[Big Dog Louis]

I am building a new 85gln tank in which I will house 20 Lake Malawi Cichlids and 3 Jack Dempseys..these fish have been living together in harmony for a year.
Now my addition will be 2 Oscars this is my question how can I make this work and if so what possible problems may I have?????

 

[TheFishGuy]

what possible problems may I have?????

-The oscars will get killed, or some other fish will get killed depending on how large the oscars are...

-More than likely a massive break down of hiearchy and chaos will ensue.

 

[Big Dog Louis]

I was thinking of adding the Oscars a lil larger than the Africans....the africans are about 6" to 7" long, so I thought of adding Oscars same size which in return means bigger since they are Oscars.
I really want to do this...not to be stubborn but I have read that it can be done...what other advice do you have on the positive note, to make it possible?

 

[frank1rizzo]

FishGuy is right 23 6" fish in a 85 gallon tank is asking for trouble.

1. Your going to have long term health issues unless your doing ALOT of water changes.
2. Lake Malawi Cichlids is kind of vague. What kind of fish are they?

 

[TheFishGuy]

A 6" oscar is not at the same maturity level or age of a 6" Malawi. It will get killed in that cramped of a space.

Not sure where you're reading that you can do this but I can say that statement really made me laugh. Sorry man, you cannot "make this work" It's that simple. Get another 85 and put a single oscar in it if you want one that bad.

I have nothing positive to say about the situation... Sorry, but where ever you're getting your information they must have gotten their information from a cracker jack box.

As it is, you are over stocked right now. I will NOT suggest adding more fish, no less oscars that are waste producing machines.

 

[Big Dog Louis]

Well the list of Africans includes this....6 zebras, on 2 are 6" long the rest are about 3". 4 Jack Demps. 4" long. 6 Jewels about 3" long average. 1 Blue Dolphin, and 1 Peacock and 3 others I cant remeber the name but are about 3" long on average.

To these i want to add the 2 Oscars. I would gladly build another aquarium if I had the room. I already have a 55gln with tropicals in my living room and now with the 85gln I have no more available room.

 

[Big Dog Louis]

By the way I do appreciate your honesty and that is how a person learns I believe...I am a bit stubborn so it just takes a good bit of qualified information to change my mind, so thank you for your answers, now about the info I have read like you said...I have seen videos on youtube, read others posts about similar arrangements and also asked LFS...and yes I know they arent the best source but these guys have pretty much always told me correct info and not just tried to sell.

 

[TheFishGuy]

I'm sorry Big Dog, but if your local fish store is telling you that you can add two oscars to that tank I'd never shop there again...

Jewels are west african by the way... Not malawi...

I understand that right now if you look into an 85G tank and see your fish it seems as if there could be room for two oscars. Short term there might be, but it would be very short term.

Keeping two oscars alone in an 85 usually ends in disaster once they mature...

Get rid of your tropicals in the 55 and put an oscar in there, or get rid of all the africans and put an oscar in with the jacks.... Those would be my suggestions, professional and personal...

 

[Big Dog Louis]

Thanks bro I truly appreciate your honesty and time. This is the reason I ask on the forum in order to get schooled on what I am totally ignorant about! I do believe I will have to find a new option for the Oscars...

 

[MonteSS]

I agree that adding two Oscars to your current mix definitely would not work.

Actually if the current stocking does work, you are very lucky and I wouldnt change a thing.

Make sure you do multiple water changes a week to keep the Nitrates down and make sure you have enough biological filtration.

Good luck...Bill