Compatible Fish

Question
Hi Richard
I have an Oscar in a 125 gallon tank with a Pleco. The Oscar never bothers the Pleco. I know Oscars are known for aggression and eating other fish, but I was wondering if I could put one Convict and one Firemouth in with him? Would he kill them?

Answer
Hi Randy

All three of these fish are aggressive. When placing aggressive fish together, it's really hit and miss. Meaning, what one will do, may not be what another will do. In a 90 gallon, I do have an Oscar, Convict, Firemouth, Gold Gourami, Red Tailed Shark and a Pleco. The Gold Gourami was placed in this tank after he attacked my Veil Angels.

Other than the Gourami, all of these fish were placed in the tank at the same time and when they were babies. They have all grown up together, and there is rarely any aggression. The Oscar does chase the Convict, Firemouth and Gourami occasionally, but does not attack them. As well, the Convict chases the Oscar, Firemouth and Gourami occasionally, but does not attack. The Gold Gourami chases the Red Tail Shark and the Firemouth from time to time.

So to answer your question, if your Oscar is full grown, I wouldn't do it. But if your Oscar is still fairly small, or even half grown, I would try it. If you do try it, make sure you get the Convict and the Firemouth at the same time, and they need to be the same size and the same or similar size to the Oscar. If they are all the same size, you will most likely be successful.

Hope this helps, good luck!

Richard