scottd2

is i ok to put an oscar in 20 gallon tank until it outgrows it then trade it or sell it?

Lucy

Welcome to Fish Lore
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Amanda

It's not a good idea. Keeping it in a small tank will stunt it's growth, even for a short period of time.

MissMTS

Amanda is right. I wouldn't do it. Besides, Oscars grow at the rate on an inch per month, so you wouldn't be able to keep it for very long. Also, it may be hard to re-home him or sell him. I think that for the sake of the fish you should just buy something that will be more appropriate for your tank

scottd2

thanks for replies ill try to keep them as long as possible but ill keep in mind what you said

what do you mean by stunt

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!!
with an oscar in a 20 gal, you would need to do every other day water changes for him live in a 20 gal without ammonia...their waste is huge and it will polute that small of a tank fast...stunted means they wont grow outside but their insides will continue to grow and they will die

babyblu

ITA. I had them once under BAD BAD BAD advice from my LFS (at the time) and he told me keeping 2 of them in a TEN GALLON TANK would be just fine. With a Pleco too. eep. I had nothing but troubles, obviously, but was very fortunate to have been able to give them to Big Als fish store in Vancouver after they outgrew the 30 gal I ended up transferring them into. I just couldn't give them the space they required. My Pleco went to my brother's to live in a turtle tank (still is alive too).

I'd be careful is all... or prepared to upgrade to a much larger tank down the road. Oscars are very easy to become attached to and very hard to give away if you have to.