what kind of fish should i put with my 2 oscars and tinfoil barbs?
Posted on September 15th, 2009 by admin
Fish
I have a 125 gallon fish tank with 2 oscars and tinfoil barbs. I don’t know any other kinds of fish to put in there.
Free Screensavers
I have a 125 gallon fish tank with 2 oscars and tinfoil barbs. I don’t know any other kinds of fish to put in there.
Free Screensavers
Filed under: Fish
MateMediaSoft
Not much else actuallly. The Oscars will get huge. Mine got gigantic and just about outgrew a 75 gal tank. Also… the Oscars are fond of eating anything smaller than themselves. You might do okay with Demseys.
New York City Job Listings
In a 125 gallon tank, Tinfoils can get pretty huge and anything less than double the size of a neon tetra is basically fish food.
New York City Job Listings
I recommend not putting any other fish in the tank. Oscars can grow to be 12″-16″ long & can weigh 3.5 pounds. They are also carnivorous and will eat other fish. I was always told not to put Oscars with other fish in the same tank.
Small Business Web Hosting
Plecos are a good addition as they and oscars get along fine most of the time and maybe a dempsey. Silver dollars are another idea. Make sure any addition is at least 6″ so your oscars don’t make them lunch.
Edit: I had 2 tiger oscars and 2 common plecos in a 125 gallon for 3 years and never had a problem. Doesn’t sound like some of these people have experience with keeping oscars.
Dolphin Hosting
Most plecos and catfish are not good tank mates for Oscars. Oscars will try to eat about anything and they do have rather large mouths. Oscars can die from getting plecos and catfish stuck inside their mouths due to a spiked fins. In that size tank, you are really better off leaving it alone. Even plecos too large to be food can get picked on.
In response to the person claiming that aquarists do not use vets below, I have this to say. I have seen four fatalities involving plecos and Oscars. In those cases, the large Oscars have tried to eat large plecos and both times the two fish have died. I have also had to take a catfish out of an Oscar, in which case the Oscar survived but that catfish did not. Also, I have learned from much experience and animal rescue that people rarely get larger tanks when the current one becomes too small. You should not get anything with the plans on getting a larger tank in the future. It is not good for the fish and you never know what may happen that could prevent getting something larger in the future. Is it not always better to be safer or the fishes sake and health?
I do have a great deal of experience with many types of fish. I am not saying it happens every time. But, each person should know that there is that risk and decide whether or not to take it. Just because it works once or twice does not make it a rule!
People wonder why we aquarists don’t use vets???? The size of you’re tank may become a problem at some stage, but common plecs would suit the tank and the Oscars would leave them alone under normal circumstances. I’d be pretty reluctant to add much else you don’t mention how many tin foils you have, another shoaling fish if the surface area is sufficient is the Bala/Silver shark.