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October 27th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| getting a 55
We were able to get approval from housing for a 55 gallon tank! Now we just need to get the tank and decided what to put in it. We really want Cichlids. My hubby would really like to get an Oscar or Jack, but I'm not sure we will have enough room.
Any idea of some colorful larger Cichlids we could put in there? If there is enough room for the Oscar or Jack could we put anything else with them. Thanks. | 
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October 27th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| by no stretch of the imagination am I am expert, but from what I've been told on fish lore is that you could probably get away with a 55 for a jack or oscar, another great option would be blood parrot fish they are very colorful, they too can have personalities like oscars! have fun choosing how to stock your tank, and don't forget chiclids can be very messy fish so be prepared to lay out the dough ($) for a lot of extra filtration. have fun with the your new tank. hope this helps! -fishlover78 | |
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October 27th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| A 55g is barely adequate for an adult oscar. It's doable, but I would personally want a 75g or larger for the extra width. A 55g is 13" wide, and an adult oscar can reach 12-13" in length. The extra 5" of width in a standard 75/90g would give them more turning room. If you do go the oscar route, there is no room for any additional fish, and you will need very good filtration and frequent water changes. Oscars are messy, and will rapidly pollute a 55g if it's under-filtered or the water isn't changed regularly.
I've never kept jacks, so I'm not even experienced let alone expert, but I think a single jack would be fine in a 55g.
Last edited by mathas; October 27th, 2008 at 08:59 PM.
Reason: meant to say if the water ISN'T changed regularly | |
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October 27th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Thanks guys, I had read that about a 55 being a little to narrow for them to have enough room to turn, so I was afraid of that. | |
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October 27th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| your welcome Darlene! yeah Iw ould go with the blood parrots. | |
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October 27th, 2008
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| | Fish Mentor
| Why someone would recommend blood parrots is beyond me, maybe i'm to much of a Purist. Eh. Not only are they hybrids that probably shouldn't be sold in the first place but they also can reach 12".
A single oscar, or JD could be maintained in a 55gal, but thats it. And that can be a stretch. Look into Firemouths, or Blue Acaras.
If your looking for personality, you've already made the step you need by choosing cichlids. They ALL have good personalities. | 
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October 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| well all i can say is our chiclid tank is usually worry free (except for the couple of big episodes we had). but on a day in day out, they're easy to take care of.
i don't love their personalities, they're fast and furious, not like bettas or goldfish, wiggly and fun. but they are cool.
good luck! | |
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October 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Thanks Matt, I have seen the blood parrots, and was not really sure if I liked them or not, and they didn't jump out at Wes as a fish that he would like either. If we could get a bigger tank it would be no contest as we would get the Oscar  We both love the Discus, but are not sure we are ready for them yet.
Thanks Minx, Wes loves the fast and furious types of fish, a big part in why were not going with community tank with several groups of smaller fish.  | |
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October 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| If you ask me Slug , there is nothing wrong with a hybrid fish, and yes as they grow they could get a bigger tank, why don't you like hybrid fish? | |
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October 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| oh, and by the way slug I would NEVER buy dyed fish if that is the assumption you're making. and I really don't believe that they have deformed swim bladders because my friend's keep themselves balanced perfectly, It is just my input and opinion, and I am surprised and offended by the way you responded, and I do understand you and I have differences in beliefs about this hybrid fish, no hard feelings! -foshlover78
Last edited by fishlover78; October 28th, 2008 at 08:41 PM.
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October 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Mentor
| I don't like them because there is no use for them. There are THOUSANDS of naturally occuring cichlid species, why play frankinstien and make one. Especially when one you make is deformed? I don't see the point. In a lot of cases you won't even find these mixes crossing paths in the wild. Whats the point of trying to keep a specific species if those species end up being tainted because they have hybrid blood? I just see no point in mixing and making hybrids.
I was speaking in general because i have seen it before. No problem with hybrids? Deformities and health issues, both of which blood parrots commonly have. I cut slack to hybrid fish like mbuna, but there is no excuse for deformed fish like blood parrots. Especially because the parent fish and mix is not known. Hybridization can lead to shortened life spans as well as being susceptible to illness. Not to mention some have trouble out swimming perfectly normal fish for food.
I don't want to clutter the thread but will be more then willing to discuss this in a seperate thread. | |
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October 28th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| As I just edited above we have different takes on it and it's settled! case closed? I really rather not argue and be that way, you really caught me at a bad time, I was in a not so good mood! | |
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October 29th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Slug  Why someone would recommend blood parrots is beyond me, maybe i'm to much of a Purist. Eh. Not only are they hybrids that probably shouldn't be sold in the first place but they also can reach 12".
A single oscar, or JD could be maintained in a 55gal, but thats it. And that can be a stretch. Look into Firemouths, or Blue Acaras.
If your looking for personality, you've already made the step you need by choosing cichlids. They ALL have good personalities. | Matt can we get both the Firemouths and Blue Acaras? I'm guessing not, but hubby likes both so I thought I would ask what you, and others on here thought. If the won't play well together then do you have any suggestions on what would go well with the Blue Acaras? The other option we are thinking of is a Lake Malawi tank. | |
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October 30th, 2008
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| | Fish Mentor
| Lake Malawi tank will give you a very active and colorful tank, definitely a viable option.
As for the other two together, its possible. I've seen it done and in my experience with both, neither have been overly aggressive and they tend to be more laid back. Thats not to say they can't get nasty, i just personally havn't seen either get that way. It might even prove to be a more exciting tank, might make the firemouth flare a little more. Always cool to see.
Sometimes its hard to say what works and what doesn't with cichlids, because they are all their own living, breathing, thinking fish. They arn't your run of the mill tetras that will automatically school and you can predict their behavior. | |
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October 30th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Thanks Matt. We have a tough decision to make. We also just got approval to get a 75 gallon or so. Now my hubby maybe able to get his Oscar  | |
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October 30th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Just make sure u can make a long term comitment to the oscar they live a long time. | |
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October 30th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| what about severums? | |
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October 30th, 2008
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| | Fish Keeper
| Thanks Sundaiyu we have thought about that with oscars. We don't really like the severums to much, but they maybe something to look more into. | |
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October 30th, 2008
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| hehehe you called me Sundaiyu lol its not realy my name its my nickname my brother calls me. i love my sevs so cute and playfull. mine are 12 cm big | |
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