oscar and cichlids

Question
QUESTION: will my new Oscar and my African Cichlids get along in my 55 gallon tank i have not added my Oscar yet but would like to, i have herd that you can but thought i would get a lil bit better of an opinion thanks

jason

ANSWER: Hi Jason:  Oscar's and cichlids can get along just fine... a lot of things weigh into making a happy home for aggressive fish.  You have to make sure that all of the fish have places in the tank that they can make their own... most cichlids are very territorial and the same is true of the Oscar's.  There is a little bit of fish psychology involved as well.  Some fish are happy as long as they have plenty to eat and they have their own space and some fish just like to find trouble... so you have to judge as best you can your fish's mindset.  Size is also important when you deal with aggressive fish... keep in mind that cichlids are known to defend their territory and eggs/fry to the death if need be... and they are also known to take on fish that are much larger then they are and kill them.  Can you tell me how many cichlids you keep and what their sizes are?  How big is your Oscar?  ... let me know... dave

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

QUESTION: hey i have,

2 pure white cichlids with red eyes they are about an inch long,

1 cameo looking (yellow with green and brown)it is about 3/4 of an inch long

2 yellow belly with a white back and black stripes about 1 inch long

3 yellow with black stripes going from belly to back they are about 3 inches long very pretty

2 yellow with brown stripes one of them has stripes going up and down the other from gills to tail they are about 1 inch long

2 "electric blue" with a white under color and black stripe (belly to back) about 1 1/2 inches long

2 dark smokey blue colored they have yellowish orange tips on their fins about 2 inches long

1 completely orange about 1 inch long

2 pleckos one is about 2 inches long and the other is about 8 1/2 to 9 inches long vary big and he does his job well
i have some photos that i would like to send you of my fish and some of my herps (anoles red eyed treefrog  long tailed grass lizard marble gecko golden gecko Tokay gecko )and my baby ball python and bearded dragon but don't know how to yet


i have also included my Oscar in with the cichlids a few of them were picky but have given up unless my Oscar gets to close to them then they give warning and he leaves them alone all is well so far

do you know anything about fahaka puffer fish?? i'm intrested in one at my local pet store and it's only $50 not to bad considering i payed 25 for my big pleko lol

Answer
Hi Jason:  wow... you have a zoo.  The deal is this... your fish are small right now...but as they grow to about 2-3 inches  you are going to have trouble.  So unless you are planning on getting two more 55 gallon tanks or larger... you will need to get rid of fish.  I tried to keep two plecos in my 55 and they were so messy I had to do gravel vacuuming daily and a 15% water change everyday as well.... You most certainly do not want to add the puffer to this mix...the cichlids will kill it or it will eat the little ones... puffers are as aggressive as cichlids but they are perhaps a bit more organized about it... I would suspect that your tiny cichlids are not going to be around for long anything under 1.5 inches is in trouble.  With so many fish are you checking the water chemistry? let me know... dave