red tiger oscar 65 gallon

Question
QUESTION: Hi ron I currently have a 35 gallon tank housing my one 5-6" oscar and in the process of cycling a new 65 gallon I just picked up it is running an aqua clear 300 and an aqua 150. I want to know how many if any tank buddys mr t (my Oscar) can live with

ANSWER: Hi Jamieson,
  The real issue is how many fish will your oscar allow to live with it and the usual answer is none.  Oscars are highly predatory fish and an oscar will basically eat any fish it can fit into its very large mouth.  He might not do it today or tomorrow, but eventually he will likely eat all his tankmates.   You might consider getting ONE other oscar.  If it is a female, things could turn out well.  If it turns out to be a male, one will likely kill the other.  The real challenge is that males and females are monomorphic, meaning that they look alike. There is no way to tell a male from a female when they are not spawning.  Some people will tell you that they can tell the difference: they will be right 50% of the time, i.e., they are guessing.  

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for getting back to me so fast. I was under them impression that if I was to put anymore fish in the tank with him it would max out or go over my Bio-Load for the tank. I was looking at other fish that are "completable" with oscars according to the author of which ever article I was reading. Most of the things I read say that as long as the fish that I decide to put in with him need to be the same size and there should be no problem. If that is the case would you suggest something like a few silver dollars, or a Jack Dempsey?

Answer
Hi Jamieson,
  You can try something like a large Jack Dempsey but the bottom line is that the oscar really doesn't want and/or need any "friends".  Oscars are perfectly happy living alone.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>