Confused about which fish to get

Question
Hey, i have a 55g tank that is in the process of being setup with:
2 Hagen Aquaclear 110's ( a total of 1000GPH )
1 200W Stealth heater
Sand
Lots of lava rock
Lots of fake plants
Flourescent lighting

I have recently wanted to keep:
1 Oscar
5 Pictus catfish
1 Severum

I know how to care about virtually any common cichlid even from african excluding Lake tanginyika, victoria and that other one that slips my mind but i can keep the following fish:
Dwarf cichlids
Most monster fish ( Oscars, red devils, red belly pacus red tailed catfish )
Malawi african cichlids
All common cichlids from the Americas

But any way i am torn be tween that stocking list, or a barb tank with:
3 Red tail tinfoil barbs ( these are not to be confused with the larger origianl variation, these only get 7-8" )
3 Red Hooks
6 Tiger barbs
3 Pictus catfish

Or will this work:
1 Oscar
2 Red tail tinfoil barbs
3 Pictus catfish

I am totally torn, so please help

Answer
Hi David,
  I think that if you put the barbs in with the oscar, unless the barbs are much larger than the oscar, he is just going to eat them.  That's what oscars do and they are very good at it.  He might even take a shot at eating the pictus catfish.  I have known situations where oscars tried to eat plecostomus catfish that were the same size as the oscar....   so you will be taking a chance.  The other problem if the oscar tries to eat the catfish (besides killing the catfish) is that the catfish will erect its spines at which point it gets stuck in the oscar's throat which can kill him as well.  

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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