BrianCB

I have a problem, I have a 4-5 inch tiger oscar(jerimiah) in a bowfront 5G , 2 other larger oscars from 6 inches to 10 inches and 2 Jack dempseys one 6 inch and the other 4 inches . I have tried in the past to combine them all but the last time I tried they almost killed jerimiah. I am getting either a 46G bowfront or a 44G pentagon shaped tank, and am wondering if I could get away with putting him inthe tank if it is filled with enough plants and decor for it hide and live without bieng attacked and slowly be accepted by the older two or is it just hopleless?

darkwolf29a

The reason that you are having issue with that many fish in any tank is going to be an issue. The minimum for 2 Oscars is 75 gallons. The general equation is 55 gallons for the first Oscar, and 25 gallons for each one after that. Now, with the JDs, I would say you are better off with two tanks, a 125 (Oscars) and a 40 (JD).

Understand that Oscars and Dempseys need a large amount of space, and the more space you give them the happier they are, really.

For example, I have 1 Oscar in a 55 gallon, and once I move next summer, I plan on getting him a 125 gallon tank, and his tankmate is and will be a pleco.

It's up to you, but I wouldn't put that many fish together that are that size.

BrianCB

well I dont have the money or the the space for two large tanks.
I would actually love to get rid of the JDs but my mom likes the way they look and doesnt want me to get rid of them, the thing I worry most is one of my oscars who gets bullied by one of the JDs. I would love a tank that size but I just dont have the resources, I appreciate your advice.

Tom

Then my solution would be, if she likes them so much, she can buy a big enough tank and raise them herself. Sorry if that sounds a little mean/rude, it isn't intended to be that way. My question is, who bought the fish? If you did, then you could say to her, buy me a bigger tank and I will put the oscars/JD(whichever one) in the bigger tank and keep the other ones in the smaller tank for now. This way, MTS can start to set in and then you can go with more and more tanks. lol
Tom

BrianCB

No offense taken, I actually bought the fish with my hard earned cash. I actually live in a small house and dont have much room and she already told me that this is the last tank I can buy and my brother wants to put the 29G in our room but she is dead set against it, money really isnt the issue cause I can always save for a larger one it is more of a matter of space , so hopefully one day we move into a larger house and then the problem would be solved. Alll that I can do now is just watch and see how they live out there lives in the tank.