidding but I really was thinking about you when I posted that post! LMAO

by **TheFishGuy** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:08 pm

Ha Ha! But in all seriousness I would not bat an eye at keeping a single oscar in a bare 55 for life. As a matter of fact I'm thinking of raising one of my fry in a 55 and showing it! Unfortunately I don't have a 55! LOL

by **czar_wilson** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:17 pm

ehh 1200 55 its all about the same :lol:

by **TheFishGuy** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:32 pm

LOL, no, most of my tanks are well under 100 gallons... I just find 55's to be worthless...

by **Aulonocara_Freak** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:33 pm

TheFishGuy, agree with you there.

by **ivanmike** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 8:11 pm

Personally - 40 breeder! I find the 55's 13 inch depth to be too confining for the oscars once they reach 10 inches or so - painful to watch them try to turn around.

Upgrading from that would be a 75 (great, no more 3x week 75% water changes!).

125 would be more optimal, and to be honest, the 2 foot depth of a 180 or 240 would be even better. (recall in terms of real living space a 75 is only 1/3 bigger than a 40 breeder, and a 125 is twice the size)

by **TheFishGuy** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 8:30 pm

I bred a pair in a 40 breeder! LOL But my God man! That's animal cruelty!

by **czar_wilson** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:52 pm

i called it... :lol:

wondered how long it would take

by **scarhbar** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 12:28 am

For a cichlid, psh The Amazon river is a little small on their standards. Territorial little beasts. Honestly, we're never going to find that perfect fit, so I think I will go with what the fish can comfortably turn around in, and say 75 gallons. And a few 55 gallons, with a good footprint

Oscar Cichlids - Astronotus ocellatus • Minimum tank size for oscar

Minimum tank size for oscar

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