[joolz]

I managed to get an Oscar to replace Sushi. He took a bit of finding, alot of LFS in other towns seem to have closed in the 4 years since I last stocked up my tanks. And the cichlid specialist had just quarantined their tiger oscars after I phoned up to check they had some in stock! Anyway I found a new LFS yesterday, their small stock of birds and animals were clean and healthy, and their tanks were spotless.

Hes called Obi (because of his O, had nothing to do with Star Wars being on tv when I got home with him honestly ). Hes 3 inches including tail and eats anything I put in the tank, flakes, pellets. He comes up to greet me and has realised already when I tap on the tank, to get under feeding hole foods coming. I put some large danios in the tank to try and encourage Sushi to eat, Obi only chases them when theyre eating the food he thinks he should be eating, they can have the small bits he spits out lol. Think Im going to have to move them in the next couple of days. Im hunting around for some larger 'dithers' to put in with him. Any ideas? Oh Im not keen on silver fish btw.

Heres a couple of pics of him the second pic is his true colour

Joolz

 

[Hanafuda]

Wow he's gorgeous. Just right if you ask me ... I much prefer the green/black "wild" look with a well-defined spot over the reds, tigers, and lutinos. How big of a tank is he going to be moved to? I think he deserves a severum for a buddy.

 

[joolz]

Yeah I think hes lovely too but Im biased. Hes in his 71 gallon Galea tank 46in l x 18 in w x 22 in h . Unless he gets really massive, I think this will be ok for him. I was thinking of Obi being the only cichlid in the tank and getting larger dither fish. He does have a small gibbiceps in with him to clean the glass. Im sick of using magnetic cleaners which always scratch my tanks!!

I already have 2 Severums in another 71 gal tank, a gold and a green (father and daughter) with 7 corys and a gibbiceps.

Do you think he'll stay the same colours? When I bought him I was told he was a tiger Oscar and was expecting to see some orange on him as he gets older.

 

[TheFishGuy]

Looks like a common oscar to me if he's the size you say he is and doesn't have any orange or red yet. Commons are (in my opinion) are the nicest looking ones.

I know you said you didn't want another cichlid but consider a geophagus type as a friend. They are great "pilot fish" for oscars. They'll wait by the gills to eat the bits and pieces...

I'd also getg rid of your common pleco and opt for a bushy nose or bristlenose pleco (one in the same) as they will not get huge and will actually do their job over their entire life span un like commons...

 

[HawkinsStu]

Congrats on your new oscar, it look awsome!

About dither fish, do you know the type of danio you have?

I went with giant danios and brought them at 4-5cms when my oscars were at 2.5 icnhes. 8 months later they have grow to about 7-8cms with the oscars around 8 icnhes!

Some of the befits i found going with them and not silver dollars where they are very very quick, oscars now know they cant catch them, they do try but soon stop. They clean up everything that the oscars grew up and dont need feeding at all. My biggest beifit is that they take up no room compared with SD's. Keeps the oscar(s) center of attention.

Here are some pics.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=222722

Hope this helps , just make sure they are giant danios and fairly big already!

 

[BigDaddyK]

I'm so envious of the 2nd pic. I want a common sooooooo bad!! can't seem to find them in my area at all. I've even looked online to see if I could find a breeder but no luck.

Nice Fish!! :thumb:

 

[joolz]

The danios I have are a male and female zebra and a male and female pearl. They are pretty big but I know they will end up as a snack as Obi grows. Although at the moment hes showing no interest in them, Im looking around for the giants. Your tank looks lovely Hawksins Stu. :thumb:

I bought the gibbiceps as a bristlenose a few months ago to go with my other albino bristlenose in my Ranchu tank, he was about 1/2 inch when I got him but as he grew I realised he wasnt. Hes about 2 inches now! I caught Obi having a taste of his fin last night I dont think Obi was impressed, his mouth movements after were like he was spitting :lol: He didnt do any damage to himself or to the fin and gibbi didnt even swim away, it just ignored him!! I am thinking of swapping tanks with the larger bristlenose and gibbi on my next wc.

I have looked at a Geo as a tankmate Fish Guy but the only type I can get are Brasiliensis which I think will grow too big.

Its a pity you dont live over here BigDaddy. Obi had a twin in his tank.

 

[BigDaddyK]

haha.. i have family over there... they are visiting in the near future... .... .... LOL.. nah.. i can't see customs liking that very much !