My oscar Tank

Question
Hi Lynda i was wondering if you could help me i have just bought a 7 foot by 3 foot by 3 foot tank to move my lemon oscar into and i have been wondering about the possiblity of putting other fish in with him i have asked around some fish stores and come back with some answers such as severums and plecs, but i was wondering about other cichlids as i keep lots of cichlids in other tanks and really like them, so are there any other cichlids that would be ok to go in with him? he is only three inches at the moment, also i really like frontosa's would they be ok to go with my oscar? thanks in advance Rob"

Answer
Hi Robert,
I have no idea how to calculate a 7 foot by 3 foot by 3 foot tank...however I do know that one Oscar needs at least 66 gallons of water to himself in order to be healthy, and happy...2 Oscars you must double that..120 gallons..and so on.  
I do not believe in mixing South American Cichlids with African Cichlids.  The African cichlids need alkaline water, and their habitat is not the same.  African Cichlids are very very aggressive fish.  The Oscar, is not that aggressive, and the Frontosa would end up hurting him.  I have kept Oscars with Angel Fish, Silver Dollars, Severums, bala Fish, black Ghosts, Botias, and many bottom fish, and never had a problem.  Of course I bought them all small.  I had a 250 gallon tank, so had room for all of them.  My black ghost, and shark ended up in a 500 gallon though as he got very big.   Although they say that fish will get use to alkaline water, it is to them like living with a headache for the rest of their life.  A Frontosa needs 8.0 or more to be happy, whereas an Oscar needs 6.5-7.0  Nothing can change this, no matter what, the Oscar is happy in slightly acidic waters.  A Frontosa would die in acidic waters.  In my book they do not mix.  If your tank is big enough, like the man at the pet shop told you, a Severum would be just fine with the Oscar.  They have the same character, and they are pretty to. I personally prefer the Golden one, as they are beautiful when older.  Pick a healthy one, and check to see if he has a little red on his fins.  When you see red, these make the most beautiful Severums.  Clown Botias could be a  choice too, they are impressive..You would need at least two, or more if you have the space.
Learning more about the oscar each day, as I now have one who is alone in a 80 gallon tank.  I feel he is a loner, and prefers to be alone.  They are amazing pets, very intelligent, and I wouldn't change him for the world.
I just want to add, never feed your Oscars feeder fish.  Feeder fish have no nutritional value, and most are full of disease.  If you Oscar eats a diseased fish, he too will get sick.  Also keep his water at 77 degrees.  Cool water is not good for him, and warmer water would result in lack of oxygen since he gets so big.  Make your water changes every week to avoid ammonia...and feed him a good pellet, good flakes, frozen bloodworms.  Vary his diet, and he should be just fine.
Lynda